Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-20
CRIMINAL.
The Latest MOnstrOsity Of Civ.
ilizatiOn.
Maria nen.s Ee,,p.sd.

Maria Mcnk Eclipsed.
DUBUQUE, la, Aug. l9.-The Herald,
this morning, publishes long account of
what il charaeterizes as the most horrible
crime that has come to light in northern
Iowa In wears. 1t says rumors of it came
to hand last week, but they were of so
shocking o nature that 1t declined to pub
lish them, though well authenticated, until
it had sent special reporter to the scene,
who instituted personal investigation in o
the facts, The result It now publishes:
At Andrew, the cspit,l of jackson coun-
ty. Is rliles south of this place, Is private
orphan asylum, established in 1854, for the
receution and care of orphans and destitute
children not over twelve years of age, to
o We them a Christian home,until they are
Of ace. 1t hss been under charge of the
Lut6erars, and its head officer or warden
was Rev, j, M. Schneider, German, who
came to this country about eighteen years
ago. At the legislative session Of 1872,
Schneider obtained an appropriation OF
$1,000 In aid Of his institute. He has al
ways stood high, aud enjoyed the unlimited
confidence of the entire community.
About i've years ago his wife died, and
it seems not long after that event he COM
menced systematic course Of seduction
of the little girls under bis charge. The
first victim so far as known was little
girl IL or IA years of age, who had been
driven to the asylum by the unhappy do
nestle relations Cf her parents. For a
cause not assigned by Schneider she was
turned out OF the institution and taken to
live with some very respectable people in
the country, near Andrew, to whom she
related her story. The pc pie she lived
with expressed great indignation and made
co siderable talk against Schneider in An
drew, but the citizens generally maintained
that Lam of bis righ morality was inno-
cent of such thing, ant no attention was
pa t. it. Della is now living with her
parents in DesMoines. This was about
four wears sgo. The Herald then men.
lions other cases with great particularly
similar in character.
The horrible aud final denouement
came about three weeks ago. One OF the
girls named Bertha Nellis, Is years Of age,
went to the natron and said she wanted TO
leave the ASYLUM but refused to assign any
reason. On being closely pressed and
threatened with punishment if she did not
give her reason, sne finally confessed that i,
toward the giIls. She then related the par
ticulars; how he had seduced seVer.l of the
little girls and had made various attempts
upon her, but had been so far foiled. The
matron promised TO inquire iato the mat
Ter, but The warden Was that day absent.
On his return the matEon called upon him
aud asked for her pay, as she pro. osed to
leave. He was dumb for moment but
finally recovered, confessed all, and promis
ed if she would stay 10 take care of the
child en- he would himself leave.
By her advice he went at once to Caller q,
sought an interview With Rev. Mr.. Klint-
wood, the Lutheran minister a. thst place,
and president of the asylum drectory, anu
70 him confessed all. Chis gentleman was
Mortified at the revelations, and demanded
that Schneider should at once resign and
leave. This he did, and the Rev. Mr.. Rem
bold, of Bellevue, one Of the directory, took
charge Of the institution. Schneider lett
Andrew at O'Clock on Monday morning, a
week Reo, in company with his daughter, di-
rect for New York and thence to Europe,
aud he is probably on the ocean at this time.
The victims of Schneller's as far as can
be ascertalned at present are six little girls,
ranging from to IA years of age. Schnel-
Ter is a man of fine personal ape arance, of
scarcely medium height, heavily built, and
dark complexion, With glossy black hair,
flowing beard rivaliDg the ravens wing in
hue, clean shaven upper lip, q nose rather
heavy approaching the squsline, and sharp
Laughing black eyes. He is a man of un-
usual educational requirements ard great
natural ability. What will be the final re-
10 l-r1nrxyY, hTyf that Sahnal
Ter has escaped the clutches of the law.