The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-28
THE COURTS.
Trial Of Henry Schmidt, the Alleged
Triple Poisoner.
THE RECEIVER OF TAXES
An Important Decision by Chief
Justice Waite.

Henry Schmidt. house carpenter, th,rty-tbree
years Of age was arragned Tor trial in the Court Of
General Sessions yesterday, before Judge Sutherland
on the charge Of administering poison to his wife
Barbara, his daughter Catharine his mother-in-
law. Mrs. Scnmilter the 9Th Of March last AZ No.
81 Pitt street. Assistant District Attorney Russell app
peared Tor the prosecution and Mr. f. f. Price for the
accused 1t was alleged on the part Of The prose-
cuion that the poison, in the form OF arsenic
troduced into the coffee used by the family OF the
prisoner The result, 1t Was claimed, would have
been fatal had not been for timely medical relief
Domestic unhappiness pervaded the family circle, to
which was attributed tho action OF Schmidt The
6rst witness called for the prosecution Mrs Bar
bara Schmidt, who described the movements OF her
husband on the morning OF the attempted poisoning.
she said she went 10 Columbia street to visit
her sisterin.law after breakfasts Schmidt followed
ner and applied to her the most offensive epithe,s,
8nally threatening to XIII her. add adding that she
"a but twenty minutes to live He also said II was
his intention desoon afterward himself In cross
examination the witness admitted that his sister told
her OF the threats Of the prisoner The painful symp-
toms Of The poisoning quickly showed themselves on
her mother and herself, first in vomiting and subse
quently in Inconsistencies The witness added that
for Six months the accused had not given ner penny
and that she was compelled TO support herself by
washing and scrubbing They nevertheless continued
TO live together, and she supplied him with money to
purchase chewing tobacco ana newspapers. In re-
sponsc to Mr.. Price, the prisoners counsel, the wit.
ness stated that she had made tho coffee
sell on the morning in question, and that they all
breakasted together; she dcnicu having told
cused 10 "clear out" and not TO return the coffee
lasted very butter; il was drunk without sugar. tho
time he coffee was parIaken OF she made remarks
10 her mother-in-aw daughter, but her mother
served that The coffee was not palatabe; when the
accused entered the room she placed some soup and
coffee before HIM; he dd not take any alter dinner
She went 10 visit her sister, Mrs Rudolphe; the ac-
cused, VINO was Intoxicated followed her; when no
took hold Of her she sezsd the poker, but did not
strike him. she was excited, she said because she had
the poison ~ her mind.
DR.. hcClay, attached 10 the Eleventh precinct les
lined that ne WAS called upon to WISH the Schmidt
amiy, and found that they were suffering from the
nects OF poison by arsenic, Tor which prescribed
Elizabeth Schmtter, the next wtness, testified that
The family occupied rooms Two flights up stairs in the
rear OF the building on the day in question she went
Tor pension money-her sou having been klllsd the
late war-wtn her daughter; on returning her daugh-
Ter Kincled the fire ana made the coffee; Schmidt
came nnerward and sat at the table; his wife
poured out coffee Tor him and placed Some soup
lore him, but he did anything: no
laughed mis- daughter susseq uently left to denver
some linen, and called al Mrs. Rudophes In Column
bia street The witness further testified that sne
wanted TO do some work, but found herself unable
10 perform e; the girl Catherine who was
thirteen years old, began TO complain, and
throat and felt very ill In reply 10 the Court
the witness stated t1at the coffee used AZ
that lett from breakfast; that whom her daug nd
she went out 10 draw the pension money they locked
the door; the key WAS put in passage under bar
IcIi Inc accused knew tney had put u there. Wnen
cross-examined by Mr. Price the witness stated that
when ON one occasion she split open the eye Of the
accused with coffee she had first been struck
by him. Further evidence disclosed the TACT that
when the family were wrirnIng IN pain alter drinking
The coffee the accused returned asked his daugn
Ter to 20 Tor doctor Another circumstance forth
was that when MIS- Schmidt went In the
Ing IN question schmidt pointcn al her angrily, and
laid 10 the Jantor, do you that old sowp
God allows different people to live, uut I'll
TX her" Schmidt, II was shown, his
apartments by Mrs Baun,an, a neighoor during the
absence OF the family, the inference being that ne
mad an opportunity 10 place poison In the milk
coffee which lay on the table. When Schmidt was
arrested soda water bottle partly Gled with liquid
was found In his possession, aud which on being
aszsd by Professor t. g. Lore OF the Columbia Col
lege school OF Mines was found to contain seventy
grains OF arsenic 10 three ounces Of whiskey. The
sediment IN the conco pot, milk pipkin and cups
also analyzed and found 10 Do largely impregnatsd
with arsenic.
Tho further hearing OF tho case will b resumed to-
day.