The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-27
SENSATION.
Schoonmaker Mystery Cleared
by'a Girls Confession
BESIDE EDITH's DEHTHBED.
The Young Husbands Terrible Crime
Exposed-strange Revelations OF
Young Lady-Thc Final Act
ofthe Tragedy in Brooklyn.

renee, wherein Harry Schoonmaker, n
well known young man, had shot his
beautiful wife Edith, and then put a bull
let through his own brain. They were
found in their room, clasped in each
others arms, he dead and she uncon-
scious, with ghastiy wound in her
head The couple were known to be
very happy and the cause of the tragedy
was u mystery. The occurrence was the
sensation OF the hour in Brooklyn, and
many theories were advanced. But last
night the whole mystery was cleared up
in most remarkable manner.
Kneeling at the bedside of dying Edith
SchoOnmaker, and crying hysterically, a
young woman yesterday told startling
story,
The only sister ofthe mortally wound
ed girl was astonished when she enter
ed the Long Island College Hospital to
find strange girl there. She was young
and beautiful and her eyes were red
with weeping. Forgive me" she said,
"for the intrusion; but, while / am in
nocent OF any wrong doing myself, my
conscience troubles me. Harry SChoon-
maker betrayed me at the point Of a pig
tol, ut Asbury Park, on Saturday night
week ago"
Such statement, made at such time,
was enough to strike the listener dumb
with Gstonishment. 1t was merciiul
unconsciOusness that prevented the poor
wife in the cot from hearing OF such per-
fidity, else the shock might have cxtin-
guished the tluttering spark OF life. As
soon as the sister OF the stricken one
could recover herself she asked the girl
10 repeat what she hadsaid. at is true!
1t is trueW cried the stranger with Il
fresh burst Of grief. at was not his
wife that Harry had Mt Asbury Park. 1t
was l. He presented loaded revolver
Mt my heal and compelled me to remain
in the room with him."
sCuooNMAKEE's uAsENEss.
The girl was almost hysterical, and
was gently led from the hospital Mr..
Magnus, Edith Schoonmaker's father,
was acquainted with the remarkable
statement made by the pretty stranger,
and seeking her out, he questioned her
kindly and asked her ior his dying
daughters sake, to tell only the truth.
She repeated what she had said before,
and added that Schoonmaker had kept
her under lock and key through Sunday
in the hotel aud did not release her uu-
til Monday morning, having first be-
trayed her by threatening to blow her
brains out il she did not comply with
his request.
This is the story as related to Mr..
Magnus, who, through Il feeling oi sym
pathy, refused to reveal the Young
wOmans identity. From another source,
however, u reporter learned that she
was Mamie Wood, who resided with her
aunt at No. 2GO Carlton avenue, Brook
lyn. She was seen ut the latter place
last night and volunteered the following
statement, with the understanding that
her name was to be published: ~ hNd
known Harry SchoOnmaker for about
three years, and before his marriage met
him occasionally. He asalways bright
and entertaining, but when he married
lost sight OF him, and we met by acCi-
dent on November Is last. On one or
| two occasions we ran across each other,
| but never by design. Something APP
peared to weigh on his mind, and when
he asked me to meet him at noon on
Saturday, December 10, agreed, think
ing he might have something to say, and
that could he Of service to him, We
met, and he asked whether | had
ever been to New Jersey, and ! re-
piled that had not, and at his request
went with him 10 the Annex Ferry,
crossed to Jersey City and took the train.
On the way he told me he was going to
South Amboy on business, and that We
could return within Il few hours, and l
would be home before dark.
AN AWFUL NIGHT.
"When We reached that place he said
that lie had made n mistake and We rode
on, he talking considerably, until we
reached Asbury Park; there we got out,
and, going to the Commercial Hotel, he
registered and we were shown to our
roum. Until theu l had perfect faith in
him, and when protested he drew his
pistol and said that he had determined
| 10 kill himself and me. screamed AID
tried TO escape, but he grasped me by
the arm, drew me close to him and, put
ting the pistol to my head, told me that
we would die together. begged him
for Gods sake TO consider the awful
thing lie was about to do, and pleaded
with him for the sake OF his wife and
baby to release me. He smiled then
and, removing the pistol from my face,
but with his arm around my neck, re-
moved the cartridge chamber and, tax
ing out two cartridges, said that one
was for me. and one for himself.
~ thought to divert his attention and
talked OF other matters, and for 4 time
succeeded. His mind continually re.
verted to the subject, though, and during
that entire night suffered unspeakable
horrors. Occasionally he spoke OF Il
woman who, he declared, would not get
the chance to laugh at him. ! asked her
name, but he would not tell ii, but show
cd little silver chatelaine watch, which
he said was the property OF that person.
The figures 1887 are engraved on the iu-
side case, but IL bears no other mark.
took the watch and he then began to
talk of his wife and baby, speaking OF
them in loving manner. l know his
wife, and on that ground asked him to
bring me to her. He refused and sug.
gested that we go South together. grew
Indignant at such proposition and he
again became violent, and once more
placed the pistol at my head, but coaxed
him TO take it away.
WAS lie INsANEH
"The next day he went to the dining
room alone, refusing to permit me to ac-
company him on the ground that he had
stopped ut Asbury Park last summer and
was quite well known, as was also his
. wife. People, he said, would learn then
that was not his wife and scandal
might result. l, recognizing my position,
admitted the strength OF his argument,
and he, taking his pistol, went out, say
ing he would be back very soon. |
thought OF escaping, but fearing that |
, might meet him and that he would kill
me, remained in ther room. Another rea-
SO nwas that had not sufficient money
Z. to pay my way home. Sunday night was
n repetition OF the terrors OF the night