Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-03
AsaooKINa rRAaEpy.

for which Schopp Finally MUIR
dered Him.
The sensational and brutal murder Of
Anton Schilling by Anton, Schopp in
Philadelphia int one week ago, possesses
q strong locui ii % est iuasmuch On both
men had resided mere for several years
and worked in the various rolling mills
In the city aud vicinity.
The horrible butohery was undoubt-
eddy the result OF dsep-laid scheme
| to get possession Of their victims money.
This plot to get his money was laid
when all the parties to the affair still
lived in Wilmington which was previous
TO June last. Both Schopp and Schilling
had lived here for the past eight or nine
years, and the pair became acquainted at
the house Of one Joseph Stritt, German
shoemaker living at No. 204 West Front
street three or four years ago.
Schopp was free and easy sort Of fell
low, who did not hesitate TO steal in order
to acquire tho money to crafty his taste
| for liquor. On one occasion he stole the
tools Of fellow workman, and again he
robbed drunken companion OF an over.
coat, which he pawned in Philadelphia.
Schilling, on the other hand, was an easy
going, good-nstured German, who would
make o ct dupe for more clever people,
and the Schopps determined to make him
their violin. A year or so ago Schopp
began to live with woman named
Richter, the wife OF Wilmington tailor,
now dead, who had separated from her
on account of her bad habits and tenn
permanent. The pair simply cohssbited
and announced themselves as husband
and wife. They rented little two-stary
frame house on Quinn street, near It's in
terseotiou with New CASTLE avenue, in
South Wilmington. and began house.
keeping. Then they induced Schilling
to board with them, while they piled him
with the schemes.
Schopp was employed at the Diamond
State Iron Works, where he earned $40
TO $l2 per week, on which, together with
the 81 board which Schilling paid. they
managed to exc out an existence. Schil-
ling worked OF the Lobdell Oar Wheel
Works. Mrs. Sohopp or Richter ruled
the household and her husband was the
willing tool in her hands. Schilling
saved his money and by seraping and
living economically had managed to save
about $685., which he had deposited in
the Wilmington Savings Fund, and this
the Sohopps knew. The woman origin
ated the scheme TO obtain possession of
this in order to start business. Schopp
has wife and two children, boy and q
girl, living in Switzerland, whom he had
abandoned. They conceived the idea Of
bringing the girl to this country and
marrying her to Schilling and thus keep
the money in the family. Whether the
girl knew of this arrangement or not is
unknown, but simple minded Hchilling
was easily hoodwinked.
Previous to this Schilling had been sick
/ with back ailment and ne went to the
almshouse for treatment. There he fell
in love with q Scotch lagsie who was en-
ployed in the kitchen and the uncouth
Anton was badly smitten. When he had
conyalesced sufficiently he became q
waiter at the almshouse, where he re-
manned altogether for over one year. 1t
was necessary for the Schopps to remove
all traces of his first love in order to
make him plisble tool. Accordingly,
the shrewd woman consulted fortune
teller, an old negro man residing in the
neighborhood, and after instructing him
as to his answers, schiliing was induced
20 y;e't .iiig g7acs. 'nhs 6ii ialaa5 made
. few mysterious passes anu informed
bohi.hng that 40 w0ald Nsyue HiArsF Tie
gil os =. pi4s>.4. Su0suo, 0at would
marry girl from over the seas, who
would arrive in America shortly after.
ward. The girl had previously been in
ssructed to come, Schopp kindly borrow.
ing the money from Schiiling for the pas
sage.
This was in June last, and early in that
month the Schopps moved TO Fhiladel-
phia and took their victim with them,
They hsd now gotten schlIiug to that
stage where he no longer had mind Of
his own, and he was completely under
the wcman's control. On her repressn-
tations he purchased horse and wagon
with which they first started 10 peddle
coal and wood, and finding this unprofit.
able they turned their attention 10 ped.
ding vegetables. The second venture
proved equally unsuccessful, and the
man'B money was used in starting the
grocery store which Sohopp had con.
Quoted mp to the time OF lis arrest, The
capital for these various enterprises was
furnished by Sohilling, who came to vii,
mington regularly every month and
diminished his savings in the bank by
$50. lie had $3.50 in bank before be
began to draw on it, and In September
last he drew the last cent Of his hard
earnings.
The girl arrived in due time, but what
occurred after her arrival can only be
told by the Sohopps. HeiGrich Writ
the next door neichbor TO Schopp while
here, confidently believes that the woman
is a. the bottom of the plot and he sayt
that be had noticed long before their re
moval TO Philadelphia that iho S1hoppt
would acquire Schiiline's money by fall
means or foul. Schiiling had been all
ing Tor several years with trouble in hi
back End last winter he finally had al
operation performed ut the Pennsylvania
Hospital which afforded relief, but lef
him in debilitated condition, His mint
suffered il sympathy and ne became cas-,
prey to the Vaccinations OF the Schopps
Schilling was heavy set man, of me
dinm hight. He had broad face will
high cheek bonss and wore small NOUS
taohe. Since his sickness his face ha
always been e deathly pallor. He is
native Of Bissingen, Germany, and is 3
years cid. His father and two brother
still live in their native town, while az
other brother is entry clerk 10 q larR
Wholesale house in Constance, switzsr
land.
Sehopp, on the other hand is a natiy
, Of Jameson, Canton Durkau, Switzer
land, where his wife and 500 still live
The only possible motive for The Grim
/ seems to be that schopp, failing in al
| the schemes which had been started wit
? Seedlings moreY finally determined {
, possess himself OF the balance with tb
( view of starting some new venture.
Every one who knew schopp and III
woman in this city gave both bad chsi
1 acter, and the latter was especially dasip
d mated sc ''Ele devil" It is stated tina
b the husband OF the woman Richter,
a German tailor, suddenly and nystel