Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-18
CLUE TO CHESTER'S MYSTERY
III. F. Schmidt and His Wife
Held for Trial.
A TELL TALE TRAIL OF BLOOD
AGore-stained Shirt and Sus-
penderS Found.
The Husband Terribly Excited, While
the Wife Is Unmoyed--The Baby Who
Was the Pretext for the Mustered
Girls Fatal Visit Cared for by Its Aunt.

CHESTER, Dec. Il.-Henry II. Schmidt
and his wife stand accused of numbering
Emma Piitzenmeyer, the latter's sister. Az
ESQ they were handed into closed car
riage and accompanied by Detective MUIR
ray were driven rapidly to Media, where
they were lodged in separate cells in the
county jail.
The arrest was made very quietly this
afternoon, aud when carriage stopped in
front of alderman Aliens office at 80 no
one suspected that it contained the Edge
mont avenue grocer and his wife. The war
rant was served on Mrs. Schmidt by Officer
O'Toole at the Parker street residence of
her sister, where she has been staying.
Then the carriage was driven to Schmidt's
store Schmidt was nearly overcome, but
Mrs. Schmidt appeared totally uncon-
cerned.
Few people outside of the newspaper
men were permitted to enter the alder
mans Office, but when the news got
abroad throng of 1000 persons blocked
the street in front of the office and anx,
lousy awaited the result of the hearing.
Mrs. Otto Walther reached the office just
as the hearing opened. She was in a very
nervous state but attempted to cheer up
her sister. Mrs. Schmidt declined all aid,
but during the progress of the trial she
only saved herself from swooning by the
most vigorous effort. Mrs. Walthcr, on the
contrary, could not bear the sight of the
cheese knife which was offered in evidence,
and held up her hands in an appealing
way 50 that il was quickly hidden from
view.
The accused grocer and his wife were de
Tended by O. b. Dickinson, Garnet Pendle-
ton and p. NJ Washabaugh The only
new evidence brought out was the finding
Of n black and white striped shirt in the
baby's crib under some clothes. There
was blood on the left shoulderandspl atters
Of blood IN thp buply and SlpaVps
Coroner Bullock testified that the small
spceks were not venous hut arteria blood
Schmidt could not accollnt for the blood
though he acknowledged that the shirt be
longed 10 him. Blood was also found on
the suSpenders which Schmidt was wear
ing. Mr., Dickinson vainly tried to shake
the coroners evidence and suggested that
the blood might be other than human.
The nerve displayed by Mrs Schmidt
was remarkable for an accused woman.
When she and her husband We're called
before the bar to hear the commitment
read which was TO consign them to three
long and weary months in Jail, pending
trial, her face remained immovable. She
turned ia her weeping relatives and said in
broken English; "lt's all right
Mrs, Walther chung to her sister and re-
fused to believe that she stood accused of
the lidcous crime. The alderman ordered
the room to be cleared of all spectators,
and the last good-byes were said between
sobs and tears. Before Schmidt left for
Media he gave Samuel Greenwood. n
prominent real estate man, Il power of at
torney to administer his affairs. Frank
Schmidt, his brother who runs large
grocery store at sol 3dgemont avenue, will
close out Henrys business.
Baby Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidts 1S-
months'-old child, will be left to the care
of Mrs. Walther, who is very fond Of the
youngster and who assured Mrs. Schmidt
that She would treat it as well as af it were
her own child. When il was known that
the hearing had come to an and that
Schmidt and his wife would go to Jail, the
crowd rushed TO the door leading to the
office to get look at them They were
quickly handed into the closed carriage
waiting at the curb and guarded by the
detective who has been working up the
case, disappeared up the avenue.
A strong effort will be made by Schmidt's
attorneys 10 have the prisoner released on
a habeas corpus. An attempt was made
to interview Mr.. Dickinson tonight on
the subject, but he declined to say any
thing at present