The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-06-01
INVALID TELLS THE TRUTH.
Circumstances Which Indicate That
Such is the Case.
The Farmer Adds Considerable to His
First Statement-A Woman Acc
complice-Alleged Suicide.

The remarkable confession of John
Zwald, which was published in Satur.
days RECoRD-UNION, has been the talk
OF the city during the past two days.
While many believe that Zwald is in
sane. none now doubt that he really did
commit the two murders he says he did.
He is still locked up in the County Jail,
and the authorities are making thor
ough investigation
Zwald was interviewed again by a
RECoRD-UNIoN reporter Saturday and
yesterday, and while he reiterated every
thing he had detailed to Judge Henry
Friday afternoon, he added some more
details which make the story Of his
crime all the more revolving.
A WOMAN ACcoMPLIcE.
The man says now that he was assisted
materially in the murder of his first wife
at Anoka, Minnesota-by a woman
named Mrs. Catharine Scheld. This
woman was the wife of Zwald's partner,
and she and Zwald became very intimate.
She planned the murder of Mrs. Zwald,
and Zwald carried it out. He says that
after the poison had been administered to
his wife, she became very sick. He sent
for doctor who prescribed for Mrs.
Zwald, but he says that Mrs. Scheld took
care that the poisoned woman took none
of the medicine.
Another addition that Zwald has made
to his story is that after he had smothered
his second wife TO death he realized that
he had committed murder, and that if
discovered he would be hanged, so he
cunningly devised a method for divert
ing suspicion. He secured a rope, and
after tying one end of it about his dead
wite's neck, he suspended her to rafter
in the room, making it appear that she
had committed suicide. At the Coroner's
inquest he testified that he and his wife
quarreled that night and that he left the
house and slept in the barn. The suppo-
sition was that the wife, in fit of pas
sion or dependency. took her own life
and the jury rendered verdict to this
effect.
ZwALD's STORY TRUE.
A press dispatch from Wayne, Ne
place., corroborates Zwald's story. 1t is
as follows:
Matilda Zwald, the wife of John Zwald,
who recently confessed to the crime Of
murder in California, came to her death
IN this city on the night of September "a,
1884, or early in the morning of the 18th.
At the Coroner's inquest the husband of
the deceased woman testified that they
had been married about three months,
she having been married twice before
that. Their married life had been an
almost continual quarrel, the woman
being person of almost ungovernable
temper. She had been more than I'M
usually quarrelsome for few days pre-
vious to her death, and on the evening
before had driven him out of the house
and he was compelled to stop in barn
across the way.
When he returned in the morning he
found the door locked, and proceeded to
eat his breakfast III shed-kitchen which
was built on the shanty in which they
lived. de then claimed to have called
the children, who got up and opened the
door, when he discovered the body of the
deceased. which was hanging by a rope
within few feet of the door. The story
of Zwald was received without suspicion
by the Coroner's Jury, who returned a
verdict OF suicide while laboring under a
fit of temporary insanity.
Mrs. Zwald was a very large. f1eshy
woman, and when the neighbors rushed
in the body was still hanging near the
doorway with both feet firmly planted on
the floor. Still the theory of foul play
was not advanced by any one and Zwald
was allowed to depart and the affair was
soon forgotten.
A SWORN STATEMENT.
Zwald made his confession again yes
terday under oath, and it was taken
down in full by stenographer.
During the religious services at the jail
yesterday afternoon Zwald addressed the
prisoners, eXhorting them to reform be-
fore it was too late. He held himself up
as an example of what they might come
to some day-a physical and mental
wreck, and most unhappy mortal
II wish you would deny the statement
published that the Jail officials believe
Iwald is insane" said Under Sheriff
Bugbey to RECoRD-UNIoN reporter
last evening. ION the contrary" he
said, 1--WE all believe that he is perfectly
sane, but conscience-stricken man. All
of us agree perfectly on that, and any
body else will who will take the trouble
to talk to him."