Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-21
CHANCES SCHNEIDER HAS,
Various Movements That Might Delay judy
ment-The Plea Of Insanity.

various movements That Might Delay Judg-
ment-The Plea of Insanity.
The condition Of Howard ]. Schneider, the
| convicted wife murderer. daily improves under
the unceasing care of the Jail officials, and bis
appetite is slowly being regained. His appe-
tite, however, has never been o good one
| since his Incarceration in Jail, and at no time
has he existed solely on the regular prison fare.
1t is known that as the trial progressed and
the testimony of the government was pre-
sented with force and directness that ut
terly destroyed the claims of the defense
Schneider's hope and courage gradually for
sock him until it actually became necessary
to sustain him by the administration of stimu-
lants twice day. These srimulants were
given in the morning and afternoon at the
court house, generally about fves minutes
before he was brought up from the cage
below. The mans demeanor, as reported
In HE STAR. was that of one
seemingly Indifferent to all that was said or
done during tho trial, but it is known that his
apparent indiffence was either assumed or
that IL was due to the composing influence
Of the stimulants daily given him.
AFRAID He WOULD De KILLED.
Several times during the trial Schneider
stated to Mr.. Springman, his guard, that he
believed that there were persons i'll the crowd
prisoner pointed out to Mr.. Springman a GER
tain man seated in the crowd just back Of him
as one of the parties who intended to kill him.
The man pointed out was one of many who regu-
larly attended the trial aud each day occupied
the same seat. Schneider had noticed this
and OH the day he pointed him out to MIR.
Springman the latter. in order to quiet
Sehneiders fears of bodily Larm, changed
seats so that the burly form Of the guard was
placed between the prisoner and the man.
Hardly day OF the trial passed but that
Schneider, as he passed from the cage to his
seat aud back, heard threatening remarks made
aSains: him. and strange to say these remarks
Tor the most part came from the women who
daily locked to the trial.
THE QUESTION OF INSANITY.
referring to the published statement that
the counsel for the defense were preparing TO
move stay Of judgment because of the in
sanity of the prisoner, it is known that the
counsel are investigating the matter. but 1t is
hardly probable that n motion for q stay of
Judgment based upon the grounds of insanity
would be presented until all efforts for secur-
ing new trial have been exhausted for the
good and all sufficient reason that an appeal
operates as a stay Of judgment. That Is. the
judgment of the court-the death penalty
cannot be enforced until the appeal from that
judgment has been adversely decided by the
court of last resort Should Judge Brad
ley refuse to grant Schneider q new trial then
the judgment of the court would be stayed b.
the appeal which would be taken from his
decision to tine Court in General Term. Should
this court sustain Judge Bradley's decision
then a further stay could be obtained by an
appeal to the Supreme Court Of the United
States. provided, of course, the shortly ex-
pected decision in the Cross murder case failed
to take away the right OF appeal to tho latter
court. Therefore. 1t is fair to presume tina:
Schneider's counsel will exhaust all other
means of staying the judgment before they
will file motion based upon the grounds Of
the convicted mans alleged insanity.
HOW THE PLEA MIGHT BE MADE.
Should a new trial be obtained. the plea OF
insanity could be entered in the second trial
Should this be done, it is said the government
would be entitled to show that on the previous
first trial the plea of selr-defense was made.
Should the defense finally fail in their efforts
to obtain new trial. they would be entitled.
1t Is said, to show, il 1t were possible. that
Schneider was now insane. This would be
done before a marshars jury, and, upon n YER
dict Of insanity being rendered. Schneider
would then be placed in st. Elizabeth's Insane
Asylum. But the judgment of the court would
forever hang over him, and should the insanity
be only temporary, the judgment would be en-
forced upon his recovery.