Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12
THE scBNEiDEk MURDER TRIAL.
Mics Jennie Hamllnk Begins Her Story Of
the Tragedy.

4
Miss Jennie Hamllnk Begins Her Story 81
| the Tragedy.
Yesterday afternoon. after TIE SrAn's report
OF the Schneider case closed but one witness
was called That witness had not been on the
stand half an hour when the court adjourned
70 ~ o'clock this morning yet during thai
| snort time the whole history of the sudden tax
ing on Of two young souls was related. The
witness was slight. sweet-voiced girl. clad in
the somber garb OF mourning. She spoke
| slowly, distinctly, and though she told of the
Killing OF two beings dear as life to her, though
the man responsible for their deaths sat within
ten or fifteen feet Of her. apparently utterly
indifferent to ell she said, that girl spoke
| with no ring Of harshness in heI
voice, with no trace OF luminosity in her words.
Yet every word she uttered sank deep into the
| minds of all who heard her and left an impress
SION that many believe cannot be removed.
Although at times on the very verge of break
ing down under the terrible strain under
which she labored, yet she bravely withstood
that strain and patiently and mInutely de-
scribed the scenes of the awful tragedy, The
witness was Miss Jennie Hamlink, the sister OF
Amy Schneider and Frank Hamliik.
THE DEAD wIFEs COAT
inst before the court adjourned the coat OF
the slain girl was handed to Miss Hamlink FOR
identification. 1t was then that the eyes Of the
witness filled with tears, and while the district
attorney held the coat before the jury that they
might examine the three bullet holes in its
front, the court, in kindly, sympathetic tone,
bade the poor girl take a rest There were
three bullet holes in the coat, all within a cir
cunlference of less than fifteen inches. 1heex-
nlbItlon OF tho dead girl garment was the most
/ effective piece of evidence given in the trial.
4 ~ IA Ill vrh no
Around each bullet hole could be seen the
powder marks OF the Shots
During the whole Of Miss Hamlink's testi-
mony the prisoner sat with his eyes fixed upon
the floor. If he was touched by the simple
words of the poor girl no one but the prisoner
knew IT. Miss H9miink testified as follows:
MISS JENNIE HAaLINK.
My name is Jane K Hamlink. reside at
| my fathers residence, No. 1873 Q street north
west know the prisoner, Howard ]. Schnel-
der. ] first became acquainted with him about
| the first OF last May, when my sister Amy, az
| terward his wife, introduced him to me on the
steps OF my fathers residence. The prisoner
then lived at No. 1889 q street. My sister was
married to him the first part of last June.
nrst knew OF their marriage on the Sd or 4th of
the following July. My sister then told me OF
her marriage. In the evening of the day she
told me ! informed the defendant that my
sister had told me. He said nothing OF it
merely laughed. My father first knew of it the
24,h OF last October. My mother learned Of ii
few days before that. Mr.. Schneider said he
wished the marriage kept secret until he re-
| ceived some money which people owed him.
when be would take my sister away with him.
THE NIGHT OF THE TRAGEDY.
On the 31st OF last January, the night Of the
shooting, my sister Amy, my brother Frank
and left the house few minutes before to
go to the new church on Madison street; but
we saw that the church was closed, and we then
went to drug store near by. Leaving there
We came down Q stree. on the north side. As
We neared our house We noticed Howard
Schneider in the midGle of the street, coming
across and going as we were toward 18th. He
was nearer 17th street than we were, and walk
ing slowly. Ny sister was nearest the curb,
next to her and my brother next the terrace.
Howard Schneider slowed up as we neared him,
and, turning, caught my sisters right wrist in
his left hand. He said: "Amy. 1 want
to speak to you" 1 did not hear her
reply. / passed slowly on aud my brother
stopped after taking few steps ahead. When
left her Howard Schneider still had hold of
my sisters wrist. They stood very near the
curbstone and my brother stood six or eight
feet away. near the terrace with his face
toward them. He stood about in front of No.
1859, nearest the eastern line of that house.
had my face turned Away when the firing be-
gan, but Immediately turned to look at them.
L
Howard Schneider say, she is my wife, and
Immediately after the firing began.
FIVE SHOTS WERE FIRED.
Five shots were fred, and Howard Schneider
fired all of them. During the firing he moved
to the right about one step. My brother also
moved little, but 1 don't believe my sister
moved q bit. The five shots were fired very
rapidly, with no interval between any of them
and while they were being fired heard my
sisters voice, as il she were pleading. As soon
as he finished firing Howard Schneider ran off
across the street toward 18th street. My brother
started after him, but had gone but few stops
when be fell in the street on his face. ran to
him and spoke to him, calling him by his
name, but he did not answer. As l
bent over hum heard my sister cry
that she was shot. Leaving my brothers body
ran to her. heard some one ask what was
the matter, when my sister replied, Howard
Schneider has shot my brother and me-" l
started to go to my brothers body again, when
| saw my father standing at his head. The
body was then carried into the house and then
my sister was helped in. screamed, but said
nothing until l went to my brothers body in
the street. when | said, HE ia dead" | did
say afterward, Howard Schneider has shot
my sister and killed my brother" My sister
was first taken into our parlor and then up TO
the second-story front room. Only her coat
was removed down stairs. 1t was light coat
District Attorney Cole-Is this the coat?
An ecru-colored broad cloth coat with double
row Of Light pearl buttons being handed to the
witness
Miss Hamliuk-Yes this is the coat
The district attorney-Miss Hamlink, did you
notice afterward any effect of the defendant's
grasp Of your sister wrist?
Miss Hamlink-Yes, sir. He caught her
around the right wrist near her hand. His
grasp left Large bruise, which extended
around her wrist. I saw the bruise often be-
lore she died. She complained that it hurt her.
1t grew green and dark and looked almost as
bad after she was dead AZ it did before she
died. She died about 12:45 the Saturday
afternoon following the shooting.
THE BELGIAN MINE EXPLOSION.
People From the Surrounding Country Pour