Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-17
HIS LIFE IN JAIL.
Apparent Indifference to What Transpil
Abont Him-AlIeyed H allu Gin tions.

Apparent Indifference to What TRANSFERRED
Abont Him-AlIeged HaIlucinations.
In some respects the case Of Howard ].
Schneider has been one of the most remarkable,
il not altogether the most remarkable, in the
annals Of crime in the District OF Columbia.
Schneider was either insane, practically devoid
Of all reason, or else he was one of the most
consummate shammers that have ever come
within the ken of Jail officials.
A number Of wel-known specialists on the
subject Of insanity had testified that Schneider
was insane and entirely irresponsible for his
acts In the hearing to decide whether or not
he was a responsible agent held SO recently as
to be fresh in tine minds of every one in WASH
ing.on, DR.. Godding, the superintendent of st.
E,izabeth's Hospital for the Insane, DIR. Brush
and DR.. Rose, as well as u number OF Law wit
nesses. testified that i'll their opinion Schneider
was not responsible for what he did and should
not be punished with the punishment that is
melted to a man in the possession of his full
senses.
Other experts, equally well known. give it as
their opinion that Schneider malingering,
and that he was as sane at the time of the recent
hearing as he was when he committed the two
murders. or at the time when he was tried for
the murder of his wife. One set of men or the
other was in the wrong.
LITTLE INTEREST IN HIS SURROUNDINGS
At any rate, in his bearing and attitude
throughout his confinement in the District Jail
that lasted for over . year he has shown less
interest in his case and less appreciation for
his condition than one would suppose to be
possible under the circumstances For
months past he has been morose. gloomy and
sullen. taking but little interest in his sur
roundings in what wen. ON about him. All
efforts on the part OF the Jail officials, the men,
beers of his family and the ministers who have
interested themselves in him to bring him to
realizing sense OF his position were entirely
frui;less. He had shown up to the last not the
slightest care for himself, apparently not
the least feeling or interest whether he
lived or died. Yesterday DIR. Parson called
at the Jail to see him and endeavored to awaken
him to a sense OF the future. He was unable
to obtain aay signs of recognition from the
condemned man. who even seemed unable to
tell the day OF the week or to understand that
so far as he knew or had any reason to believe
1t was his last day on earth. Dr. Parson told
him that today would be Friday. and that to-
day he would be hung by a rope until dead,
and that there would be no more DAYS for him
in this life. This awesome statement had not
the slightest effect upon Schneider and all that
he would say was something about believing
that they were going 70 kill him. This he said
in much less interested way than one would
have spoken Of the death OF a stranger.
Throughout his long confinement with the
exception of one or two outbreaks of violence
on his part. Schneider actions were those OF a
model prisoner. He gave but little trouble to
the keepers and no annoyance. For the most
part he would sit in his cell smoking and APP
parenty lost in a brown study. For hours at a
time he would sit on the edge of his cot
or in rocking chair, but rarely
was he without a pipe or cigar in
his mouth. Until the time Of the in
sanity hearing he allowed practically
unlimited supply OF tobacco. and this fact was
brought forward to show that it might have
had some influence upon his mental condition.
After the hearing the supply was somewhat cur
tailed, and Schneider seemed to feel the differ
ence.
HIS EMOTION AT FIRST.
Directly after the shooting, when Schneider
was irst lodged in Jail he seemed to be over
come by his feelings and wept much Of the
time. After the death Of his wife, on the Sat-
urday following the Sunday on which the shoot
ing occurred, 1.-THE death, Is one Of the judges
expressed it, "of the most important witness
against him." he seemed to lose something Of
the poignapcy of his gYief, and then began that
long period Of time in which he appeared to be
utterly Indifferent to everything. Later in the
summer he began To have dreams or halluci-
nations, protesting again and again that he was
the inventor OF . wonderful machine that
and that the benefits from this invention
were being stolen from him. He also OK
pressed the belief that poisons were being
thrown over his hands and he objected to
eating the prison food ON tbs ground that he
believed IL to be poisoned. As . rule he
would eat nothing but the food that was
brought to him 1t the jail BY his mother, who
hayward son. She was accustomed 70 call IN
at the fall several times svoek throuxhout his