Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-20
HE is NOT INSANE.
The Experts Report on Howard J.
Schneider's Case,
SUBMITTED TO THE COURT.
The Case Reviewed at Length and the Tes-
timony AnalS sed-The History OF the Con-
demned Murderer Followed Closely-rhe
Full Text OF the Report

This morning in the Court in General Term.
| Chief Justice Bingham and Justices Cox and
Hagner, the report of the expert commission.
Drs. Allan McLane Hamilton, John Chaplin and
Charles P. Dana, appointed by the court in the
matter Of the alleged insanity Of Howard J.
| Schneider, under sentence Of death for the
murder Of his wife, made, DR.. Hamilton
| Of the commission reading the report.
The report covered fifteen typewrissen pages
and was q minute sketch Of the condemned
mans history and condition and review of
the testimony, concluding with the belief tina.
room intently listened to the report and the
conclusions Of the three experts were awaited
with the greatest interest Neither the prs
oner nor any Of his family were present in
court, being represented by Messrs. Jere NJ.
Wilson, A. A. Hoehling and William F. Mat
tingly his counsel The government was rep
| resented by District Attorney Birney.
Before the report was read Mr. Wilson sug-
gested that it be first fled in court subject to the
inspection OF counsel, and asked the court to
prescribe the manner in which the report should
be received. Chief Justice Bingham stated,
however, that the report should be first read
and then fled, when counsel might inspect it.
The report was then read, rs follows;
Full Text of the Report.
WAsHINaroN, D. C., February 90 1898.
To The Hon. c. ]. Bingham. Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court Of tho District Of Co
lumbia:
Sir In accordance with your request COM
| mission composed of Drs john B. Chaplin Of
Philadelphia, Allan McLane Hamilton and
Charles L. Dana of New York began an investi-
CATION TO determine the present mental condi-
ton of Howard J. Schneider. pri oner con-
fned in the United States District Jail in the
w.. H.
death for murder.
l. TIME AND NUMBER OF EXAMINATIONS.
We, severally and individually. made exam
nations Of the prisoner in the Jail on Monday
and Tuesday, January so and 81, and at differ
cnt times in the court room during the hearing,
which terminated Friday. February 10.
On Monday, the 30th. an examination OF
| about two hours was conducted by Drs. Hamil-
ton and Dana, separately and together.
On January 81 the examination lasted about
the same time, and was participated in by Drs
Hamilton. Chaplin and Dana. Shorter individ-
ual examinations were made later at the court
house upon five or six occasions.
In addition TO these examinations, which
were oral and objective, we listened to the
testimony OF the many witnesses called by the
prisoners counsel and by the district attorney,
| and have fully weighed all the circumstances in
| the case.
We obtained all the information possible at
| the Jail from the physician. attendants and
others, and the prisoners cell was, IN his ab-
sence, carefully examined upon two occasions
for evidences of filthy and untidy habits. such
as often belong to insane persons, also for evil
dences of outward manifestations of decisions.
| such as drawings, mechanical work. scribbling
DC. We also looked for secreted food and
found several slices of bread that had appar-
emily lain for SOME time beneath the bed, for it
was very hard and dry. We found baskets con-
| tanning glass jars. the contents Of which had
evidently been fluid. In pail which contained
excreta we found several pieces OF newspaper
| Stained red throughout which upon subsequent
analysis proved to be aniline. This coloring
matter the prisoner subsequently said was
poison. The liquid and solid substances in the
pail contained no red coloripg matter. After
| careful search and inquiry it was impossible
for us to determine the source by which the
| coloring matter had been introduced into the
prisoners cell, or to explain this appearance in
any ordinary way, although it was stated
that it was due to the introduction Of a disin-
fecting fluid but this not proved, and
| seemed to be an impossibility, as the analine
| coloring was confined to tine paper. We ascer-
| tanned from the attendants that the prisoner 3
cell was cleaned and swept every day.
II. METHODS OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND