Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-02

Of the Jail, Mr.. Strong said that Schneider
when told that his mother was waiting to see
him always readily comprehended what was
said to him. short while ago Schneider was
called to see some one in the Office, and came
back in little while acting as If he was mad,
complaining aboutbeing called out He first
noticed . change in the prisoners conduct
about two weeks after his conviction, and his
condition had been growing worse ever since,
especially about two months ago. Schneider
recognized witness this morning and spoke to
him. The Jail officials endeavored to get him
to put on a suit OF new clothes this morning,
but he refused.
COLIN D. cRusoR.
Colin B. Crusor. another Jail guard, testified
that he had seen Schneider every third day and
every third night almost every hour since his
reception at the Jail Mr.. Crusor had witnessed
the change in his mental condition, which began
shortly after his conviction. For a while
Schneider refused to eat anything unless
handed to him by the witness. and later on re-
fused to eat anything handed to him by the
witness, saying that witness also trying to
poison him. Witness then corroborated Guard
Strong as to the matter related by Mr.. Strong.
Witness believed that Schneider's mind had be-
come deranged and that he vas not in such q
mental condition as to enable him to truly real
ize bis position.
THE CHANGE WAS AFTER CONVICTION.
To District Attorney Cole the witness said
Schneider worried great deal about his wife's
condition between the shooting and her death,
continually inquiring as to her condition. After
her death he grew calmer. Witness noticed a
change in his condition after his conviction.
During the trial his appearance was neat He
began to allow his beard and hair to grow after
being sentenced. He talked reasonably before,
during and after the trial. ceasng to talk rea-
sonably about three months ago. He first be-
gan to talk of poisoning, then OF his inven-
ton and then Of people being after him.
Until about three months ago he appeared
| to be perfectly rational. Schneider had
never failed TO recognize witness to call him
| BY name. Once when witness was told that
(fSchneider's mother was waiting in the Office to
see him and it turned out that ii his brother
instead Schneider got very angry with witness.
l saying that he (witness) was sending him out to
| be poisoned. Schneider had smoked cigar or
| pipe occasionally until three or four months
| ego, when he began to smoke pipe necessarily.
Chief Justice Bingham-"Cigarettes2" Wit
ness-"No. sir. Cigars and pipe. Not as
much at night as during the day." He asked
Bailiff Springman for piece OF chewing TO.
bacco this morning. but upon taking it said
nothing about it being poisoned.
| JANE WEAVER.
Jane Weaver, an elderly colored woman, was
lived with the family Of Gottlieb Schneider for
nine months during their residence on the
Maryland farm. Howard Schneider was baby
at the time. The prisoners father at times be-
came very violent, generally when his wife
| went to the city without him. On one oc-
casion he declared that Mrs. Schneider had de-
| serted him and threatened to kill her if she re-
| turned. At times witness heard carrying on
| in his room and making much noise foul
or five men. Once he set fire to the woods and
! came to the house saying he had done il.
| EDMUND ". GREGORY.
The first witness called this morning wal
Edmund ". Gregory. He said he knew tb.
prisoner, and in 1879, while witness was con-
nected with the Norfolk Southern rail
road chief civil engineer, he appointed
prisoner first as draughtsman and afterward
made him back hagman on surveys. Schneider
| while acting as fagman would often act very
queerly. He would yell, strike at trees witt
his flag and use the most profane language. Al
| those times his face became distorted as if from
pain. Such sections only occurred when he
| was alone. When in company with others he
| was very quiet and composed In the
office witness gave the prisoner lettering to do.
| At times he did excellent work. but when be
had the peculiar spells on him he would put the
| letters in wrong places, misspeu words and
| render his work generally useless. The pris-
| oner made the most ridiculous charges against
the other employees, none OF them being found
to have the slightest foundation in fact While
in the employ Of the road Schneider had an at.
tack Of malarial fever. He recovered. but ever
afterward complained that he was about to die
Once. on returning from q leave of three days
be brought a doubie-barreied shotgun and
would take it with him on the surveys until
| witness forbade him. His sickness left him weak
and he requested witness to send hin
home in . special train and in
special car. Witness had none and he was sen;
home by way Of Norfolk. After Schneider lef
threatening letters were received from hin
calling witness thief, . scoundrel and alleging
that witness was rob bling the road by putting il
| fictitious vouchers. The superintendent of the
road knew Schneider's character and paid NJ
attention to the charges. Schneider wrote t.
witness from Norfolk, stating that if he could
get to him he would kill him. Schneider, when
first made back fagman. exhibited the most
| abiect fear, saying that he was afraid of bears.
There were no bears there. Witness believed
him to be out OF his mind. To the district at
torney the witness said that Schneider would
often talk inooherently. The prisoner was in
the employ of witness about a month or two,
When witness noticed Schneider's queer actor
in the field there was q distance OF from 30t
yards to q quarter Of a mile. Witness would
ask what was the matter and Schneide
would always reply, Nothing was tn
matter. Nothing was wrong He AWAY
witness told him that others had seen him act
ing strangely Schneider would say: "Thev ART
id HAIRS" Witness retained him as long q
he could, because it was impossible TO get an,
one in his place at the time. Schneider did no
drink, but he smoked pipe great deal. II,
seemed to have an idea that o great amount o
money was due him from the railroad, when il
fact he waa promptly paid his salary Of $50
month. Witness considered him q dangerou
!, man, was afraid of him and thought him crazy
Never thought to inform the authorities Oh
, his family that he was dangerous Of
i. crazy. Imagined the family knew that
!, Schneider never wandered OF from his work
He acted queeriy in the field every time he VA
/; alone. When witness refused him the specia
train he became very ugly and used very pro
fame language toward witness, saying 1t wa
witness i'd business to do so." Wit
ness expected to receive only his expenses 70
testifying at the inquiry. He came to Wash
inRton solely for such q purpose. Schneide
gave no reason for carrying the shotgu,
beyond the fact that no might see game :
> shoot
MRS. HnANcEs Z WILLIAMS.
, Mrs Frances E. Williams was the next wit
ness examined and testified that she lived At l52
Madison street, where she kept little MOTTO
, store She knew the prisoner, who, in Decem
! Der, 1890, occupied the adjoining store a. al
I electrician. He remained there month. Sh
, saw him every day. he fixed bis store u
/. very nicely. One day he pulled down every
thing IN the store preparatory to moving out