Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-07
SCHNEIDER'S SANITY.
Government Witnesses Testify in the
Inquiry Now Being Conducted.
THE GUARDS AT THE JAIL,
Who Have Had an Opportunity of Watching
the Prisoner Daily, Do Not Consider Him
Insane-What the Defendants Expert
Witnesses Said Yesterday.

The inquiry as to ths mental condition Of
Howard ]. Schneider was resumed before the
Court in General Term this morning. The
physical appearance of the condemned man
seemed to be somewhat improved. His eyes
were brighter and he appeared less restless, but
he presented the same disreputable appearance
as to untidyness. The defense recalled DR..
Brush, one of their three experts, for one or
two questions
Dr. Brush stated that among the tests applied
to Schneider by him he felt his pulse and
found that it varied from eighty-two to ninety.
One interview lasted two hours and at its close
witness spoke Of the crime and its penalty. Its
recital caused no increase OF pulse, nor did it
alter his features.
THE PRIsoSER's CONDITION IMPROVED.
To DR.. Hamilton the witness said that in
cases of condemned criminals q reference to
the crime would possibly not quicken the pulse
or cause emotion. He said he was not prepared
to dispute the theory that in some individuals
the excessive use Of tobacco acted a seda.iye
and dulled the emotions. Schneider's pulse
yesterday varied from seventy to eighty-two,
and he thought it fuller. His condition seemed
to have improved since he was examined by
witness on the Goth of last month.
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
The defense here announcer the conclusion
John ". Graham, one of the guards at the jail,
where he had been since 1887. He had been in
charge of the south wing Of the prison. in which
Schneder's cell was situated He had seen
him almost every day and night since the pris-
oner was committed To jail. Schneider's per-
sonal appearance underwent a change after
he was sentenced. First heard Schnei-
der speak of poisoned food in Octo-
Der. Schneider had eaten pretty regularly
up to August. He had never mentioned any,
thing to witness about people throwing acid on
him or hearing voices. Had heard him speak
of fast horses, of his invention and OF people
being down on him, but it was within the last
three or four months. He said he had
chine by which. through pressing q button De
could light the whole city Il: once. If Schneider
should be liked mp" he would present about
the same personal appearance that he did
during the trial. The day after the Court in
General Term had denied him a new trial
Schneider asked witness what had been done
in the case. and was told that the court had
decided against him. He made no reply
and did not even look up. Never saw him with
book or newspaper in his hand. He began to
smoke immoderately during the last few
months. Witness believed Schneider mind to
be In substantially the same condition now az
it was when he was sent to jail Schneider
would ask witness for food. Witness had seen
him eating in his cell, both food that witness
had given him and that brought him by his
mother. Never any great amount of food
removed from the prisoners cell. Never saw
any drawings made by Schneider on the walls
of his cell. Had seen tobacco juice ON the
walls.
CRoss-EXAMISED.
To Mr.. Wilson the witness said that he was
not the only one from whom Schneider would
take food. He had to coax him to eat four or
five times. He refused to eat soon after bis
conviction. He had seen him standing smoking
at all hours Of the night and had also seen him
standing at his cell window at different hours
OF the night staring out into the darkness. He
told witness once that his brothers had robbed
him Of his invention and that they were getting
rich of it. Once he ran a string from his bed
to his cell door and explained that all he had to
do to light up the whole city at once was to press
button. He would put his chair on his bed and
lean against his cell door, that if any one
opened the door the chair would fall and
wake him. In September Schneider asked wit
ness to get him two blank checks on the Column
bia Bank, that he wanted to pay a bill, but wit
ness was told by the cashier that Schneider had
no money there. Perhaps once q week
Schneider would ask witness what was going on
Schneider never did converse much His only
misconduct at the Jail was the building Of a fire
under his bed. He sits up almost every
night.
To the district attorney the witness said he
never saw any white shirts, collars or cuffs in
Schneider's cell and never saw him use a comb
and brush. When told that his mother was
waiting to see him he never had to be led out
to where she was.
Judge Hagner-Is there any Jail rule as to
cutting the hair of prisoners?
The witness-Yes, sir; Wednesday is hair
cutting day.
Chief Justice Bingham-Is it obligatory?
The witness-I don't know, sir.
GUARD SMITH TEsrIFIEs.
H. II. Smith, another Jail guard, testified
that he had charge Of the rotunda of the Jail.
He had not spoken with Schneider since the
LIST Of September. The man had not eaten Jail
food since the latter part of August, but had
eaten food brought him by his mother He
complained that the Jail food was poisoned.
Previous to his trial he very neat and
cleanly, but short time after he was SEN
fenced he became careless as to his personal ap-
pearance. About that time. too he began to relate
improbable stories. He talked Of his fast horses.
of his invention. and in August began to COM
plain of poisoned food. Witness never heard
him speak Of people throwing acid on him.
Schneider never had to be led out to see his
mother, although he refused several times
during the past month to come out Of his cell
unless some one came with him.
cnoss-ExAMINED.
To Mr.. Matt;ngly Mr.. Smith said Schneider
ate more at night than during the
day. He once told witness that he had
q large quantity OF whisky over in
Virginia. He never mentioned the pedigree or
time OF his fast horse, merely saying that 1t was
very fast. He told of machine he had in
vented which he called translator" which
by putting letter into it written in foreign
language and turning a crank would come out
translated into English. Schneider slept more
during the early hours Of the morning, but
never saw him since last summer asleep with
his clothes of. He smoked great deal of late
Had seen him pile chairs on his bed.
JAMES COLEMAN.
James Coleman, also a Jail guard, testified
that he was in charge of one Of the three
watches and in the absence of the warden and
deputy warden had entire charge Of the prison.
He was on duty every twelve and off every
twenty-four hours Witness noticed the change
in Schneider's personal appearance after his
sentence Before and during his trial he was
neat and clearly. He smokes a great deal at
night. Witness generally found Schneider
lying on his cot during the latter part Of the
night sometimes with his head toward the
door, sometimes toward the window and some
times with his feet up against the wall Wit
ness had seen his chair placed beside him on
the bed. Schneider. should his hair be cut, his
face shaved and put in clean clothes would
appear about as he did during the trial, pos
sibly little thinner. His moths- had visited
him two or three times q week uring the last
few months. He readily comprehended all d.
reotions, and did not have to be guided to