Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-11

TERDAY
As stated in Yesterdays STAR the execution
of Howard ]. Schneider was postponed from
Friday next 10 the 18th Of next month. The
inquiry to the mans mental condition was
concluded yesterday afternoon 50 far as the
presentation of testimony was concerned, and
DIR. Hamilton. on behalf Of the expert commis-
sion appointed by the court, announced that
the report Of the commission would not
be ready for submission TO the court
before the Goth instant. and the court
directed that il be submitted In writing
on that day. This. Of course. necessitsteo
postponement Of the condemned mans execu-
ton, and he was taken before the Criminal
Court, Judge Cox. presiding. and the execution
SCI for March IL. While the report Of the ex-
pert commission will not of course. be binding
upon the court. IL is generally believed that the
decision of the court In the matter will depend
to great extent upon the conclusion reached
by the omission.
WANTED THE EXPERTS TO TESTIFY.
Counsel ;or Schneider asked yesterday after
noon tina. the order Of the court in the matter
be so changed as to permit the report OF the
commission to be made TO the court orally, and
De made subject to cross-examination. District
Attorney Cole objected. however. stating that
especially as the order made had been previously
agreed TO by counsel for the defendant.
Cher Justice Bingham said that the plan
asked had been thought OF by the court. but
the commissioners were in a different position
from witnesses. They were to hear the tosti-
mony from expert and non-expert witnesses
and base their opinion upon this evidence. their
observation of the prisoner and their knowledge
of insanity. 1t might be that after receiving
the report the judges might wish TO question
the commissioners and the counsel would have
the same privilege.
This arrangement was satisfactory TO both
sides. and the inquiry Was adjourned unti
Monday morning the 2o;h instant
THE DOCTORS FOR THE PRISONER.
After The STARS report closed yesterday
afternoon DIR. Brush and DIR. Godding, two of
the three experts appointed by the defense.
were recalled. and they stated that they were
like their colleague, Dr. Rose. still Of the opin-
| ion that Schneider was insane and incapable OF
approaching his position ~ a man condemned
\ to death.
DIR. Brush stated that he had examined
Schneider and Felt his pulse in court, and had
| found a large palate, which indicated n narrow
| ing OF the base Of the brain. which COM
monty found in persons Of degenerated minds
| Nothing had been shown to change his opinion
| OF Schneiders insanity.
He examined his pulse from time to time &c
see If certain points N the testimony which
| seemed strongly against him affected him and
| found that they did not.
That one of Gottlelb Schneiders brothers had
suffered paralytic shock and that a sister
child had died of spinal disease would not
necessarily indicate anything in regard TO tn.
blood Of the family
Suppose l should tell YOU" said Dr. Hamil-
ton, that one Of the members of the commits
| sion had palate wide the prisoners 8.
What would that indicate to yoly"
| Il would not necessarily consider that 9
significant fact, replied DIR. Brush.
DR. GoDpING ExPLAISs
| DIR. Godding said that he had examined
Schneiders skin and pulse at different points in
the testimony. There was no change in the
| skin, but the pulse was much lower than when
Schneider in Jail with an unlimited supply
| of tobacco. In the court room il had never
| gone above seventy-two, and seemed TO be un-
| affected by the testimony.
| eHave you heard anything in the testimony
| to change your opinion of his insanity" Mr.
| Wilson asked.
The testimony brought by the government
in regard TO Schneider has led me to think that
| perhaps underestimated his mental ability"
DIR. Godding replied. up to the last witness
but one | have heard nothing TO shake nv be-
i lief in his insanity. l cannot diyest myself of
the opinion made by that testimony that he
thought 1t was good thing to play insane. On the
other hand. from my study of the case. i cannot
divest my mind of the opinion that he is in
sane. l can conceive that a mind limited az
| Howard Schneiders could undertake to play
| insane and play it so successfully that he would
become insane in the operation. He sits quietly
in his chair without any apparent interest in
\ the proceedings. He may never see another
Friday afternoon, and yet it makes no impress
sion on him. / cannot conceive that the mar
is right"