Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-08
MURDERERSCHNEIDER
Government Witnesses Think That
He is Not Insane.
THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY,
The Deputy Warden of the Jail and Guards
Give Evidence That the Prisoner Compre-
hends Everything That is Said to Him and
10 Obedient.

This morning the inquiry to the mental
condition Of Howard J. Schneider was re-
sumed before the Court in General Term. Dis
trict Attorney Cole continuing the evidence
submitted on behalf Of the government.
Schneider's personal appearance was I'M
changed, although he appeared to be trihe
nervous. His supply of tobacco. under the
direction of the experts appointed by the
court, was cut down to four pipes a day on
Saturday and down to two today, and it is
thought that his nervousness is due to the de-
creased allowance Of tobacco. He continues to
be seemingly Indifferent to all that is taking
place in court and looks at no one for more
than a second at a time.
GUARD WOODWARD.
The first witness called this morning was
Guard James Woodward, who said he was in
charge OF the south wing OF the prison. in
which Schneider's cell was situated. He said
the prisoner slept about a third of last night.
At other times last night he was walking up
and down his cell. lying on his cot and stand
ing at his cell window That was about the
rule during the last two or three months. He
had seen him lying on his cot during the day
time. Never heard Schneider say anything
about poisoned food or imaginary persons
bothering him until about a month after he
was sentenced. Never heard him say anything
about acid being thrown on him. He
had told witness about his trans
lator." Before his trial began Schneider
said to witness that when the people heard all
about the affair (ths shooting) they would think
differently about it. During the trial Schneider
shaved every day. After his conviction he he
gan to grow careless in his personal appearance.
Witness had advised him 10 be shaved and to
have his hair trimmed, but the man had said
no, giving no reason for refusing. There
no rule of the Jail making il compulsory Schnei-
der was sick on the night OF the Sth of last
month. He complained to witness that his
stomach WAS burning and thatbis f gers tinged.
and requested that DIR. McWilliams be sent for.
The doctor came and after examining said: "Oh,
schneider you are not very sick Medicine
was prescribed for him. and it was given to him
that night every two hours. He groaned some
during the night and vomited some before taking
the medicine. Witness believed that he was
sane and that he appreciated his position as a
condemned man.
CRoss-ExAMINEp.
To Mr.. Wilson the witness said that he had
not talked with Schneider very much at any
time and hardly at all during the last two or
three months. He had noticed him in his cell
twenty times day. After the mans convic-
ton he began to show gradual change in his
conduct and personal appearance. He first
complained of big black bugs in his cell. then
OF his food being poisoned and then mentioned
H.,
translator. Since Schneider's convection
witness bad had no coherent, intelligent
conversation with him except the night
he was sick, month ago. Wit
ness believed the prisoner to be sane
because he understood what was said and be-
cause he acted in:elligently when told that his
mother wished to see him. 1t was not under
stood at the Jail that it was necessary to tell
Schneider that his mother wished to see him
IN order to get him 20 come out of his cell.
Generally. Schneider smoked all day. and wit
ness had seen him smoking at night. although
not so much. Had seen him place his chair on
his cot against the cell door,
10 the district attorney the witness said he
thought Schneider placed his chair SO on the
cot that he might rest himself.
Judge Hagner-Did Schneider shave himself?
The witness-Oh, no, sir. We never allow a
prisoner to have a razor.
DEPUTY WARDEN RUSS
Deputy Warden Benton Russ was next e1-
amined, and said he had been deputy warden OF
the jail for twenty-one years. He said he had
seen Schneider almost every day and had
talked some with him. Saw a change in his
condition shortly after his conviction. He be-
gan to grow respondent and gloomy, and
shortly after his sentence he refused to eat but
never said anything about there being poison
III the food. He merely said: Il don't care for
anything now. will eat after while" The
eteILcu 10 nave improved during the past
month. although his personal appearance and
conduct was now about AS it was in June last
Never heard Schneider speak of poisoned food
or OF his invention, or of imaginary persons
Before his wife died Schneider gloomy and
respondent. and witness thought il was remorse
The day of her death he frightened up and
grew bright. cheerful and communica i've One
day previous to the trial Schneider and his
brother Will undertook to explain that the
prisoner had been shot at by Frank Hamlink,
but witness refused 10 listen. Witness vac
cinated Schneider in November and he readily
comprehended what was said to him. The man
had never been disciplined and there was no
unpleasantness between witness and Schneider.
THINKS SCHNEIDER is SANE.
The district attorney asked the witness what
he believed the mans mental condition to be.
but Mr.. Wilson objected. on the ground that he
had no foundation on which to base an opinion.
The court decided. however. that the witness
might answer, and he replied that he believed
Schna0ier to be now q sane person: that he
realized his present position and understood
perfectly what was going on. As well as you
attorney.
To Mr.. Wilson the witness said he was hard
Of hearing, but that with some little trouble he |
heard what Schneider would say to him. He
said he had seen the man eating the food his
mother brought him. |
The witness-No. sir; like you and would |
eat. |
Continuing Mr.. Russ said he believed |
Schneider was sane because he did not act like !
an insane person. because the change in his |
mental condition was too sudden and because |,
he was too persistent in sticking to his seeming |
delusions He believed that Schneider was
shamming. The man understood orders |
comprehended where and when to 60 to meet
his mother and did not look like an insane |
person. There were many things to be taken
into consideration in each case before witness |
would give his opinion and he would have to
see the man.
GUARD PEACOCK,
Albert Peacock, another Jail guard, testified
that he had talked with Schneider before and
after the trial. During July witness had charge
of the south wing of the prison and every third
day and night saw Schneider almost every
hour. Several times the prisoner asked witness
to trade smoking tobacco with him, saving that
he liked the odor Of the brand smoked bv
witness. During that time witness saw the man
eat frequently. Schneider never spoke to Wit
ness Of poisoned food of his invention. of imaq-
irary persons of voices or of his brother being
down on him. Until last Saturday Schneider
had spoken to witness politely every time thew
met and had always called witness bv name. |
Last week he complained to witness that the
people at the inquiry bothered him. The mans
present personal appearance was shabber
than it WAS during July. During that month |
he slept comparatively well at night