Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-17
HIS LIFE IN JAIL.

his cot. apparently deeply moved by the grand
old hyma.
HIS LIFE IN JAIL.
Apparent Indifference to What Transpired
About Him-Al!cccd HallucinatiOns.
In some respects the case of Howard J.
Schneider has been one Of the most remarkable
If not altogether the most remarkable, in the
annals OF crime in the District OF Columbie.
Schneider was either insane. practically devoid
Of all reason, or else he was one of the most
consummate shammers that have ever come
within the ken of Jail officials.
number Of weli-known specialists on the
subject of insanity had testified that Schneider
was insane and entirely irresponsible for his
acts. In the hearing to decide whether or not
he was a responsible agent. held recently as
to be fresh in the minds Of every one in Wash
ington DR.. Godding the superintendent of St.
Eiizabeths Hospital for the Insane, DIR. Brush
and DIR. Rose, as well as IL number of Law wit
nesses, testified that in their opinion Schneider
was not responsible for what he did and should
not be punished with the punishment that is
me'ed to a man in the possession OF his full
senses.
Other experts, equally well known. give it rs
their opinion that Schneider was nlalingeriny,
and that he was sane at the time OF the recent
hearing as he was when he committed the two
murders. or at the time when he was tried for
the murder of his wife. One set of men or the
other was in the wrong.
LITTLE INTEREST HIS SURROUNDINGS.
At any rate. in his bearing and attitude
throughout bis confinement. in the District iail
that lasted for over year he has shown less
interest in his case and less appreciation for
his condition than one would suppose to be
possible under the circumstances. For
nQst hp haa ,y1o ND
sulen. taking but little interest in his sur
roundings or in what went on about him. All
efforts on the part of the Jail officials. the mem
bers of his family and the ministers who have
interested themselves in him to bring him to
realizing sense OF his position were entirely
fruitless. He had shown up to the last not the
slightest care for himself, apparently not
the least feeling or interest whether he
lived or died. Yesterday DIR. Parsoa called
at the Jail to see him and endeavored to awaken
him to sense OF the future. He was unable
to obtain auy signs of recognition from the
condemned man, who even seemed unable to
tell the day of the week or to understand that
so far as he knew or had any reason to believe
it was his last day on earth. DR.. Parson told
him that today would be FRIDAY and that to-
day he would be hung by a rope until dead.
and that there would be no more days for him
in this life. This awesome statement had not
the slightest effect upon Schneider and all that
he would say was something about believing
tudt tueV we're gong 10 XIII Elrl. 1nls no SAID
in much less interested way than one would
have spoken Of the death Of a stranger
Throughout his long confinement, with the
exception of one or two outbreaks of violence
on his part. Schneider's actions were those of a
model prisoner. He gave but little trouble to
the keepers and no annoyance. For the most
part he would sit in his cell smoking and ap-
parently lost in brown study. For hours at
time he would sit on the edge Of his cot
or In rocking chair, but rarely
was he without a pipe or cigar in
his mouth. Until the time of tine in
sanity hearing he allowed a practically
unlimited supply OF tobacco. and this fact was
brought forward to show that it might have
had some influence upon his mental condition
After the hearing the supply was somewhat cur
tailed, and Schneider seemed to feel the differ
ence.
HIS EMOTION AT FIRST.
Directly after the shooting. when Schneider
was first lodged in Jail he seemed to be over
come by his feelings and wept much Of the
time. After the death of his wife, on the Sat-
urday following the Sunday on which the shoot
ing occurred, 1.-The death, as one of the judges
expressed it, "of the most important witness
against him, he seemed to lose something Of
the poignancy of his grief, and then began that
long period OF time in which he appeared to be
utterly indifferent to everything. Later in the
summer he began to have dreams or halluci-
the inventor OF wonderful machine that
could be used for separating poisons from food
and that the benefits from this invention
were being stolen from him. He also ex-
pressed tbs belief that poisons were being
thrown over his hands and he objected to
eating the prison food on the ground that he
believed it to be poisoned. As a rule he
would eat nothing but the food that was
brought TO him at the Jail by his mother who
was always constant In her attentions to her
wayward son. She was accustomed to call in
at the Jail several times q week throughout his
long confinement and he would converse with
her sometimes at some length, but never with
the slightest show of feeling. Toward the last
he showed less and less interest in her visits
and her evident grief had no effect upon him.
cAnxLEss OF PERSONAL ApPxAnAxcE.
A time passed on after his trial and conyic.
tion Schneider became more taciturn than ever
His haiiucinations, fei2ned or real ~ one may
regard them, were more marked. He refused
to change his garments and was perfectly care
less as to his personal habits or appearance.
trimmed and whom he was brought into cour.
on the occasion Of the recent insanity hearing
he presented most uncouth figure. His long
hair fell in . name to his shoulder and was
thrown back carelessly from his forehead, ~
though It had not been touched by bEmh or
comb for months. A straggling black
beard hung below the collar Of his coat which
he bad turned up and buttonsd Close about the
neck. He had apparently fallen away in hsah.
and - hs mt IN the court room, little forward