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


o, the most notable trials which has ever
taken place in the history of the District was
begun. The number OF witnesses examined on
both sides reached nearly 200 and the defend
ant was most ably and vigorously defended.
His prosecution b. Judge C. C. Cole. the
United States district attorney, was no less
able and vigorous. Judge Andrew c. bradley
presided at the trial.
THE PROSECUTIONS THEORY
The theory of the prosecution was that
Schneider, naturally Il bad. desperate man. had
tired of his wife and desired to get rid Of her
1t was shown that almost at the very hour that
be had written the endearing notes to his wife on
that fatal Sunday evening he had mailed letter
to a most estimable young lady in Virginia. in
which his wife was characterized a. "a living
devil, and informing the young hdy that he
had taken steps to secure a separation. The
introduction of this letter was one of the most
memorable events of the trial and no other
evidence was so vigorously and persistently op-
posed as was it. The letter was addressed to
Miss Gerald Lightfoot, Cuipeper, Va. 1t was
postmarked Washington, d. C., January 81, 8
pm, 1892, and on the back Of the envelope
Culpeper, Va. February 1, IL am, 1892. The
letter was as follows:
JANUARY 81. 1892
"My Darling Gerald: Arrived home all safe
at 10 o'clock and found no mail here for me-
certainly expected to find that letter from
Chicago. But certainly will hear from him
tomorrow without doubt. told him ps.tcu-
larry to answer 1t Immediately. However. we
will have to wait until I hear from him. was
talking to my mother this morning, and she
mentioned Mr.. Campbell Darlington. a lawyer
here who gets all the divorces through in WASH
ington, and he is a smart man. and he is one OF
those lawyers who don't care what he does to
get q case through when he gets ready. While
will 60 tomorrow morning the frst thing to
see Mr.. Darlington Immediately. And nv
mother said she had not the slightest doubt but
he could do it on the grounds that have. and
some one else said the same thing. &c. nv
DARING, will get away from this living devil
as soon as it Is possible to do so. You
know l am the most miserable wretch
on this earth until l do so. NV little
darling. miss YOU SO much today. And oh, l
would love to be with you this beautiful day.
1t is so pretty here this afternoon. am now
in nv room. writing this to nv dear darling
who know loves me as dearly l do her dear
self. l will lie down soon after am through
this and think of you, Gerald and dar-
hing. Soon as ] hear from anybody in
the morning, will write to tell you all I
hear Ny darling sweetheart, answer this
as soon as you receive it SO l will know
how YOU are. Give my regards to your mother
and all OF my love to yourself, darling Gerald.
"Yours, HOWARD
''2204 18th street"
The MISS Lightfoot to whom this letter was
near Schneder's home in this city. 1t was
shown that Schneider had visited her few
weeks previous at the home Of this lady. until
his own mother informed the lady that he was
a married man. The girl was then sent home,
where Schneider, accompanied by young en-
ploye Of his. Marion Appleby. had visited her
on two occasions. The address. No. 2204 18th
street, was the home Of Marion Applebv
The defense contended that tins letter. while
inexcuSabe as coming from married man,
indicated no hostile intention against his wife,
IT being commended by them that Schneider
merely intended to assure Miss Lightfoot that
he desired legal separation from his wife. but
the government contended that in it was
shown to be Schneiders real motive, the re-
moval Of his wife by violence
POINTS IN THE TESTIMONY
Schneider in testfying in his own behalf at
his trial stated that he merely wished to per-
suade his wife to live with him when he ap-
preached her on the evening Of the shooting,
and that had it not been for Frank Hamlink's
interference and his alleged attempt to shoot
him (Schneider) no trouble would have oc-
CURED. The clothes worn by him on the even
ing of the shooting we're exhibited in court and
holes IN them were explained by Schneider to
have been made by bullets from Frank Hamlink's
revolver. But scientific examination Of the
alleged holes disclosed the fac. that they were
not made by bullet, but by some sharp pointed
Hamiink WAS shown to have been thrown there
by Schneider himself as he ran away from the
scene Of shooting. and the great preponderance
OF evidence justified the jury in finding that but
one revolver was used during the shooting and
that by Schneider. the alleged throwing Of
his revolver in the alley being contradicted
successfully by the prosecution. The dying
decorations of his wife also showed that her
brother used no pistol and that her husband
did all the shooting. On the 9Th of April the
jury, after being Gu: one hour. returned a YER
dict of guilty as indicted. The court room was
crowded almost to suffocation, as it had been
on every other day of the trial, almost the ma
Jorlty OF those present being women. Outside
the court room was congregated a throng of
one or two thousand people and the jury's
verdict was conveyed to them by a man who
shouted from one of the court room windows,
HE is guilty" A wild cry of approval went
up and as it reached Schneiders ears he bowed
his head in his hand while his frame trembled
and the perspiration flowed from his ashen
features. Counsel at once gave notice OF mo-
ton for new trial, which motion on the 7th
of the following month was overruled Schnei-
der was asked If he had ANYTHING 10 saw WHY
the sentence of death should not be pronounced
upon him.
STARTLING SCENE.
Then occurred one of the most startling