Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-10
WAS HE SHAMMING?
Did Schneider Make Believe That
He Was Crazy?
IMPORTANT ESTIMONY



Howard J. Schneider stands sentenced TO be
hanged ono week from today. the 18th instant,
but, ms was stated In THE STAR several DAYS
ago. there lie no probability of the man being
executed on that day. even should the Court in
General Term. which Is now inquiring as TO the
mental condition OF the prisoner. decide that
he is sane. 1t is not unlikely that the decision
of the court to the mans mental condi-
ton will of necessity be delayed until
after the day set for the execution.
Hence il is understood that Schneider
Will be brought before the Criminal Court
se'ne time between now and Friday next for
the purpose OF again postponing HE execution
to such day as will permit the Court in Gen
erai Term to give to the caseO y thu time neces-
sary in reaching a conclusion. Should the case
be concluded today il Is very doubtful II the
conclusions OF the three experts appointed
by the court could be handed
In before the end OF next week. Or. Chaplin,
one OF these three experts. stated TO a reporter
OF The STAR this morning that he thought IL
would require at least week for him and his
TWO associates to prepare their conclusions ia
the case. These conclusions will be submit I'd
10 the court In the form of written statement.
Mr.. C. CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER
Mr.. Christian Schneider, q brother Of the
prisoners father. was the first witness called
by the district attorney this morning He said
Gottlieb Schneider Was some years older than
witness. He said he was intimate with his
brother as one brother usually is with
another. He said his brothers health
was comparatively good, and until about
a year ago his brother visited his Cwitncss'l
store every now and then. He came alone and
would converse intelligently and upon general
subjects. HIS memory was particularly good,
better than that of witness many times. Some
times be would become excited, generally on
the subject of the late war. Witness never con-
sldered his brother to be insane, although
ne was childish in his ways. Witness remem-
bered his brothers stay on the Maryland farm,
but never knew him TO have any deusion.
sometimes he would use very profxne language,
something very unusual in his brothers con-
duct His physical condition good. al
though he was somewhat pale from remaining
IN the house for the greater part of the
time. His eyes were bright. Wit
ness never noticed anything irrational or
wandering in his brothers conversation. His
brother readily recognized his acquaintance
and witness believed that he never was unable
to transact business. Witness had four brothers,
None were ever insane. Never heard any talk
in the family OF his brother Gottlieb being in
sane.
cRoss-ExAMISEp.
To Mr.. Mattingly Mr.. Schneider said that his
brother before he ceased business was quiet,
industrious man Of an inventive faculty. His
brother worried great aeal during the war in
connection with q contract with the govern
ment for furnishing fuses. His sister had told
him that his brother would grow very excited
at times and would use loud and profnne Ian
guage. He supposed thew took his brother to
the country because of his health Since going
out of business in 1862 witness had not known
OF his brother engaging in business. He was COM
fortably fixed and witness never personally knew
why his brother ceased business. He supposed
1t was because Of his health. His brother
mental impairment was never talked Of by the
family to witness knowledge. II their brother
Louis name was mentioned his brother would
grow very excited and would use profane Ian
guage and accuse Louis of cheating him (Gott-
lieb). His brother was now childish due. wit
ness thought. TO old age. Witness hardly
thought. however, that his brother was compe-
tent to carry on such a business as that carried
on by witness, for instance. He did not believe
him to he insane by any means. His brother
generally talked Of matters occurring many
years ago. forty or fifty.
His brother said Mr. Schneider had been
childish since his sickness in 1862. On his farm
his brother worked some, mostly in the garden
and planting trees. When he talked OF his
brother Louis his talk was hardly rational
WHY HIS BROTHER WAS KEPT OUT OF sIaHr.
Mr.. Mattingly-Don't you know that il has
been the effort Of your brothers family to
conceal his condition from observation.
The witness-I think it would have been bet
ter for him had they taken him cut more
Mr.. Schneider finally said that his brothers
family did appear determined that his brother
should not be seen. but why he did not know
He imagined ii might have been due to his
carelessness In dress. He supposed they did
not wish his brother to be seen. Witness had
never visited Howard in Jail. Howard got angry
with witness because he would not trust him
tthe prisoner) or have anything to do with
him. Witness had told a Mr. Kennedy of
Royce Marean and a Mr.. Burkett that he
(witness) would not trust his nephew for cleo
trical supplies. Howard had threatened to sue
witness. For what witness did not know.
Mr.. Mattingly asked the witness il he had ad-
vised Mr.. Quimby, book dealer. not to trust
Will Schneider, but the court decided that the
question was not pertinent to the question at
issue. Mr.. Schneider said be had not, however
The witness said he had received many COM
plants concerning electrical work done by
Howard Schneider. some people imagining that
witness was responsible for the work Howard
had said that he had served with Witness which
was not true.
To the district attorney the witness said that
when his brother went out OF business he had
three or four houses and sl2, 900 in bonds The
witness stated that be had nothing to do with
Howard because he (Howard) had such an ugly
disposition and because Of his trying to injure
the business Of witness.
GEORGE A. THOMAS.
George A. Thomas, a clerk in the District
Commissioner Office, said he was in the en-
ploy of Mr.. Christian Schneider for fourteen
years, from 1871 to 1885. and had known Colt
lieb Schneider during that time. Witness had
seen Gottlieb Schneider frequently in his
brothers store and had conversed with him
often. Mr.. Schneider conversed nationally, and
witness never saw anything in his conduct or
conversation to lead witness to consider him
other than q sane person.
To Mr.. Mattingly the witness said Mr..
Schneider would always yield to positive evil
dence. He had never heard him use profane
language. and never saw him grow more than
ordinarily excited in conversation.
SECRETARY JOHN 7. DOYLE.
Secretary John I. Doyle of the civil service
commission said he knew the prisoner, and said
that Schneider had been examined three times
under the rules of the commission-March 3.
1884, as tracer. when he received marking OF
rs; June 80, 1885, as a draughtsman, when he
failed to pass, receiving q marking OF "a. and
December 26, 1888, as a Typographical
when he received n
marking of 20. The witness explained tina. a
marking Of 65 placed the applicant on the