Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-06
SCHNEIDER INQUIRY.
More Testimony in Behalf of the
Insanity Theory.
MANY WITNESS ES HEARD
Guard springman. Who Has Brought the
Prisoner to and From the Court, Tells Of
His Actions-The Matron at the Jail Also
Testidek.

This morning the inquiry as to the mental
/ condition Of Howard J. Schneider. sentenced to
be hanged Friday, the 18th instant. for the
murder OF his wife. resumed before the
Court in General Term Chief Justice Bling
ham and Judges Hagner and Cox) and Doctors
Hamilton. Chaplin and Dana. the expert COM
mission appointed by the court. The con-
demned man was brought up from jail in the
van, together with several other prisoners. IL
he has undergone any change since the inquiry
began there is nothing in his personal appear
ance to indicate it, for when brought into court
by Bailiff sprlngman this morning his dark
hair was long and matted his black beard a.
struggling and his features as drawn and
/ haggard as when he was brought
into the Criminal Court for resentence
| last month. IL he wears a collar and cuffs thew
are not visible. and the collar of the dark cut
away coat is still pulled up about his throat
! As he seated himself in a weary, unconcerned
manner behind his counsel and directly in front
| OF the court he crossed his legs and folded his
hands in the way SO characteristic of the man
during his long trial. He still wears the same
I bored look assumed shortly after the inquiry
I began. A remarkable feature of his appear
ance is the brightness of his restless ewes. They
never rest for moment on any one person,
but are almost constantly roaming from one
! point Of the small court room another le;
] nAn appearance Is tnat OF one who, despite his
seeming indifference, is drinking in every word
spoken by witnesses. court and counsel
j.. W. BLUMER.
The first witness called by the defense was
Letter Carrier J. W. Blumer. who said he had
known the prisoner for fifteen wears during
their boyhood, having been playmates. He
| SAID he never considered Schneider right 9"
| He was always erratic and talked in a rambling
manner. He was always full of absurd schemes.
| IN which witness took no stock. About four or
| i've months before the shooting he said he had
an electrical scheme for beating anything ever
| heard OF. Ii was TO run an electric locomotive
between here and Richmond
To the district attorney witness said that
while other men were engaged in working up
such things. II seemed particularly foolish in
Schneider. who to the witness always appeared
foolish. As a boy Schneider always wanted
I to be considered great fellow. He never took
much interest in boyish sports. At times he
| would grow very excited upon little il any,
provocation. Witness had not known him init
mately of late years, but had known him to
drink two or three glasses of beer of an evening
JAMES W. sPEISeMAS.
Mr.. Wilson next called to the stand James W.
| Springman OF the marshals Office who said he
had known Schneider since the shooting, and
had charge of him on every occasion when
| brought into court. He said that he used to
bring him from the Jail in a buggy and on the way
| he would make light of the shooting ard when
! ever he saw girls would make light remarks
about them: The buggy used was an old one.
and Schneider once offered to give witness a
$500 Brewster buggy. Schneider was very an
prehensive that some one in court would harm
him, and begged witness TO protect
him. He told witness that n man
named Savage was making brand Of
whisky which Schneider could get for So a gal
Ion. and which so strong that three gallons
could be made out Of it and it would stll be
! above proof. Schneider once said that a man
| in the coast survey had endeavored 10 get him
to falsifv an old map OF the District Offering
| him 500. 900 TO do So On the first dav of the
trial witness took the prisoner out to a restau-
rant for lunch. Schneider drank a glass Of
beer and ate four oysters. Afterward witness
provided him with lunch. the prisoner never
refusing to eat during the trial.
CHANGE AFTER CONVICTION.
After conviction Schneider underwent a
marked change. He often refused to talk and
became untidy in his personal appearance.
When witness saw him in Jail after that
Schneider would often refuse to speak TO or
recognize him. Last month. several DAYS be-
fore he was broughtup for resentence. when wit
ness told him to prepare to come up, Schneider
said he would not CO. and asked what they
wanted with him. When told Schneider said:
| mo, no; they want TO murder me-to hang
me-" After he was resentenced and upon being
4
| Schneider threw himself down in a corner and
yelled, Murder, murder" When an
other officer came into the cage Schneider
| cried: Take him away, Take him
| away! He wants to kill mer' During this
inquiry Schneider had complained of the peo-
pie in the court room. saying they bothered
| and annoyed him. This morning he had again
made the same complaint and wanted 10 know
how long he was to be kept in court saving
that he was sick and wanted TO lie down. One
a lac usaal-h Il
oysters to him at the court room, but she could
only get him to eat about half of them Schnei-
der had lately complained of people irving to
poison bis food and Of throwing vitriol on him.
cRoss-ExAMrSED.
On cross-examination Mr. Springman said he
invariably discovered Schneider sitting in his
cell on the end Of the cot with bowed head
and hat pulled down over his ewes. During
the trial Schneider was bright and cheerful
and made light OF his position. appearing to be
confident of acquittal Witness was himself
apprehensive that some Of the spectators at
the trial would harm Schneider and spoke of
the matter to Judge Bradley and to the district
attorney.
District attorney-well. then, there was
! full, too.
The witness--No. sir; none whatever Fs-
pecially after hearing some Of the remarks
made by people in the court room.
District attorney-Schneider often consulted
ms counsel during the trial. did he not?
The witness-Yes, sir; and often made dis
paraging remarks about witnessed
District attorney-About those whose testi-
mony bore heavily against him?
The witness-Yes, sir.
WHEN HE HEARD THE VERDICT.
Continuing, Mr.. Springman said when told
to come up to hear the verdict Schneider re-
fused unless witness accompanied him. When
the prisoner heard it he collapsed and said .
I'm sick. Take me out of here'' On the way
to the Jail Schneider said: well. what do Won
think Of it now?'' Witness said: .sIt looks
pretty bad" Howard Schneider replied: ..But
, 1t isn't over yet. Wait until get a new trial.
1t will be different then. 1 didn't get a fair
show this time. All the witnesses against me
lied" When brought up for sentence about
month later Schneider's appearance was sub
stantially that of today. He seemed to have
lost about fifteen pounds in that time.
Mr.. Springman said he did not believe that
Schneider lost in weight during the trial. Be-
tween the verdict and the day he was sentenced,
last May, Schneider never failed TO recognize
witness, calling him by name each time they
met On the day he was sentenced witness en-
deavored to brace him up. and although
Schneider appeared to be somewhat broken up
be was not more SO than is usually the case OF
I a<<w.wr a. ~ l.