Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-18
SCHNEIDER EXECUTED.
Details Of His Taking OG-The Crime For
Which He Died.


WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1.-THE
execueion'of Il. ]. Schneider for killing
his wife and brother took place In the
District jail at 1852 a. m. to-day.
The crime for which Schneider was
executed was one of the most terrible
in the crimical history Of the District.
He had fer some time persistently
cruelty abused his wife and
she had sought and obtained
the protection Of her father
Schneider endeaYored to induce
her TO return to him and to leave this
city for the West. This was refused
and meeting her on the street one Sun
day evening as she was returning from
church, accompanied by her brother,
he accosted her with renewal OF his
demands. The wife still resisted and
he at once fired five shots from a revolt
YER, killing instantly the brother and
fatally wounding the woman.
Schneider's last night upon earth was
a restless one. BE slept for few hours,
but toward the last he showed signs OF
weakening that made his keepers at the
Jail fearful that there might be some
narrowing scenes when the climax
came. During the early hours OF the
morning Schneider sat upon the edge OF
his cot, and at intervals conversed with
the guard who was outside the door OF
the cell.
A little after eight o'clock Rev. Mr..
Parsons arrived at the jail and was
taken to Schneider'S cell. Schneider
wept bitterly and showed signs of a
complete collapse, From a bible that
he brought to the Jail with him the
minister read a number OF selected
chapters that were appropriate to the
occasion and that held a hope OF saliva
ton In return for repentance, coming
even at the eleventh hour. Mr.. Par
sons also brought with him letter OF
farewell to Schneider that came from
the members OF the distressed family.
II was not a long letter but it was
infinitely sad and had saddening
effect on the young man. In response
to request from the family, Warden
Burke ordered that no autopsy should
be held over the dead body, and that as
soon as the doctors were sure that death
had come it should be turned over to
the undertaken who was to prepare 1T
for burial.
The procession to the scaffold was q
small one. Mr.. Burke, the warden,
went TO Schneider's cell and stand
ing by the door read the death
warrant. Then he turned and
Schneider was led out from his cell.
They then started on their short and
distressing walk. First came the war
den OF the jail. Besides him walked
Robert Strong, the guard, who adjusted
the rope about Schneider's neck, and
who performed the same service FOR
Gliteau. Then came Schneider him
self staggering and supported on either
side by one of the guards Of tho jail
Then came the ministers, followed
by two guards, in case their
services might be needed. This was ALL
The line of march was from the south
east corridor through the big rotunda
and into the northwest corridor, in
which the execution took place. There
was but the briefest of delays when the
ScaffOld was reached.
This was brief prayer the warden
had arranged with the clergy that not
more than few minutes should be con-
sumed. The signal was given. The
rope in the cell was sprung The trig-
ger snapped. The drop fell and How
ard j. Schneider with rope about his
neck, fell half dozen feet and all was
over.