Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-16

Late Yesterday afternoon Rev. DR.. Parson
and Rev. DIR. Domer called upon Mr. Cleveland
and urged that Schneider be given more time in
which TO prepare for his end. The President
said that If DIR. Parson would pledge
his honor that Schneider had not had suticien;
time he would consider the advsabiiity of Civ
ing HIM few DAYS more This DIR. Parson did
not feel altogether willing 20 do.
1t was believed. however. that the President
had held out some slight thread of hone and
the preacher went over TO Baltimore last night
DIR. PARsoS AND DR. DoRMER
1t was not long after o'clock this morning
when DIR. Parson and DIR. Domer of the
Lutheran Church appeared at the White House
They were shown into the Presidents room
almost Immediately and remained in the neigh
borhood of quarter of an hour. What the
result OF their appeal was could not be learned
at the White House. but it certainly was not in
the nature of a favorable answer.
PRIVATE SECRETARY THURBER sEcRErryE.
Curiously enough effort has been made at
the White House to prevent anything about the
case from leaking out today. After the min
isters' early call Mr.. Thurber, the Presidents
private secretary. was asked by several news
paper men whether or not MIR. Cleveland had
done anything in the Schneider case.
To each and every such question the answer
was that Mr.. Thurber was not at liberty TO saw
to Schneiders attorneys. He was sorry not to
be able to answer the questions but he
had been enjoined to silence and his lips were
sealed. He refused to say anything at all and
repeated qUestionings could elicit nothing
further from him.
Later in the afternoon. however, it was
learned that the President had told the two
ministers this morning that he must decline TO
interfere in any way. He told DIR. Parson that
II there was anything new and of importance
he would give him audience at any time.
DR.. Parson then went at once to the jail with
DIR. Goddng and DIR. Rose.
DIR. PARsoS AGAIN rNrERcEDEs
He returned to the White House at las
O'Clock, but at that time the President was
at lunch and could not see him Just then.
DIR. Parson was more than ever satisfied after
the medical examination by the physicians that
Schneider was a mental wreck. He told a STAR
reporter at the White House that while President
Cleveland had held out no hope at ali of executive
clemeacy vet he thought there was still a
chance. At the afternoon conference with the
President DIR. Parson handed him a carefully
prepared paper that set forth at some length
the reasons why a respite should be granted.
WHY HE Is SO URGENT.
DR.. Parson told the reporter that he would
not turn a hand to obtain a Communication of
Schneider's sentence or to secure him a single
hours reprieve were he not satisfied that the
man was insane, for the nature of Schneider s
CRIME was such as to merit punishment of a capi-
tai nature if the man was responsible for his act
He urged upon the President in the second
interview the deslrability Of granting a reason
able reprleve in order that Schneider might
ue confined in the hospital for the insane,
where 1t could soon be determined
whether not he was malingering. In case he
was decided zane the sentence which had been |
suspended Cor the time could be carried into |
effect. 1t was very evident, however. that even |
DIR. Parson, who has been indefatigable in |
practically no hope that his labors would be |
successful |
SECRETARY GREsHAM's INTEREST.
The fact developed late this afternoon that |
Secretary Greshams call upon Mr. Cleveland
this morning was in connection with the |
Schneider case. Mr.. A. W. Wiltshire. a |
MIR. Greshsms and a relative of the Schneider |
family, called upon the Secretary of State this |
morning to learn the exact status Of the ap- |
peal for clemency. This Mr.. Gresham |
could not give without seeing the Presi- |
dent and his call at the White House |
was for the purpose of ascertaining. |
not of interfering. 1t is possible that Mr. |
Wiltshire may have an interview with the |
President late this afternoon or evening.
MRS. PRATT TELLS OF HER INTERVIEW.
Notwithstanding the assertion credited to |
Warden Burke that Howard Schneider showed |
no feeling when one of the members of the |
Onion Mission prayed with him at the Jail yes
terday the opinion OF Lizzie c. Pratt who was 1
at the head Of the Bethesda Park branch of the |
Union Mission, differs with him. Mrs. Pratt lis /
the lady who yesterday persuaded Schneider to /
allow her to pray with him.
Mrs. Pratt said to STAR reporter today that
she had made many attempts to secure Schnei-
der attention, but he had always repulsed her
Yesterday, however, she renewed her efforts
and wrote him a note. which read as follows:
will Mr.. Schneider allow me to see him for
but five minutes lSignedl From Mother.
She wen. further along the corridor and was
about to leave the jail when Deputy Warden
Smith recalled her and requested her to make
another attempt to see the condemned
kneeling the outside, passed her hand
through the bars and grasped that of
Schneider's She offered up for him the Prodi-
gals prayer, which begins 'Oh, Lord, have
mercy on me, q sinner" Mrs. Pratt was so
overcome that she broke down herself and
wept "He looked me squarely in the face"
she continued, land though was too much
overcome to assert positively that Howard's
eyes moistened knew that by the pressure of
his hand on mine, and from the fact that his
lips moved in repetition Of something, that he
y1s doing"
Schneider laid down upon his cot about 8
0 clock last evening and slept until O'Clock
this morning. He did not remove his clothing
but he rested better than he had for
some time.
He arose apparently much refreshed. and
conversed in an aimless way until about 9
o clock, when his mother and brother William
called to see him.
His heart-broken mother, accompanied by
his brother. was conducted by one Of the on
Gers of the jail to the doomed mans cell where
IN affecting interview Of about fifteen minutes
followed. Schneider received his mother with
out any display Of unusual affection, but was
apparently little moved.
While his mother Was with him some stewed
oysters were prepared for him and also milk
punch. Handing them 10 her unfortuusts son, |
hs partook Of them very heartily, and also
frank quite large quantity Of coffee.
HIs NorHxR TALKED WITH Hm
His mother at beside him and held q convsr.
lation with HIM In an almost inaudibls toue.
Ehe doing most Of the talking.
The strain upon the poor mother Was almost
anendursble and shortly after her wretched
Don had finished his breakfast she bid
ain farewell, taking him in her arms and
kissing him The condemned man |
.as then hardly len oydemonstrasive. After bid
ling his mother farewell 6chneider shook
(consssssd o. 6iztA Pass. :,