The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-09-20
MURDER FOR INSURANCE.
The Butchery OF His Family for
Which Geo. Sc climOuse Was Hanged.

PITTSBURG. PA, Sept. 20, 1894.-Geo.
Schmouse was hanged here at lO:46 TINS
morning.
Schmouse spent a very quiet night,
resting nearly all of the time. Fathers
Schramm and Christopher were with him
until nine o'clock. The condemned man
retired at. ten o'clock AT one O'Clock
this morning he arose and smoked for
half an hour. Fee again slept untll TOUR
O'Clock, and, after a few moments wake
fulness, slept until six o'clock: Schmouse
then carefully dressed himself in the new
suit of black clothes provided for the oc-
casion. He partcok of hearty break
fast, seemingly without concern. Later
he was attended by his own spiritual t1u-
visers and four sisters of mercy, VINO
prayed with him until nine o'clock. The
sisters then retired. The priests remain
ed until after the execution
There were no scenes or special incl
dents surrounding the affair. Within one
minute from the time the prisoner
stepped upon the trap the drop fell and
all was over. Death was caused by stran-
gulation. The body hung for sixteen
minutes. Schmouse walked to the scaf-
fold without any visible sign OF tre1nor
supported by a priest on either side. me
priests knelt at the foot of the scafold,
Offering up prayers for the repoSe OF the
soul of the dead. After Schmouse stepped
except a suppressed Oh just as the
drop fell.
The only witnesses to the execution,
aside from his religious counsellors, We're
the physicians and sheriff's jury, a corps
of deputy sheriffs and representatives oI
the press.
Until Tuesday of this week it was ex-
peeted that there would be two exc
cutions upon the same Scanold in the
Allegheny County Jail yard today A
reprieve for George Du5ovic was granted
by the Governor on the ground OF IN
sanity, and George Schmouse died alone
The triple murder for which Schmouse
was convicted in September, 1888, took
place on the morning of July 26, 1895.
Cnl,, most
horrible crimes ever heard of and all
to secure the paltry insurance on MS
Wife's and children's lives. FOR some
unacountable reason he permitted John-
nv aged s years, and an infant, 10 ilVe.
johnny was the chief witness against
the father 1t was on his evidence that
the inhuman father and husband was
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree Early on the morning of the crime
the Schmouse residence on the hlllsldc
overlooking. South Pittsburg was l.a1 us
from the house the partly consumed pod
les of Mrs. Schmouse and her two Httie
girls The heads of all three had peer
Z rlsettte-etigswftf4s q hammer that was 1ouHd
IN one of the rooms. The house had
been set on fire to conceal the crime.
THE case was appealed to the Supreme
Court but the decision of the lower court
sustaining the verdict, was affirmed The
stoId demeanor which had character
lied Schmouse since his conV1ction con-
tinued until Tuesday last, at when time
the first sign of emotion occurred when
his son Johnny, for the first time visited
him in his cell. The two embraced and
|.affectionately kissed each other repeat,ed555 i
" and amid a shower of tears each plu
tbe other farewell forever. The murder
er's naughty demeanor was completely
broken, since which time his mind mas
been greatly troubled.
haggard in appearance. He soon fat
tened up, but within the past few, days
he has lost much in weight, and this
i VNiAi iabt
All of his friends forsook him, and none
but priests and sisters of mercy called
to enquire concerning his welfare The I
terrible nature of his crime resulted III
dicated. Throughout his incarceration
Schmouse has eaten heartily, slept well
and smoked a great deal: Sehmouse WSs
a Bayarian, 81 years of age lie came
= this cnIlntrY ten wears ago.