The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-20
MRS. SCHMIDTS TRIAL
Murderess of Oscar Walton Faces
a Jury To-Day at KOkomo.
Eventful History of the Niece of Baron
ess Scbingling-Two Youths Plot
ted TO Burn Peru.
speciaI 70 The Indianapolis journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
KOKOMO, Ind, March 19.-The Augusta
Schmidt murder case took an unexpected
turn to-day. Heretofore the policy of the
defense has been to stave of the trial as
long as possible in the hope that Mrs.
Sarah Walton. the aged mother OF Mrs.
Schmidt's victim, would be removed by
the hand OF death. Mrs. Walton, who is
seventy years old and feeble, is the only
eyewitness to the tragedy that can be
used by the State. The only other witness
TO the killing was the ten-year-old son or
the prisoner. The aged Mrs. Walton de-
clines to accommodate the defense by i'm
mediate dissolution, and expresses a de-
termination TO live to see the murder her
son avenged. Seeing no further advantage
In delay, the attorneys for the defense an
nounced their readiness for trial, and
asked for a special venire of forty tales
men from which TO select the jury. Judge
kirkpatrick sustained the motion, and the
trial begins at once. Mrs. Schmidt, the
murderess, Is forty-five years old, with a
husband and three children, the youngest
but three years old. She recently came in
possession of a fortune of 10000. Oct. 20
last. Mrs. Schmidt. in a towering passion,
shot and instantly killed James Oscar Wal
ton. a tenant on one of her farms near the
wv VI NdilOU, lass county. Inc vlclin
was a member of a prominent family, in
honor of which the town of Walton was
named. The murder created intense ex-
citment, and a i~ynehing was narrowly
averted. To escape violence the woman
was taken to the Logansport Jail. She was
indicted for murder in the first degree by
the Cass county grand jury and remanded
to jail without bail. The Supreme Court
was appealed to in habeas corpus pro-
ceedings, but that body declined to admit
her to bail. She then took a change of
venue to this county for trial.
The woman has an e~ventful and inter-
esting history. Augusta Crumbine her
maiden nance was born In Germany in
ts4s- When twenty years old she came to
America at the earnest solicitation of her
aunt, Mrs. Christiana Hooper, of this city,
who promised to make the girl the sole
heir and legatee of the vast Hooper es-
tate. Thus persuaded, Augusta declined a
desirable offer Of marriage in the father
land and came to this country to live with
the rich aunt. Mrs. Hooper was a miser
OF the most heartless kind and the girl
had anything but a pleasant time of it.
When not out collecting rents for the
scores of properties owned by the old lady
she was compelled to work in the fields
o. AA@ gill ~ Il Ills
was not what Augusta Largained for, but
being at the mercy of the grasping old
aunt there was nothing to do but submit.
Six years ago the old lady died miserably
nail In her foot while breaking up old
boards for firewood. Then followed a dis
graceful struggle for the old romans es-
tate. claimants from all parts OF the world
nocked here and sought to seize the prop
erty. Against the horde. of cormorants
Augusta battled successfully. She took
forcible possession Of the chattels and. after
four years litigation, all the titles were
9uieted in her favor. Among the effects
LETT by the misery woman was q certain
mysterious and much talked of tin box that
no one had ever seen inside of except Mrs.
hooper herselI: me box was found Sc,
GREETED In an attic and Its opening revealed
$1,000 In government bonds. a large amount
OF gold. and titles TO properties she was
not known TO have possessed. The most
startling discovery of all was papers and
documents showing that Mrs. Hooper was,
at one time, a German Baroness, and that
Augusta was also OF noble birth. Mrs.
Hooper's first husband was Baron Johann
Schingling. of the province of Zwickau,
lea on a visit, but the Baron and their only
child, an infant daughter, died at sea. The
greater ats and Porf thor t 9f the of S Sob1IitV r re-
verted to a brother of the deceased, the
widow still having a good portion left. The
latter settled In this city and a few FEARS
later married Walter Hooper. a wheelwright
in comfortable circumstances, and they in
creased the fortune to 100000. Mrs. Hooper
hCUL LHC nAdANCA vi MI me- LAo S1NAC
in life a secret, the evidences being guarded
in the mysterious tin box found after her
death. Augusta, her niece and legal heir,
now on trial for murder, was forbidden to
disclose the cherished secret on penalty of
disinheritance and, during the life OF the
old lady, maintained a discreet silence.
Twelve years ago Augusta married Chas-
Schmidt, a well-to-do Cass county farmer.
Mrs Schmidt. through nng ASSOCIATION
with the miserly aunt, became as grasp
ing and avaricious. She developed a
vicious temper and was thoroughly, hated
by every body with whom she had deal
OF Walton was rented to Oscar Walton.
who. with his aged parents. lived in part
Of the house, the Schmidts occupying the
other part. Mrs. Schmidt and Walton quar-
shooting followed. The killing occurred I'm
the doorway between the two parts of the
house. Walton'S body falling acrOsu the
threshold. The woman sets up a claim of
self-defense, conten1ing that Walton struck
her once and was in the act of striking her
again with his fist when she drew the re-
volver from the folds of her dress ana fired
the fatal shot. The State will put on num-
malicious and premeditated. and that she
had made frequent threats to kill him. The
woman is being defended by Blacklidge,
Shirley q Moon. of this city, and Dyke
Dor, of Logansport. District Attorney Kist-
Ter. of Logansport, and prosecutors Pyke
and Wolf. OF this city, are assisted by Bell
& Purdum. The States attorneys are conf
dent of conviction. Five months confine-
ment I'm Jail has made a marked change in
the personal appearance of the prisoner.
She is in bad health and complains of in
tense suffering from the wounds received in
her struggle with Walton.
The wealth of the old Baroness has APP
parently brought a curse. out OF nearly
$50. 900 secured by Mrs. Schmidt as her share
in the estate il is said that very little re-
r,nfnu the rnnnau having hnan uVnCtad in