The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-29
FRITZ MEYER INDICTED.
TRIAL oFPoLICEMAN SMITHS MUIR
II 10 BEGIN MONDAI.
The Church Robbcr Again Admits kiiinE
Smith, ana Tells the story OF His Crime
Denies EiiiinE tho williamsburg sexton
Will Commit Suicide ir ESQ Gets the chance.

and killed Policeman Frederick Smith early
Wednesday morning, was indicted yesterday by
the Grand Jury for murder in the first degree.
At 10 o'clock Meyer, handcuhcd to two 20.
licemcn IN civilian dress, was led out OF tho
Fifth street station house and hustled into tho
police patrol wagon. A big crowd had gathered
in front Of the station house, and many threw
stones at the murderer IA tho patrol wagon
was driven away. Capt. Horribly, with a squad
Of fifteen policemen, drove the mob back when
they attempted to follow the patrol wagon.
The murderer was taken TO tho Criminal
Court building, where another crowd had
gathered to get a glimpse of him. He was led
into the Coroncrs' office. where Coroner lloeber
was waiting for him.
Policeman William Conkling, who was with
Policeman Smith at tho timo the latter was
killed, appeared Mt the Coroncrs' office with
two Of the Christian Brothers attached to the
Church Of the Most Holy Rcdccmcr. on Third
street. Tho policeman and the two Brothers
made statements under oath, and then Coroner
Hocber committed the murderer to the Tombs.
Half an hour later District Attorney Olcott
presented the case to the Grand Jury, produce
ing as witnesses Police Capt. Hcrlihy, Police
man Conklin, and tho man who helped to cap
ture the murderer, Max Schmidt Of 1862 Sew
enth street. On the testimony of these witnesses
the Grand Jury found a true bill for murder
in the first degree.
Meyer was then brought over from the
Tombs and arraigncd in Part l., General Ses.
sions, to plead TO the indictment. When he
was led up to the bar Lawyer J. J. Halligan
walked beside him. When Clerk Hall asked
Meyer to plead Lawyer J. J. Hulligan said:
Your Honor. Mr.. Purdy, my associate. has
procured n writ OF habcas corpus to produce
this man in the Supreme Court. ! simply say
this TO set matters straight. We arc not salts.
fled with the form of indictment. We have
some money, but not enough. We undertook
this case without money and would now like to
be regularly assigned to it."
Have you been retained by this prisoneri"
asked Judge Cowing.
mo, sir" answered the lawyer.
"Sit down." said tho Judge; this is an i'm
portant case. l shall assign former Assistant
District Attorney O'Hare TO the case"
~ would like to put this defendant on trial
before Justice Fursman in the criminal branch
of the Supreme Court on Monday, said District
Attorney Olcott.
II will agree to that" said Mr.. O'Hare. "on
the condition that we get only a jury on Mon
day, and begin the taking of testimony on
Wednesday,"
Judge Cowing set the trial down for Monday
on that understanding.
The prisoner, Meyer, was then taken to the
IOmDS. Nnen seen In MS cell Dy q Sun re-
porter he said:
Il wish they'd hurry the case through. for
there's no hope OF saving me. You see it was
q murder committed while was in the act of
committing a felony. That makes 1t murder
In tue first degree. l know they would not ac.
cept a plea Of murder in the second degree. be-
cause the District Attorney Is too stern q man.
II he wasn't SO stern l might get off with a life
sentence, but | see there Is no hope for me. SO I
want the thing put through in a hurry. l
haven't eaten anything since / did it, because
there is no use for a man. who is doomed to die,
no my e easep " ns suppose %o en they aSw saP Send s hiym a ao tSs
electric chair right away Well, that would
suit me. You see there was no excuse for this
murder. l went into the church to steal, and,
when caught in the act, ! killed the man who
caught me. The public, | know. think it was
papers would use, .dastardIy.' | lay awake
all night thinking about it. thought that If
ago. A man called here to-day. and tried to
pump me for information. He talked kindly to
me and said he felt sorry for me.
Il knew he was lying, because no one will
EEL sorry for e man who commits a murder in
this sort, and, when l talk about the murder, 1
don't wish to be considered q hero. People
cumstancesi \ burglar in the act of COM
hitting a burglary is stopped and kills the man
lie want to lynch tho burglar. Some old wo-
men will call on the murderer with flowers.
ers9@iil w saH: Sa Oh, hh e!I insa ns4 I Pc w fHYf fhev o on1v
would say something Ike that. and I'd have a
chance for my neck. Some people will say
senses. They will.sa again Hes a desperado.'
but look at me anu say what you think"
- have no opinion to express answered THE
We'll" continued, the murderer, that shows
where your head is level. The fellow who was
here to-day was asked that question ana he
said | had an honest look in my facc. l told
him he was either a fool or a liar: That he had
some unknown reason. Then | said / had been
a thief for fifteen years and that seemed TO sur,
RR prise him i'm, B ; the way was the policeman
No" replied the newspaper man.
well, I'm glad I'm not going TO he Mt the
funeral or the mob might bury ms with him.
AS It's al. up with me, however, III be oblig'
ing enough to answer any questions you wish
How long hayee. you been in New ,Yorkf,"
WinismibIrs: He was Killed il the same
stop the church, %poor-boN rohhcr. and got hit
on the head with a jimmy. That Was1lct me
think i did. why didn't they arrest moi I've
been around New York ever since. Some one
says a man saw me eome out Of that Williams
any one see me commit that %nlurdcri No,
didn't do it. You see, ! am a pmladelphian
don't know anything about Brooklyn or vii
liamsburg.""
md ,GT me-, P s2H@ s SYIs SSp are from williamsburg
We'll, said Meyer lived over there II
haven't been there since"
When asked what part of Williamsburg he hat
lived In Meyer, answered B~ushwick avenue
within two blocks of the church where Stoli
was murdered.
~ wish you'd leave williamsburg out OF my
life story continued Meyer. my lodg,
memhers over there would try to hunt me NJ
II they knew this, but | don't want any OF then
70 hear of the trouble I'm in. They ncvel
knew l led a double life. Some OF them NIGH
come over her, and identify mc and give my
right name. Then my wife would learn all
! nave a wife and three little children. My
wife left me about seven months ago, and
don't want to say. where she lives. IN saS
philadelphia. Put il down Philadelphia. Their,
was Il man when ! recognized on tile street TO
y day. Hes u Williams burger. used to NEE,
MN AT plcnicS out AT Ridgcwood and othcl
places near WILLIAMSBURG. Also In Bum
gaertner.1 Military Hall on Leonard street.
worked there as bartender no, | didn't worl
theTc--i worked in I, grocery store in Williams
burg; WI, yoa needn't print that. 1t nigh
from Louis Phillips Turn Hall might hcaI
= % It. just say that | haven't been in BrooS
lVn IN nfNan, "a -. ~ 81 - ~