The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-26
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SELF DEFENSE?
Nicholas Schmidt Was Killed
Yesterday In His
Saloon.
BREnnERv ADMITS THE DEED
Says He Feared for His Life
and Shot to Save
Himself.

Nicholas Schmidt, who ran a saloon, at
| No. 1,134 summit avenue, was snot
| through the heart and instantly killed IN
| his saloon early yesterday morning py
Theodore Brunnert, a motcrman IN the
| employ Of the Jersey City, Hoboken ana
| Rutherford Railway Company
lives at Homestead and after the snootr
ing he made his way directly nome,
where he was arrested a few hours later.
So far as the police can learn the shoot
ing was lone in self defense. When ar
raigned in the Second Criminal Court
yesterday, on a charge Of murder Brun-
merits appearance was very much that
of a man who had received terrible pun
shment. His head was a mass Of bruises
and one of his eyes seemed to have been
almost gouged out of his head. He had
but little to say. He simply denied a
story to the effect that the shooting oc-
| Cured outside Schnidt's saloon. He was
held without bail.
Schmidt was a married man, a widow
and five children survive him. Brunnert
i sa single man. He boarded with a
family at homestead.
1t appear that Brunnert, who had been
visiting some friends in this city Sun
day night, on his way home stepped INTO
Schniidt's saloon and after drinking a
few glasses of beer sank into a chat ana
fell asleep. When Schmidt got ready TO
close his saloon he attempted to arouse
Brunnert from his slumber and used force.
Brunnert resented the rough usage and
the two men began to fight.
The Schmidts live in the house in which
the saloon is located. Hearing the scuf-
file Mrs. Schmidt rushed from.a rear room
| screaming for help. Martin Schmidt, the
| s-aloonkeeper's son, also rushed down
| stairs and helped his father in his efforts
| to eject Brunnert.
claims tina he was unmerci-
| fully dubbed and a broken club found IN
| the saloon was exhibited in court yester-
| day. Brunnert claims that he had beer
| forced to a STOPPING posture by the CLUB
! bling he was receiving and fearing deatf
| pulled a revolver from his hip pocket am
| blazed away at Schmidt. The latter sani
| to the floor almost without a groan. Mar
tin the son. was stunned by the tragedy
| and Brunnert, with his face covered will
blood left the saloon and made for HI:
home.
AS soon az the police learned of tn
tragedy they sought the murderer me.
had only a description Of him and the1
were informed that he was a motormal
on the Rutherford Road. Police Captain
Wohlleben Immediately telephoned - IL
power house Of the railway ompan ant
got word back that a motorman answer
ing the description lived on the Paterson
Plank Road at Homestead Patrolmal
Rockford had already been dispatched t
the railway company's office in Hobo
ken.
Police Inspector Archibald as ActinI
Chief of Police, as soon as he heard Q
the murder at Police Headquarters. wen
Immediately to join Captain Wohllebe'
in the search for Brunnert. With Patrol
man William Holderer they set out on
walk to Homestead, as no cars were rur
ming over the road at that hour of "a
morning. They found Brunnert at III
boarding house. He quietly submitted I
arrest, merely remarking that ne cIo IN
shooting to save his own life.
Martin Schmidt the son OF the murdel
ed man, declares that he and ms fatnt
had elected Brunnert from the saloon SD
the latter turned on the sidewalk an
she his father who was standing IN tn
door way.
Brunnert has a fair reputation.
Schmidt had conducted an orderl
saloon for some time in that neighbol
hood. He was a prominent member c
several German societies.