Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-05
Peter Schnatz, Hungarian Labor
er, Accused by FriendIessL Little
tleyen.Year-Oid Girl.
GRlNNED AS HE DENIED GUILT
Complaint Made by Boarder Who Was
Ordered Out Of House Resulted in
investigation by Police and Arrest
Of the Man-Chid Was Sent Here
to Prisoners Sster-in-Law

One Of the most revolving cases With
which the local police have ever had
To deal was brought to the attention
of The department yesterday. An in
NcstigatiOn resulted in the arrest O!
Peter Schnatz, a Hungarian employed
AT the shipyard as labOrer, on the
charge OF crnlinallv assaultinS Katie
Noll a little 1l-year-old Hungarian
girl. The prisoner was placed in 4
cell at the station house and will be
given q preliminary hearing by Justice
Brown in the police court tomorrow
morning
Sent Here by Father.
Until last November Katie Noll
whose mother is dead, lived her grand
parents in hungary. She was sent 70
Baltimore to join her father. who lives
in that City With his second Wife. The
child was kept there until early in
January. when she was sent to this
city to be taken care Of by Mrs
Michael Schnatz. a distant relative
who keeps a boarding house at 3Sll
Huntington avenue
Michael SchnatZ. who was formerly
employed at the snpvard as a machin
list, is said TO have left this country
several months ago With the party
which Went To Russia With Con
structor Peacock to set up Lake sub
marine boats. His brother Peter
whose Wife and children we're recent
" sent 70 Hungary, boarded at the
house
MIR. Laska's Action.
Several days ago Paul l-aska Il Ger
man, who boarded Il; the Schnarz
house. noticed some peculiar actions
upon the part Of Peter Schnatz. ana
came TO the conclusion that the latter
was treating the Noll Child improper.
~ He had q talk with Mrs Sclnatz
and the woman received his story with
tears.
Laska went 10 his work q, the ship
yard as usual on the morning he ap
preached Mrs Schuatz anu when he
returned in the evening was informed
that he would have 10 lock for an
other boarding house.
He then looked up John Thesis. LED
Schultz and several other well known
local Germans and laid the case be-
Tore them. The entire party went 10
the police station yesterday atte,l
noon ana Informed Chief OF Police
Johnson Ct what had happened.
The chief dispatched Sergeant
- : go q sSiitt NAi!ASl AoIlSlloH 10 NliS.
Schnatz's house and Peter Schna,z
and the girl were brought 10 the sta.
ton.
Girl Tells Her Story.
III the chiefs office. through an in.
tcrprctGr, the child told a story which
chilled the hearts Of those who heard
il. Only the prisoner himself seemed
nnmoved. He merely grinned as tie
girl talked and. when questioned By
the officers, lightly denied his guilt
The girl IS small even for her wears
and is mere child. although she
seems TO be bright and intelligent. She
is bue-eyed and pretty and apparent.
y as innocent as baby. Chief John
son decided not TO allow her to be
taken back to the Schnatz house. He
sent her home With Mr.. Thesis, to be
cared for by the lattcrs wife for the
present. a telegram was sent TO the
child's father notifying him OF the
state of affairs
II criminal assault cases the Vir.
Ginia law makes the age Of consent IA
years and the penalty for the crime is
death. The prisoner does not seem tc
realize the gravity OF the situation
and has not made a serious statement
since his arrest. He is 81 years old
aud Of an unprepossessing anrear-
ancc.