The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-22
WOMAN AT DOOR
DURING MURDER
st. Paul Police Think Negro, with
White Accomplish, Killed
Schindeldecker.

Chief O'Connor and the st. Paul po-
lice officials working on the Schmidt
decker murder mystery incline to the
opinion that the murderer Of the Sew
enth street butcher was negro. They
say. that the negro may have had
white accomplish.
The story~of woman who saw the
negro standing in front Of the butcher
shop shortly after IL CLOCK Saturday
noon has changed the views Of the Of
ficials.
II would know the man ten years
from now declared Mrs. Poppler,
. that is, I would be able to recognize
the negro, but l am not sure about
identifying the white man. !"
Mrs. Poppler's Story.
Mrs. Poppler lives on Cliff street.
About IL O'Clock Saturday, she started
for the butcher shop. As she came
near she saw tall, broad-shoulde cred
negro standing in front. She took
particular notice Of the man, and de-
swarthy white man. He had a mus
tache and she noticed particularly that
he had prominent cheek bones. He
wore black overcoat and very wide
faded overalls.
The man held seamless grain sack
in his right hand. Mrs. Popp1er decided
W ~ W IAe RIoceIy SGoLe, one uoor eaeI
and do some trading before purchasing
hei meat. She was in the grocery but
a few minutes. The negro was still in
front of the shop.
Recollecting that she wanted to ask
the grOceryman for the use of his meat
cutter on Sunday, she went back.
In less than five minutes she came
out and tried to open the door Of the
butcher shop. ..s .-.~-
! The negro was not then in sight. As
she ratified the latch white man came
around the corner, peered into the win
dow and then looked at her. ....-=..
81 Was Frightened
ssThe look he gave me was such q
bad ,one,'' said Mrs. Poppler, "that !
became frightened and walked away.
went to another shop for my meat"
An hour later Mrs. Poppler heard of
time she was trying to enter. the shop
the proprietor was being butchered, she
was nearly FRUSTRATED.
She said nothing until Monday, when
she told the story to neighbor: The
neighbor immediately reported the
i facts to the police. -.....
j City Clerk Reddington, who was
walking up Seventh street at l2:4s
pm. Saturday, corroborates the state
| IueutS u MIo. IogPAoI. III paw
He says that when near Leech street
he saw two men approaching. On
was tall, broad-shouldered, and either
a negro or very swarthy. The othel
was white and wore red mustache.
City Clerk Saw Them.
/ II took particular notice. sale
Reddington, t!because the thou ht en-
tered my mind that they might be tn
fellows who had attempted to blow VI
4 the administration building at the fort
What called my attention " them wa
that, at distance, they appeared t.
have on light blue trousers, such as ar
worn by soldiers. As they came neare
I saw that they had on overalls, an
they were particularly wide ones and o
faded COLOR 49,.
! Deputy Coroner Whitcomb, who wa
at the Seven Corners on his way to tn
scene Of he'suicide, as It was then SUP
: posed to be, declares that he met tn
. larger Of the two men just as he wa
! about to take a west-bound car O.
0 Seventh street. As he passed the fe
low remarked, "I guess another Of the1
butchers has been done up.' ~ :