The Washington herald., 1912-10-17
WouId-be assassin Tells Ills
stDIy- Declares. that
No Is Sane.
PRISONER IS cAUGHT N LIE.
Bersusd nsasy 10 Trail Colonel,
Instead Of Raising Il On
Real Estate.


ning gait John F1amming schrank slouch-
ed into the ofice OF Chief Jannsen. At
police headquarters late to-day. and with
. hollow good afternoon" slid into .
chair. Behind him came two deputy
sheriffs. who watched him as q tiger eyes
its prey.
Chief Jannsen had telephoned over to
the county jail. across the way from po-
lice headquarters. for Schrank. % the
writer might interrogate him on the at
tempt to kill Col. Roosevelt
Schrank acted ~ he skunk into the Of
dee a. though he was disSusted with
everything but himself. As he walked
into the chiefs ONCE the would-be as
scrutinixing sQaint with his steely gray
blue eyes. With an impatient gesture he
swung his faded brown felt hat in the
air and as he Topped into q chair gave
q weary grunt.
"John. Newspaper men want to ques-
ton you" remarked the chief pufing q
cigar.
"what is itr' demanded schrank. fret
fully. I've talked my head of since I
hred the shot at Roosevelt haven't
anything to say"
what was tho motive back Of the
shooting Of the colonelr' asked the
writer.
schrank shifted In his chair and tap
ped the floor with the blunt toe Of .
well worn shoe. Haven't I told every
body that Roosevelt was too ambitious?'
he snorted. They're all trying to make
mo out crazy as II did 1t because
Roosevelt hadn't been eager to get that
third term he'd be alive now
Do you think he IL dead?" was asked.
Il don't know anything about it."
snapped Schrank. Whats more don't
care a hang. They haven't told me II
I killed him. I came here to do 1t and
II I didn't then anyhow I did all
could. II he's alive I made a bad job
Of it,
Schrank spoke clearly and with a tone
Of anger. He wanted to be let alone. In
silence the stunted. chunky phlegmauc
trisoner waited for the next question,
lingering his hat the while.
why did you wait 30 long after
making up your mind q month ago to
kill the colonel before firing the shot?"
asked the writer.
ALL snarled Schrank. Hes the slickest
man ever saw. makes people think he's
coming out Of one door and pops out of
another: how could I get him when he
fooled that way"
II almost did get him at Chattanooga.
though" Schrank went on for the flrst
time betraying . real interest in the
interview. It had my revolver tucked In
my vest pocket and stood At the automo-
bile Al he came out Of the depot on
Sunday night. Everything was all right
for a shot. but I was afraid I'd hit
somebody else. they were all crowding
so."
What difference did 1t make to you
II you killed any one else II you &C.
complishsd your idea Of shooting the
colonelT'
That's q fool question:" returned
Schrank scornfully. Nobody had done
me harm but Roosevelt. He'd harmed
the whole country by being third
termer, ana I had to get rid of him.
Nobody else was running for third
term. was hep
Schrank responded to the questions
with alacrity. He listened keenly and
gave no evidence Of the obtuse men,
tality which the police have attributed
to him. His command Of language was
easy and he did not express himself
in the hesitating broken phrase the po-
lice inquisition the night OF the shoot
ing indicated. In ract. Schrank i'm
presses one with being entirely in con-
troll of his mental faculties. Not a sign
OF nervousness is apparent When
Schrank speaks Of It being his stern OBJ
legation to shoot Colonel Roosevelt. he
says 1t in the manner Of a man who
may allow that he has done something
out of the ordinary but that circum-
stances extenuate the crime.
The dumpy, squat.faced prisoner
evinced q show Of temper only once dur
Ing the interview. That was when he
was asked II he had come to Milwaukee
to murder the colonel because there u
no capital punishment In Wisconsin.
You thought, didn't you. that you
could escape the electric chair II you
killed him hereT' was put to him.
Schrank's pallid face lit up with q i
flush Of resentment for q moment as he
flashed. Il don't caro- about the electric
chair. II they bring one In here now I'll
sit in II. and they can 90 a. far as they |
like"