The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-11-20
Speaking of His Attack on
Roosevelt.
ALIENISTS WATCH PRISONER
Who Appears to Have Little
Concern for the Court
Proceedings.
SURE AGAINST A THIRD TERN

Milwaukee, Wis. Nov. 12.-Five
Milwaukee alienists, to act as a part
of his Court, in determining the
mental condition of Colonel Roose-
velt's assailant, were appointed by
Judge A. c.. Backus to-day, after
John Schrank had pleaded guilty,
of an attempt to murder the former
President.
The Courts action was the first
such practice in Wisconsin criminal
procedure. Under a recent statute
the Court was given this power.
James G.. Flanders. a leading
Milwaukee attorney, appointed to
represent Schrank in the sanity in
QUESTION, had two brief talks with
his client, but neither gave indica-
tion of what Schrank would decide
to do.
Asked il Theodore Roosevelt
would be summoned by Schrank,
Attorney Flanders said it was not
likely, as there probably was little
light Colonel Roosevelt could throw
on the present mental conditions of
of his assailant.
Fewer than $50 persons listened
to the proceedings and watched the
small, compact form of Schrank as
he stepped slowly to the bar and
entered his plea. OF this number
20 detectives and half a score of
Deputy Sheriffs kept Unnecessary,
but vigiIant, watch on all persons
in the room not known to them.
The District Attorney read the
complaint in which Schrank was
accused of having made an assault
upon the person of zone Theodore
Roosevelt with a deadly weapon
and with intent then and there to
kill and Stay the said Theodore
Roosevelt
How do you plead to this
charger" the Prosecutor asked the
prisoner standing at his elbow.
why, guilty. Mr.. label" re-
piled the prisoner, in a confused
way, as though not sure he was fol-
lowing the PROPER procedure.
You have heard the complaint"
interposed Judge Backus I'm n loud
voice; you understand that in 1t
you are charged with having at
tempted to murder Theodore Roose-
welt. Do you plead guilty or not
guilty."
Il did not mean to kill a citizen,
judge began Schrank, and the
crowd in the courtroom gave first
audible evidence of its interest in
the case.
II shot Theodore Roosevelt be-
cause he was a menace to the coun-
try. He should not have third |
term. 1t is bad that a man should |
have a third term. l did not want
him to have one. | shot him as a |
warning that men must not try to
have more than two terms as Pres
ident.
81 shot Theodore Roosevelt to
kill him. | think all men trying to
keep themselves in Office should be
killed; they become dangerous.
did not do it because he was a can |
didate of the Progressive party,
either, gentlemen" he concluded.
IAN right" interrupted the
Court, taking from the District At
torney the plea for Sanity Com
mission for the defendant He read
it hastily while the Prosecutor ex-
planned its purport.
THE man Is insane" said the
District Attorney. 1T would be
wrong to sentence him for a crime
If he was mentally unsound, just
because he was willing to plead
guilty"
schrank appeared little concern
ed.
Now, am not concerned at the
outcome. My crime Is a political
crime more than a crime against
humanity, and | guess that with all
the political crime that has taken
place in the last few years they
won't be very hard on me. Howev-
er, If they do give it to me hard,
WIN guess can take my medi-
cine" said Schrank.