The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-25
MRS. IDA SCHMIDT
TURNED LOOSE BY
JUDGE BENNERS
Heflin Causes Something of
Sensation by Statement
to the Court
DETECTIVES CHIEF
WITNESSES IN CASE
Mrs. Sallie C. Wheeler Testified That
the Schmidt Woman Had
Confessed the Crime
to Her


Guy Coleman and Steve Strickland, two
prominent business men of the city whose
death by poison in December. 1910. caused
big sensation.
The star witnesses for the state were
Mrs. sallie c. Wheeler, who claimed to
be employed by the Pinkerton Detec-
tive agency. and who testified that she
had extracted confession from the
Schmidt woman by posing as a fortune
teller, and A. c. Hellwig of New Or
leans, formerly in charge Of local de-
tective agency who also testified to hear
ing certain admissions of guilt by the de-
PENDANT
Sensation of the Hearing
The sensation of the trial vas when the
name of Emil Lesser, former president
of the Turn Verein and one of the best
known men in the district, was brought
into the case.
Mrs. Wheeler testified that the defend
ant had told her that she had received
$500 as the first installment for her part
In the poisoning of the two men, and
that the money was paid by a prominent
business man of the city, but when asked
Il the money had been paid by Emil
Lesser, the defendant declined to say.
There was nothing brought out in the
testimony to connect Mr.. Lesser with the
crime In any particular except the state
ment of Mrs. Wheeler, witch was not
corroborated.
Representing the state were Solicitor
Helm and Borden Burr. The defend
ant attorneys were Erie Pettus and
Mr. Scrivener.
At the conclusion of the evidence the
state offered to submit the case without
argument but to this the defendants
counsel objected. Mr. Burr briefly stated
the states case. lie was followed by the
attorneys for the defense, who made
strong arguments for the release of tlu
defendant AMI vigorously denounced the
evidence submitted by Mrs. Wheeler as
being unreasonable and far fetched.
Helm Addresses Court
At the conclusion Solicitor Helm add
dressed the court and said ~ our honor
1t is the duty of the state TO protect the
innocent as we'll as to punish the guilty
You have heard the evidence in this case
,
how the evidence against this defendant
has impressed you but l am free to con-
fess X has not impressed me. | say hold
the defendant IL YOU think her guilty, If
not discharge her."
This statement of Mr.. Heflin caused
mild sensation, and at the conclusion
Judge Benners stated the state had
failed to make out a case and discharged
the defendant
Courtroom Crowded
The hearing commenced yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock and was heard in
the second division of the circuit court.
The room was crowded all day and the
utmost interest manifested IN the pro-
ceedings. The defendant was not put on
the stand nor We're any witnesses intro
duced In her behalf. As soon as the
state closed the attorney for the defence
asked that the defendant be discharged,
as the state has failed to make out a
case.
The first witness introduced was l.. Il.
Anderson, who was present at the death
of the two men. His testimony threw
no light on the affair.
Mrs. Sallie G. Wheeler, who stated she
was a detective. was called. She stated
she had known Ida Schmidt since last
December and that she had been with
her frequently since that time. She tes-
titled that while posing as fortune teller
she got statements From the Schmidt
woman that were an admission of guilt
as to the killing of the two men. Her
testimony was highly sensational and In it
she stated the Schmidt woman mentioned
the name of Ola Gunter In connection
with the case. She also testified that she
introduced A. c. Hellwig, Pinkertou
detective, who posed as a gambler, and
that the confessions of the Schmidt
woman were made in his presence.
In reference to Dial, the drug clerk ar
rested in connection with the case. Mrs.
Wheeler testified that on one occasion
Ida Schmidt heated a poker and made
Dial go on his knees and swear he would
never reveal his knowledge of the poison
ing OF the two men. She also testified
that the Schmidt woman was paying Ola
Gunter $50 a month to stay away from
Birmingham. Mrs. Wheeler was put
through a vigorous cross-examination by
Attorney Pettus. but stuck to her orig-
nal story and reiterated all her former
statements.
Hellwig Testifies
\. c. Hellwig testified that he was
private detective at present located in
New Orleans, and that he was formerly in
charge of the local PinlSerton detective
agency at Birmingham. He corroborated
the testimony of Mrs. Wheeler in many
and asserted that the
Schmidt woman had repeatedly confessed
knowledge of the crime Helwig was
also put through griliing cross examina-
ton By Mr.. Pettus, but calmly and smil-
ingly retold his story. At no point did the
witnesses contradict themselves, and they
all questions clearly and
John Banolfo also corroborated some
Of the statements of Mrs. Wheeler. stating
lie was present at several of the ''seances'
when the fortune telling by means Of
ards was introduced by the detective,
md testified as to hearing damaging adj
MISSIONS
Coroner Brasher was briefly questioned
rs to the contents of the bottle found in
he room of Guy Coleman at the time of
lis death.
At the conclusion of the arguments
Judge Benners discharged the defendant.
A. c. Helwig made the following state |
nent In reference to the case: Il feel that |
he evidence submitted to the court was |
to hold the defendant. L have |
,een In the private detective business for
light years. and nave worked on cases |
# great Importance and | have never |
cen case turned down before with such :
violence as was produced at the trial (
oday. My regret Is that we could not |
ave had change of venue to another |
ounty. ! believe Ida Schmidt guilty I'D
hat she should have been held on the
1,