The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-11-13
PLEADS GUILTY
TO SHOOTING T.R.
Says He Thought Roosevelt a
Menace to Country.
TO PROBE HIS SANITY
WouId-Be Assassin Talks About Kill.
ing Men Who Want to Keep OF.
flee,

WouId-Be Assassin Talks About Kill.
ing Men Who Want to Keep Of.
flee.
Milwaukee, Wis, Nov. 13. - John
Schrank pleaded guilty of attempting
to murder Theodore Roosevelt. In his
plea he sought to distinguish between
an attack on Roosevelt as a menace
and an attack on Roosevelt as a citi
zen.
Judge A. c.. Backus announced on
reading petition of Winfred c. Ia.
bell, the district attorney, that he
would name a commission to examine
Schrank as to his mental condition.
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, twenty de-
tectives and half a score of deputy
sheriffs, kept unnecessary, but vigi-
liant, watch on all persons in the room
not known to them.
The district attorney read the com.
plant in which Schrank was accused
of having made an attack upon the
person of zone Theodore Roosevelt,
with deadly weapon and with intent
then and there to kill and slay the said
Theodore Roosevelt"
"How do you plead to this charger"
the prosecutor asked Schrank, stand
ing at his elbow.
"Why, guilty, Mr.. Zabel," replied the
prisoner, in confused way, as though
he was not following the proper pro-
cedure.
"You have heard the complaint" in
terpOsed Judge Backus in loud voice.
"You understand that in it you are
charged with having attempted to MUIR
der Theodore Roosevelt. Do you plead
guilty or not guilty?"
"I did not mean to kill a citizen,
judge" began Schrank, and the crowd
in the court room gave first audible
evidence of its interest in the case. Il
shot Theodore Roosevelt because he
was a menace to the country. He
should not have a third term. It is
bad that a man should have a third
term. I did not want him to have
one. shot him as a warning that
men must not try to have more than
two terms as president.
81 shot Theodore Roosevelt to kill
him. think all men trying to keep
themselves in office should be killed;
they become dangerous. l did not do
it because he was candidate Of the
Progressive party, either, gentlemen"
Cali right" interrupted the court,
taking from the district attorney the
plea for a sanity commission for the
defendant He read it hastily while
the prosecutor explained it's purport.
'The man is insane" said the dis
trict attorney. "It would be wrong to
sentence him for crime if he was
mentally unsound, just because he was
willing to plead guilty"
'I will name a commits 3ion,' an
nounced the court. Let no one leave
the court room until the defendant
Schrank is outside of the city hall"
Schrank went back to Jail with his
guardsmen.
Judge Backus then appointed on
the commission DR.. F. G. Studley,
the superintendent Of a sanitarium;
DR.. William F. Becker, the former
head of the Northern Hospital for the
Insane at Winnebago, Wis; DR.. D. w.
Harrington, nerve specialist, and
Dr. Richard Dewey, all of Milwaukee.
The court appointed Joseph Flanders,
of Milwaukee, an attorney, to repre-
sent Schrang in the sanity hearing.
Schrank, in Jail, appeared little con-
cerned in the fact that his liberty for
possibly the next fifteen years was in
jeopardy.