The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-19
SCHRANk TELLS WHY
HE SHOT ROOSEVELT


HE SHOT ROOSEVELT
MILWAUKEE,, oct Is.--wi,h q
shutting gait, John Planning Schrank
slonched into he Office OF chief JAMS
sen. at police headquarters. late to-
DAY, and with hollow good after
nocn." slid into chair. BEHIND him
came two deputy sherifrs. who watch
ea him as tiger eyes Its prey.
Chief Jansen had telephone over
to the county JAN across the way
from police headquarters for S2hraak,
so the writer might :nterrogate aim
/ on the attempt 10 Kill Colonel Roose-
welt
| schrank acted as ne SUNK into the
Office as though he was disguised
with everything but himself As ne
walked into the chief 3 office, the
wouldbe assassin of the third party
! header gave a sfrutininzinE squint
with his steely grey blue eyes. With
AN impatient gesture he swung his
faded brown felt hat in the air and
as he hopped into chair gave q weary
grunt.
/ John, the International News Ser
! vice wants 20 ask YOU something"
remarked the chief, putting a cigar.
! What is it?" demanded Schrank.
/ fretfully i've talked my head off
since l fred the shot at Roosevelt i
haven't anything to say"
! What was the motive back of the
shooting of the eolonel?" asked the
writer.
/ Hi@s Aas;ya
schrank shifted In his chair and
| tapped the floor with the blunt toe of
! a well worn shoe. Haven | told
everybody that Roosevelt was too am
hit.ous?' he snorted. They're all
trying to make me out crazy as II /
did 1t because / was out of my mind
That's not so. II Roosevelt hadn't
been eager to get that third term
he'd be alive now
! DO you think he Is dead? was
/ asked
Il don't know anything about it."
snapped Schrank. Whats more l
/ don't care a hang, They haven't
told me If killed him. came here
to do it. and IL l didn't. then anyhow
/ did all l could If he's alive / made
bad job of it,"
j schrank spoke clearly and with a
! tone OF anger. He wanted TO be let
alone In silence the stunted. chunky
Z phlegmaitc prisoner waited for the
next question. lingering his hat the
while
/ Why did you wait so Tong after
making up your mind a month ago to
kill the colonel before firing the
shot, asked the writer
Colonel Too Foxy.
lie was too foxy for me. that was
( Al. ~ snaried Schrank Hes the
sltckeSt man | ever saw. makes peo-
Pile think he's coming out Of one
door and pops out of another; how
could / get him when he fooled that
wav7"
7 almost did get him at Chatta-
| nooga. though" Schrank Went on. for
the first time betraying a real inter
est in the interview. II had my re-
/ voiver tucked in my vest pocket. and
stood at the automobile as he came
out OF the depot on Sunday night.
everything was all right for a shot.
but | was afraid I'd hit somebody
else, they were all crowdfng SO"
What difference did II make 10
you II you killed any one else II
you accomplished your idea of shoot
ing the colonel"
That's damned fool question"
returned Schrank. scornfulIy. Nobody
had done me harm but Roosevelt
ned harmed the whole country by
being third termer, and | had 10
get rid OF him. Nobody else was
running for third term, was he?"
Schrank responded to the question
with. alacrity. He listened keenlv
ana gave no evidence OF the ohtuse
mentality which the police have at
trihuted to him His command of
language was easy, and he did not
.GXBTE&EGa {r
broken phrase the police inuuisition
me night Of the shooting indicated
IN fact. Schrank impresses one with
being entirely in control OF his mem
tai faculties. NOT a sign OF ner-
Fausness Is apparent. When Schrapk
speaks of II being his stern ohliya-
non TO shoot Colonel Roosevelt. he
Says 1t in the manner or IA man
VINO may allow that he has done
something oht OF the ordinary, but
that circumstances extenuate the act
II reminds one of the excuse Of tb.
hoy VIA" was -naught stealing jam. re-
mohstfates. We'll, I'm hungry
Shows Temper.
he dumpy squat faced prisoner !
tVAieed a show Of temper only once
turing the interview; that was when !
ne was asked If he had come TO Mil
@autee to murder the colonel because
-. 80 A'' F2iiAG& PUNISHMENT IN (
Wisconsin
Yen thought didn't you. that you
c9ttd ESCAPE. tho, elee4s4e, CHAIR if yoyr I
kiIesi him here? was pat To him.
sehrank's paliid face 1T np with a I
hush Of resentment for a moment. as |
he flashed: Il don't cure a damn about t
the electric chair II they bring one |
IN here now I'll sit In IL and they can t
go as far as they like " !,
John. WON Fefttpe eyotfaI ,Ar.
tested the police chief soothiugIy
No. / M not" insisted SohrWnk. AZ
he slapped his hat on his knees
But they can't accuse me Of being
coward. No matter II theF don't
IKE what did. I'm nor afraid"