The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-15
PRIEST ADMITTED
he MURDERED AND
BUTCHERED GIRL
Hudson River Mystery Cleared
BY Confession
MURDERER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
Following Arrest for Shocking Crime
Rev. FIR. Schmidt Tried to
Cut Throat
MURDERER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

New York, Sept. 49, Wilh\ the ar
rest early yesterday Of Rev. Hans
Schmidt, assistant rector of St
Jcseph's Roman Catholic church.
charged with the murder of Anna
Aumuller, a domestic, the mystery
surrounding the finding - days ago
OF parts CT the dismembered body OF
a woman in the Hudson river was
thought TO be solved. Schmidt, aC-
cording to the police, has confessed,
and at the time of his arrest attempt
Ted to commit suicide by cutting his
throat with safety razor blade.
Il killed her because loved her SO
much, Schmidt is alleged 90 have
told his captors, but the police YER
sion of the motive for the crime is
that the young woman was about TO
become a mother. Schmidt had
married her through a ceremony OF
his own performing, without witness
es.
district attorneys Office Schmidt's
confession was full and absolute. In
it he is quoted as saying chat he
killed his companion With a butch
er's knife, and cut up the body with
the knife and y saw. The deed was
committed, the police say, while the
woman slept, soon after midnight OF
Tuesday, the I'd, in an apartment at
IS Bradhurst avenue, where the
priest had housed her five DAYS be-
fore
When her heart had ceased beat
ing, according TO the alleged con
fession, Schmidt carried The body
from The bed to the bathroom, and
placing it in the tub began immedi-
ately his CORY task OF cutting il up.
With The keen knife and the saw ne
cut eff the head, arms and legs. Still
fearful detection, ne then cut the
body into pieces. Five bundles.
wrapped in bedclothes and papers,
were made of the six parts. Five
times Schmidt left the apartment
house with q bundle and crossed The
Hudson river 10 the jersey shore
Five times he leaned over the stern
of the ferryboat in midstream and
gently gave the river his burden.
Then he returned to his church.
The stains of the girls blood still
discolored the bathtub when detec-
tiyos searched the Bradhurstavenue
apartment yesterday. Schmidt told
the police he had taken the mattress
on which she lay when she received
The death blow under cover of dark
ness 10 a vacant lot nearby and
burned it. The police found in the
apartment among other things.
marriage license issued in New York
last February and bearing The names
Of the priest and the murdered wo-
man. According to Schmidts CON
Gession he went through marriage
ceremony with the girl. In this ccrc
mony Schmidt was both priest and
bridegroom; there We're no witness
es.
A gayly-colored pillow slip OF I'M
usual pattern led to Schmidts anpre-
hension. This pillow slip. stained
with blood and soiled with the filth
of the river, was wrapped around
portion OF the torso. The detectives
traced the slip TO it's manufacturer;
the manufacturer traced ii to the
dealer; the dealer traced il TO
Schmidt. And the police tracing
Schmidt and the girl knew all about
both of them hours before they ar
rested them.
Schmidt was arrested by lnspec-
tor Faurot. in charge Of the detective
bureau. He was dressed i'm full cler-
ical grab when the detective entered
ms rooms in the parish house of his
church ON West one Hundred and
Tweniyhfth street. The inspector
had produced photograph OF Miss
Aumuller and asked Schmidt ir he
knew the girl The priest aftcr mo
ment OF hesitation. inquired if his
Visitors were police officers. His
actions, 10 is said. indicated that he
was expecting arrest. he then re
quested permission to change his
clothes. and 20 was when he leil the
room that Inspector Faurot declared
that he attempted TO cue his throat
with small safety razor blade.
Early yesterday, according TO par
ishioDers of the church. Schmidt said
60 Rev. Mr.. Iluntmann. rectcr of S..
ICscph's church. that De- would hear
NO more confessions ana when asked
for his reason said that 81 have some
ing Of Importance to ioll YOU, With
his superior, Schmidt then retired 10
the study. where the latter told all
that had transpired in he fat in
Bradhurst avenue. where his alleged
confession 30 the police SAYS he muir
dered the girl. Rev. Mr. Huntmann
conferred with other assistants and
10 was agreed thai The authorities
should be notified Tho police. hoI
ever. were even then on Schmidrs
trail. aud his arrest followed quickly.
Schmidt was talen in Inspector
laurCts automobile TO ihe Tomhs
r.H.rf.s. Nrenaa.rra.s.