New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-18
SCHMIDT POSED
FALSELY AS PRIEST
Dispositions Prove He
Came Here with Forged
Dismissal Papers.
OFFERED BY DEFENCE
TO SHOW "MANIA"
"Slayer" May Testify, but His
Attorneys Are Not a Unit
for His Doing So.

DepositIons taken before the American
Consul AT Mainz. Germany, which were
read into the record yesterday at the trial
Of Hans Schmidt. proved that he had
come to this country with forged dis
missal papers and had acted as priest
here in defiance of the decree OF the
Bishop of Mainz. who, in 1907, directed
that Father Schmidt be suspended from
his pr!estly duties until such time as ne
proved by his future conduct in life that
he was worthy OF the sacred trust. Tesu-
mony adduced by both sides showed that
Schmidt never sought reinstatement ana
had not been reinstated.
The Introduction of these dispositions
on the part of the defence in the hope
that the slayer Of Anna Aumuller might
escape the electric chair and be confined
10 Matteawan took up nearly the entire
session of the court An adjournment
was taken until this morning, so that
counsel for both sides might save several
DAYS time by going over the record OF
the trial Of Schmidt in Munich for for
gerry and agree on what portions of the
records might be offered in evidence.
The belief that the defence would show
Schmidt had been committed to an asy-
lum for the insane or some similar lnstl-
tuition in his native land was shattered
by a deposition read into the record by
Assistant District Attorney James NJ.
Delehanty. This deposition was made by
William Dawson, American Nice-Consul
at Frankfort on-the-M Main.
II showed that Schmidt had been
patient at Gordanbadt after his trial be-
fore the Munich civil authorities and the
ecclesiastical court at Mainz, following
his arrest for forgery. The deposition
also showed that Gordanbadt never ac-
copied any insane patients or any ner-
vous wrecks. and was purely rest cure.
All the other dispositions, save one by
Carl Schmidt, brother Of the accused
man. were made by priests Some were
his superiors and others knew him
either as fellow students or teachers dur
ing his seminary days in Mainz. The
makers Of these dispositions and the most
striking parts of the affidavits follow:
DR.. Ludwig Bendg. presiding officer
of the ecclesiastical court at Mainz'
Schmidt had a mania TO deceive every
one. He gloated over these receptions
The Rev. Jacob Sieben. Of Abendheim
He is a kleptomanlac. He always was
a psychological puzzle 10 me. In many
ways I regarded him as mentally re-
sponsible."
The Rev. Peter Kraus. Abendheim: HE
was slightly absent-minded. He was re-
proved for failing TO follow the ruorlcs
in saving the mass placing the mon
STRANGE dhe sacred vessel in which the
Holy Bread is shown to the congregation
on the right side of the altar instead
of the middle. Just before he was or
dained he said TO me: I'm deciding
whether I'll become Trappist or an
atheist (The Trappists are an order OF
monks noted for their severity OF Iie)
once in Ganzenhelm, during the mass
instead Of preaching a sermon, he de-
livered an address on the death OF TIDE
RUS"
Father Johannes Siebacher, Of Mainz:
"In his seminary days ! knew him ana
called him a 'schOten
Counsel ftr both sides, after con-
sultation between Alphonse G. koe!Dle' 81
The defence and Assistant District Attor-
uev Deacon Murphy. agreed that the
nearest translation Of "schoten' was
boob" and so it was entered upon the
record.
There is a little dissenson in the ranks
of Schmidts counsel as TO the wisdom
OF permitting him to take the stand
schmidt is insistent that he be permitted
TO testify. saying that he is under divine
tnspiration" TO tell his own story Of the
killing Of his sweetheart