New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-21
PRIEST MARRIED WIFE
IN SOUTH, SAY POLICE
Faurot and His Detectives AS
Sert They Have Proof in
Form of Letter.
ACTS STRANGELY IN TONES
Shams Insanity with Great Gun.
ming, According to Observers
DIR. Muret" Really Is
Herman Arthur.

- LII w vi Cb AbS~AAJ 40
Herman Arthur.
Hans Schmidt. the priest who killed
Anna Aumuller and dismembered her
body. threw off his coat and outer shirt
in his cell in the Tombs yesterday and
would not put them on again. even to
exercise in the corridor. Inspector
Faurot called his actions the business
OF trying 10 appear insane"
Detectives at work on the murder
case last night said they were in posses
sion of evidence through which they
would be able TO prove that Schmidt
married a woman in Louisville, Ky.
The clew TO the wife. it was said. was
found in a letter taken from the priests
room in the rectory Of St Josephs
Church The letter was mailed in
Louisville and the woman wrote in
affectionate terms. calling the priest
husband" From il the police deduced
the following:
That in 1910. when Schmidt returned
TO this country after a trip abroad. he
occupied a stateroom on ship with
woman who now lives in Louisville
and who posed as his wife That this
woman believed Schmidt was a protes-
sor of philosophy who was about 10
enter upon an American career in one
of the big Eastern universities; that the
priest later wrote 10 the woman and
said that when ne got enough money
he would send for her and introduce
her 10 his friends here as his wife
Inspector Faurot telegraphed the
Louisville police and asked them 10
find the woman. if possible. TINS Will
be a difficult task. as the letter bore
only the womans given name.
Brother OF "Bluebeard?"
The nolice are investigating the pos
ability that Father Schmidt was re-
lated TO Johann Hoch. the Chicago
..Bluebeard." who married at least q
dozen women and who was hanged for
the murder Of one Of his wives IN chi
cago eight years ago. The police
learned that Hoch's real name was
Johann Schmidt, and that he came
from Mainz. Germany. and bore a
strong facial resemblance TO Father
Schmidt.
Isidor Plotke. the attorney who de-
Tended Hoch, last night said Hoch was
much Ike the priest
arIzoA told plOtka said that
he had brothers and sisters in MainZ,
Germany. I have examined photo
graphs Of Father Schmidt, and if he
wore a moustache might almost take
him for Hoch."
Inspector Faurot yesterday said he
did not take seriously the talk Of the
priest in regard TO his aim to rid the
world Of cripples. the old and infirm
and others who found their lives bur
densome. but who lacked the courage
TO commit suicide.
The inspector. who directed the work
that led TO the priests arrest for the
murder Of Anna Aumuller, maintained
that this talk was a part Of Schmidts
effort TO create a belief that he was in
sane.
Faurot also laughed over the blood
sacrifice" Of the priests victim, and
said he believed that Schmidt did not
drink of the woman's blood but that
the priest conceived the story in his
cunning. Faurot said that when
Schmidt killed the girl ne went imme-
diately about the dismemberment OF
the body in a businesslike way. He
was inclined TO believe, ne said, that
when recovered the head would show
that the woman was shot.
The priests counsel. Alphonse G.
Koelble. asked his client yesterday if
he shot Anna AumulIer. His reply, &C
cording TO Koelble. was:
81 didn't shoot Anna. ! only used a
knife"
Koelble said he believed the District
Attorney would try TO show that
Schmidt killed the woman before try
ing TO cut her up, and thus shatter the
very foundation on which TIE defence
hopes TO erect its insanity defence
Koelble said that one of the acts of the
priest which would I've used 10
strengthen the insanity plea would be
that he gave medicine made up Of lem
ills 10 ignorant women.
The priest told Koelble Yesterday the
lawyer said. that the book Of death
certificates found in his room. with one
eertihcate missing. was stolen from a
physician. whose name the lawyer re-
fused TO reveal The priest explained
the missing blank by saying thar il
was gone when he came into possession
Of the book. The police said the book
was not stolen from Or. John ]. Slevin
Of No. AZ East 10th street. as was re-
ported
The priest. Koelble said. was angry
by reason Of statements i'm the news
papers which ne regarded as false.
One of the statements that put the
priest into rage yesterday was q mes
sage from England which said he was
arrested in London in 1902 as a forger.
Il was not in England then" Schmidt
l..