The Washington times., 1913-09-16
SCHMIDT A PRIEST
THROUGHFORCERY
Suspended by Bishop Of Manz for Crimes He Came to United
states-Murderer Of Girl Once Declared Insane, Ac-
cording to CabIegram From Germany

NEW YORK. Sept 16.-Hans, or John,
Schmidt, the slayer of Anna Aumuller,
is a regularly ordained priest of the
Roman Catholic Church, according to
! statement made today by Monsignor N
]. Lavelle, rector of st. Patrick's Cathe-
draI.
Monsignor Lavelle asserted, however,
that there were incidents In Schmidt's
past which. if they had been known to
the head of the Diocese of New York
when the recreant clergyman came to
this city from Trenton, N. J., would
have barred him from all local
churches.
In answer to a cable dispatch sent to
Germany at the instance of Monsignor
Lavelle, the following message was re-
ceived at the ST. Patrick's Cathedral
rectory: ~
Vicar General Mooney, diocese of
New York: ]. Schmidt was born at
Aschaffenburg. He was priest of the
diocese of Mainz, ordained in 1907 He
ran away from Mainz because of at
tempted frauds and his arrest by the
police. He was declared insane bv
court and discharged. He was suspend
ed by the bishop of Mainz for his acts
and for presenting falsified documents
regarding the studies he pretended to
have made. Then he left the diocese.
BENDIX,
Secretary to the Bishop of Mainz."
1t was believed in Germany. according
to church officials here, that when
Schmidt was suspended by the bishop Of
Mainz. following his arrest for criminal
offenses, his career as a priest was
at an end. Schmidt left the country af-
ter his exposure, and the German
church authorities didn't know that he
came to the United States.
Showed Forged Papers.
When Schmidt came to New York
forged papers at the headquarters of
the New York diocese. After their m
spection he was assigned to the position
Of assistant priest at st. Boniface's
Church, at Second avenue and Forty
seventh street. where there was va
cancy- The congregation of that church
Is composed of Italians and Germans,
as wen as American-born Catholics, and
the services Of two assistant priests, at
least. are required by Father Braun,
the rector.
velle a document alleged to have been
given him by the Bishop Of Mainz, tes-
tifying that his service with the Ger
man church had terminated creditably. ,
Father Mooney. vicar general Of
the diocese, on receipt of the message
Mairz. asking that all papers and
in possession of the Ger
man church relating to Father
be forwarded at the earliest
possible moment. The desired docu-
ments and facts, it Is believed, will
be here not later than a week from
to day.
According to dispatches by cable.
the Mainz Journal said that John
Schmidt served in the Mainz diocese,
hut was under suspension by the
bishop. He disappeared from Mainz,
the German newspaper said, and later
was arrested at Munich. where he
was held for committing a number
Of frauds. He was acquitted by the
court on the ground of weak
mindedness and then left Germany.
Did Not Know of Action.
The Mainz episcopate, the newspa-
Der said, was not aware that Schmidt /
was exercising the functions of a |
priest of the Catholic church in New
York
Schmidt, it was said, studied at the
Mainz classical high school and was
u priest IN lSOI. Later he
served as a curate at Darmstadt, Sc
igenstadt, Gonsenheim, and Buergl
lear Ofenbach. 1t was from the last |
named church that he disappeared 1
when it was found that he obtained
lis place on forged testimonials
The police found among Schmidt's per-
ional effects at the rectory a legal docu-l
nent in German showing that Johannes
Schmidt, of Ganzenheim, had been
charged with attempted fraud in Ger
many. but the charges had been dis
missed because Schmidt had been ad-
judged insane. ]
The fact that Schmidt had been de-
lared Of unsound mind was also made
,nown to Mgr. Mooney, vicar general of
he New York diocese, in a cablegram
rom the secretary Of the bishop of May
nee.
The document, as translated, set forth
hat the proceedings were before al
ecret session of the Fourth district
ourt of Munich on January =, 1903, be-
ore Presiding Judge HeZner and Judges
fenser and LietZ.
Accused of Forgery. /
The decree read as follows:
Prisoner Johannes Schmidt, Of Gam
charged with forgery of pri-
ate papers, examined. After the ex-