New-York tribune., 1913-09-15

The murder itself; according to the
police story OF Father Schmidts con-
fession, was abnormal in its brutality.
According to this story he bought
long bladed butchers knife ana an or
binary carpenters saw, kept them IN
his room at the rectory for several
days, and then on the night ot sep
tember went to the fiat.
He found the young woman asleep
cut her throat so viciously that he al
most severed her head from her body
and. while her body was still warm
dragged it to the bathroom, Where ne
proceeded Immediately with the work
Of dismemberment.
Anna Aumuller left her employment
in the parish house of st. Bonliace
Church on August 81. Father Schmidt
rented the flat in Bradhurst avenue on
August - and paid 81 deposit. On
August 2S he paid the other Sl4 OF the
$40 a month rent asked for the -FOUR
rooms. and on that day moved in few
pieces Of furniture.
twenty wears old. told Father John >.
Braun. the pastor Of st. Boniface. that
she was going TO get married 10
fellow servant, Annie Hirt, she con-
flded that she intended to marry an
artist. Alexander Bergen, who lived IN
a small city in Ohio. Detectives VINO
were told this story by Tribune re-
porter began an investigation with the
idea that il might furnish another mo-
tive for the murder, in that if her story
TO the Hirt girl was true the priest
might have feared discovery of his
liaison by the man she was going 10
marry and subsequent exposure for
himself.
While Father Schmidt insisted that
he was a regularly ordained priest ana
was able to furnish a complete story
of his life. education and service as
priest. both in this country and in his
native Germany. the church authorities
of this diocese and Of Trenton. \. j.
whence he came to New York, threw
doubt upon the authenticity of his
story of having been ordained.
May Be Impostor as Priest.
Nonsianor Lavelle. after hearing a
report from Father Francis j. sullivan
and Father Luke J. Evers. who went
TO see Schmidt in the Tombs, said they
could not learn from him any speclnc
details as to when and where he was
ordained a priest and that it was ru-
mored that he had been arrested IN
Munich. Germany. as an impostor on
the complaint of a priest.
Bishop McFaul. of the Trenton do
cese. said schmidt was connected with
the New York diocese and served in
Trenton at St. Francis's Church only
in the temporary absence of the Rev.
Dr. Rathner.
The detective work by which the
murder was traced down to the point
where the police felt justified in con-
fronting Father Schmidt with the
crime goes to make up one of the most
careful pieces of such work with when
the department has been credited.
II began with the pillow slips, one of
which was found wrapped around the
first part of the victims torso found
in the river. The manufactures, IN
Newark. provided the name of Har-
lem dealer. George Sachs, and Sachs
was able to give the police the names
and addresses Of the purchasers of the
twelve such pillow slips he sold.
Ten Of these pillow slips were traced
by the police. and the two remaining
sales were made by Sachs TO Hans
schmidt. TO he delivered at No. GS
Bradhurst avenue. For four days In
spector Faurot had that apartment
house watched for the occupant OF the
third floor rear fat, but Schmidt's work
was done and he was gone before the
vigil started.
Before ! o'clock yesterday morning
saurot with his detectives went to the
Bradhurst avenue fiat, determined that
Jnasmuch as no tenant had been seen
either entering or leaving the fiat since
Detective CassG-Ja was sent up the
fire escape, and after gaining an en-
trance through the window he went
through the fiat and opened the door to
let in Inspector Faurot, with Detec-
tives O'Neill and Horan. They found
evidence Cf the crime almost immedi-
ately, in the sLape Of long bladed
butchers knife and the carpenters
saw, which had not been thoroughly
cleaned of blood.
They picked up also two pictures OF
Anna Aumuller, some underwear sim
liar to that on the torso found in the
river, a mans coat of a mixed gray
material, in the pocket of which was
card inscribed "A. Van Dyke; a por-
ton of a spool of millinery wire, SIM
liar TO that found On the bundles con-
tanning the dismembered parts Of the
victims body; receipted bill. show
ing that Hans Schmidt bought from
George Sachs, No. 1852 Eighth ave-
nue., one white enamel bed, one mat
tress and two pillows and pillow slips,
for which he paid $12 6S, and two
trunks. in one of which were found a
number Of letters addressed TO Miss
Aumuller at st. Boniface's Church,
47th street and Second avenue.
C;oaaI