New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-19
SCHMIDT TRIAL
HALTED BY DEATH
Relatives of Two Jurors
Stricken Witnesses
Fail Defence.
PASTOR DENIES
SLAYER WAS MAD
Murderer's DelusionS About ST.
Elizabeth and His Birth
Raped as ShamS.

Because OF deaths in the families OF two
Jurors who are sitting IN the case or
Hans Schmidt, the slayer or Anna Au-
muller. the trial was adjourned yester-
day afternoon at 3 o'clock until 10 o'clock
this morning. Oldtlmers around the
Criminal Courts Building could not re-
member q similar instance in the history
of the building Juror No. s, George L.
Damn, Of No. l27 East ed street lost his
sister and the uncle OF Juror NO IL
Charles f. Nelson, Of No. $50 Riverside
Drive, died.
Three witnesses called by the defence
Yesterday TO testify TO acts Of Schmidt
that might be interpreted as evidence OF
a deranged mind proved to be better Wit
nesses for the prosecution than for the
defence.
Under the cross-examination of James
NJ Delehanty. Assistant District Attor-
ney I'm charge of the case for the state,
the first witness, DR.. John J. Braun, pas
tor of ST. Boniface's Church. where
Schmidt first served in this city. said ne
never saw any signs OF insanity In
Schmidt. He told Mr. Delehanty he never
IedIN SCUinlul Hl'Htlpll pt- i<ilShbV'A'' 49,
he did observe him using the middle fin-
ger and thumb In elevating the Host and
in giving communion. instead OF the In
dex finger and thumb.
lie said Schmidt impressed him as
"overpious" Father Braun once had oc-
casion TO reprove him for baptizing a
child while in his street clothes.
Father Braun's sister, Miss Magdalen
/. Braun, who is housekeeper at St Bonl-
faces. said she noticed that Schmidt
would hurry through the mass. leaving
out prayers and entire parts OF the ser
vice.
In answer 10 a question OF Terence j.
McManus, one of the counsel for Schmidt,
she said that on one occasion Schmidt
| told her that he believed man and a
woman had right 10 live together and
10 cease their relations when they tired
Of each other
Father Andrew d. Quinn, assistant pas
tor OF 81. Joseph's Church where Schmidt
was stationed when he was arrested, on
discrimination said that the first time
he ever heard Schmidt mention ct Eliza
beth's name was when tho police were
taking him away Then Schmidt said he
had been ordained by St Elizabeth
Father Quinn was asked by Mr.. Dele
hanty II he did not tell Or. Macdonald.
one OF the states alienists. that Schmidt
said he believed Harry Thaw persc-
cuted man and that no believed no was
Justified in killing Stanford White.
Father Quinn said he had. The priest
then spoke OF Schmidts conversation re-
garding Dr. Richeson. tho minister who
murdered Avis Lnnell
Father Quinn said that after tho muir
! der OF Anna Aumuller Schmidt was de-
| pressed.
we asked him what tho matter w6s,
said Father Quinn. "ITe said no was not
feeling well | told him 20 see a doctor.
He said: Ny trouble Is more mental than
physical"
He talked TO you about his father,
didn't he7" asked Mr.. Delehanty.
Yes" said Father Quinn. he said
that hts father had been harsh 10 him. "
This last was another blow at tho de-
fence, one OF whose strong points Will be
10 emphasize Schmidts alleged delusion
l IL
That Schmidt once before used the
name OF 81. Elizabeth TO get out OF the
clutches OF the law was shown by tran
scripts OF his trial In Munich in 1893 for
forgery. Part OF the transcript was read
into tho record yesterday. This consisted
! OF a statement by DIR. Hermann, who was
then appointed by the Royal Superior
Court to inquire into schmidt's mental
| condition. II was TO tho effect that
| Schmidt was not in normal state OF
mind and that he had said he was or
dained a priest by st. Elizabeth.
Schmidts father was recalled 10 the
stand by the state yesterday in order that
It might be established that Schmidt sent
| him about $50 on August II. 1912. This
was TO establish line OF inquiry into
Schmidts finances.
All Schmidts counsel now believe II
would be an excellent thing for the de-
fence 10 put Schmidt on the stand.