Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-15
Church Officials Beqin
Inquiry Into Record of
Rev. Schmidt.
CLEAR RIVER MYSTERY
New York CIergymen Con-
feSSeS Killing Girl and Hack
ing Body to Pieces.

New York, Sept. 15.-In the hope
OF branding as an imposter and
pseudo priest, Rev. Hans Schmidt. al.
legged self-confessed SLAYER Of Anne
Aumuiler, victim of New York's river
murder mystery, Roman Catholic
church authorities began today
sweeping investigation of Schmidts
record and pretensions to ordination.
We hope, Of course, TO be able to
prove this unspeakable monster was
an imposter and had been using forg
ed papers" declared Monsignor La
Velle, general Of the archdiocese OF
New York. That is something we
are trying TO clear up now. He came
to this diocese with credentials ap
parently in every way Authentic and
genuine, but we know practically
nothing of him. The crime is too hor-
rible to conceive. We can only hope
ne may prove to have been
pseudo priest"
rs SLAIN IN BED.
In cell at the Tombs, with a coat
for a pillow, Schmidt slep. soundly
through the night. and arose this
morning to partake Of hearty break
fast He had little to add to his al
legged confession of last night, in
which he is said to have told the po-
lice he killed his victim as she lay
in bed, cut up the body in the bath
tub Of the apartment. where he had
established her, wrapped the parts In
five bundles and dropped them in the
Hudson river. To Rev. l.. J. Evers,
Tombs chaplain. Schmidt was said to
have made the following declaration:
Il was directed TO kill her by ST.
Elizabeth, who is my patron, as a
sacrifice to be consummated, as was
the sacrifice OF Abraham in blood"
To the police Schmidt is alleged to
have said: 'T killed her because l
loved her" The police believe. how
ever, he killed her because she was
soon to be a mother. They believe
she accepted as genuine the marriage
ceremony through which she went
with the alleged slayer. last Febru-
airy, in which he was both priest and
the bridegroom.
REVIVE KELI.NER MURDER.
The police sought today TO obtain
from Schmidt some statement OF
what he might know of the murder of
aight-year-old Alma Kellner, whose
mutilated body was found in quick
lime in the basement of ST. Johns
church in Louisville. Ky. two years
and a half ago. From August, 1909
10 1910 Schmidt was a visitor in
Louisville. not officially connected
with any church there. but as u
guest at the home of Rev. Henry h.
Westermann. rector Of the Church OF
the Immaculate Conception. Alma
Kellner disappeared Dec. 3, 1909. Her
hody was found nine months after by
Joseph Welding, janitor of ST. John
church. who IS serving life term
for the crime. Vending stoutly de-
MED his guilt. and the jury did not
consider the evidence sufficient TO
lodge against him a verdict Of first de-
gree murder.
CONFESSION MADE by PRIEST.
The confession. which the police say
Schmidt signed, follows:
Il met Anna Aumuller two years
ago at the parish house at st. Boni-
face church. She was employed as
servant there. was attracted by
her beauty. became infatuated with
her loved her.
Il killed her because | loved her
so much She was so beautiful. so
good. l could not let her live without
me.
Il had made up my mind that she
and ! could not live together. l was
priest and must remain with my
church l could not let her so away
from me. So / opened the door OF
The fiat awakened her. told her
had come TO fulfill my threat. Then
drew the knife across her throat
Il cut the body into six pieces.
made trips 70 the Fort Lee ferry
each time with a part Of her precious
body in a bundle. When the ferry
boat reached the middle of the stream
would throw a piece into the water
and when the boat reached the otheI
side Of the river l would return and
20 back 20 the fat.
After / had disposed OF the body
! wanted to destroy all evidence OF
the crime. l took the mattress on
which ! had slain her and carried II
TO vacant lot and there burned It
WILLING To PAY PENALTY.
Il am guilty; that is all can say
must pay the penalty. There IS
nothing else for me to do. But l Low
ed Anna Aumuller.
She wanted me to marry her and