New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
Alienist in Case Declares
Schmidt Sacrificed Her
for Love-"
DEFENCE WILL BE
LIKE HARRY THAW'S
Priest Inherited Insanity, and Had
Been Affected Since Ordina-
ton, Will Be Contention.

While Assistant District Attorney James
NJ Delehanty and his aids were getting
ready to show that Hans Schmidt is
shamming insanity. the finishing touches
were put to the insanity defence by the
priests lawyers who met yesterday in the
Office Of W. NJ. Is Olcott. chief counsel for
the defence. Besides Mr.. Olcott, there
were present Alnhonse 6. Koelble and
Terence j. McManus.
The defence will he along lines some
what similar to those followed in the last
trial Of Harry Thaw Alienists will tes-
tify that the murderer Of Anna Aumuller
is suffering from paranoia, with homi-
CiCN tendencies. and has been hopelessly
insane since a short time after his ordi-
ration in Mainz. about eight years ago
The Tribune's informant is a noted alien
list. who wished his name withheld.
The aliensts for the defence will testify
that Schmidt inherited his insanity, but
that it did not manifest itself in its pres
cnt form until his vision of St. Eliza
beth" during an illness shortly after he
was ordained.
The theory of the defence will be that
Schmidt inherited his insanity from his
mother. who in turn had an insane parent
Schmidts history rs a child. il viii he
testified. was abnormal, and that
Schmidt's visions" were invented by him
TO justify his acts
1T will be testified by the aliensts.'
said The Tribune's informant, that
Gfl ion
His story of seeing blood at the shrine in
Walldueran when he was twelve years OLD
was a lie and ne knew it, He never had
any such vision, but he grew TO be-
lieve it,
After his spells of wickedness he would
have fits of remorse. it was in one OF
these that he killed Anna Aumuller. After
his ordination he must have had a strug-
gle to live up to his calling, but when he
failed he sought to justify himself. 1t was
then he had the vision of ST. Elizabeth,
who told him to be her special priest.
When he came to this country he let
himself run wild, and he had fit of re-
morse after he met Anna Aumuller. This
was in January of this year. when Anna s
letters show that Schmidt and she had
fallen out
His second fit Of remorse began the
day he bought the saw and knife with
which he killed her. This was about
three weeks before the crime. The opera
ton of his mind just before buying the
saw and knife was somewhat on this
line: He argued with himself that 10 lead
a proper life he would have to get rld
of the girl. Then he heard the voice on
the altar say: Make d sacrifice OF Anna
Aumuler for love and devotion.
Here again We have the man making
Al. effort to justify himself for most
a.racious crime, and such efforts are al
ways the acts of insane men.
Schmidt is not shamming. He believes
that all the blood in the world belongs 10
I'm. When Dr.. Minos Gregory and Or.
:. z, Joniffe were examining Schmidt
soon after they were retained, something
occurred that made them believe he was
Il aiming. To test him, DR.. Gregory cut
Ids own finger, and thrust ii, bleeding, be-
:,.e cchmidts eyes What happened con-
81, ced the physicians that Schmidt was
40. shamming.
Schmidt tried to bite the finger. and
lei jumper UP lIOlH MS Nie'iA NHN $500
sftsr DIR. Gregory, shouting All the blood
Al the world is mine
This is the skeleton OF the story that
will be brought before the jury by
The defence in the hope that Schmidt
will escape the electric chair on
this will be based the hypothetical
question that vii be put to the
aIienists. Whether the jury will hear
Schmidt depends upon Schmidt himself
Speaking of this yesterday Mr.. Koeible
said:
He has the insane idea that God Will
give him sign by which he is TO deter
r.fne IL he will SO on the stand and defend
himself So there is nothing for US to do
but wait for the sign
Mr. Koelble said that this action alone
ought to prove 10 the District Attorney
Office that Schmidt is not shamming.