The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-12
PITY FOR ENDLESS PAIN,
MORS POISONING MOTIVE
Former Porter of Odd Fellows
Home Tells Entire Story
Of Alleged Crimes.

sympathy for human pain and suffer
ing that were beyond medical relief
prompted Frederick Mors. the porter in
the German Odd Fellows Home. to
hasten the deaths OF eight aged in
mates That was the burden of his
whole story az he told IL himself yes
to-day on the way to the White Plains
Jail DR.. Minas S. Gregory head Of the
Bellevue psychopathic ward. few
hours previously had declared him mot
well mentally and had surrendered him
to Deputy Sheriff John c. Moore Of
Westchester county on warrant
charging him with homicide.
On the long automobile ride, how
ever, the dark heavy bearded man in
the black corduroy hunting jacket. knee
breeches and black leather riding put
tees gave no Indication of an "unset-
ted condition Of mind He talked al
most entirely In excellent German. em-
phasizing his answers TO questions
through Detective Sergeant Henry Os-
valid. of the Homicide Squad with mo-
tlons of his suede gloved hand and his
cigarette. His answers, too. we're
clearly to tho point, astute and we'll
worded. What little English he spoke
was good and good breeding was no
tceable in his manner, dress AMI
speech. lie talked freely and frankly
about all but one subject--a girl whose
Photograph he had torn In four pieces
There were several reasons why
killed these people" said Mors. through
his interpreter ~ wanted TO relieve
them or their hopeless misery, most OF
all Some of them were In constant
pain. They were beyond medical aid.
and when / gave them chloroform oy
ether 1t put them out OF their suffer
Ing. 1t was Just like a child going to
sleep. 1t was humane and kind hearted
That was the principal reason--to al
leviate their condition. There were
other reasons duplicating another in
the homeJ, but that was the first"
His interpreter and the newspaper
men began discussing for a moment the
arsenical poisoning related In Mors's
original confession.
Arsenic TO Only One.
What is that you say about Fowler's
solution containing arsenicl?" he inter-
rupted politely. Don't he misled. They
/ never got it. Many times medicine was
prescribed for patients that they never
received. I gave arsenic To only one
b
, In the matter / would have given him
choloroform or ether II was an easier
and pleasantcr death
Did any one up there ever ask you
to put them out OF the way"
NO. he replied at first, but then
corrected himself and went on: Mr..
Scholz Ferdinand Scholz. one OF the
/ alleged victimsl often said TO me: If
! ] could only he given something to put
me out OF the way" And Mrs. Piazzi
tanother 'victiml also made such a
request. But then again Baumga rten
lStill an inmate of the homel asked me
TO put him out OF his misery frequently
and ] told him that was not my busi-
ness"
"Why did you distinguish in his
case?'
Wei. Baumgarten was well and
happy most OF the tiTe. He was sub
ject to temporary illness only, although
when he was sick he was very sick
lie would b. In pain and suffer. but !:
could be relieved by medicine and drugs
but most OF the time he was able To
/ be M reading the paper and smiling.
/ and | did not want my conscience t.
I trouble me I'm case | should Kill him.
/ Why did you confess to these kill
lugs"' he was asked. through Oswald
again. lie took particular Interest in
! the repeated why and asked ~ mean
| ing. In fact, no said he could under
stand more English than he could spea;;
and expressed the wish to know more
! When IL was explained he went on.
Decides 10 Confess.
! "Tt was partly because of troubl :
with Bangert Adam Bangert. the sus-
pended superintendent | developed a
strong hatred of the man. when |
was discharged | considered what I
would do. / thought a great deal about
II. I had come here TO get a post or
as orderly or nurse to save money
study medicine and enter that pro-
fession. but In view Of what had been
going on AZ the home referring to the
| "poisonings" to which he confessed and
in which he implicated ano,hcr.l I was
afraid that II ! sot another position
I would be bounded. that the police
would be sent after me.
IT then almost decided TO take