The Washington herald., 1917-12-02
CASE OF CAPT. SCHNEIDER.
H. E. c. Bryant Makes Plea for JUS
tice and Fair Play.

Editor The Washington Herald
wish to say a word for Capt. Henry
Schneider. formerly head of the
Ninth Metropolitan Police precinct.
For three years lived near Capt.
Schneider, and know him and his
family well. I have never been an
intimate friend of Capt. Schneider,
but have been close enough to him
to know that the biggest thing
about him is his heart. No man in
Washington Is more thoughtful of
his friends and his family than Capt.
Schneider. He has a wife, a daugh-
ter and two sons. His older son
is in the navy, somewhere in the
the war zone, fighting for his coun-
try.
Capt. Schneider Is asking for a
fair trial. He demands that justice
be done him. That is all. He does
not want his character blackened
with an improved charge. He would
keep his record clean for the sake
of his children. as we'll as himself.
Here is his statement OF the facts
as he recalls them: 'On Saturday,
ceived the following from Maj. Pull
VI
charges filed against you at these
headquarters (police headquarters)
you are hereby relieved Of the COM
mand of the Ninth precinct
THE nature of the charges were not
indicated and I knew of no reason
why charges of any kind should have
been made against me. AS soon as
possible I saw Major Pullman. and
kA al NL-k
nection with the Ellison matter; Eli
son had been arrested for the Vir-
ginia authorities, and was fighting ek-
tradition.
I told Major Pullman then, and
| Commissioner Brownlow later, very
frankly of my entire connection with
that matter.
THE facts, as stated them, are:
Ellison, whom had known for some
time, came to me for advice, which is
a common practice between citizens
and police officers. I told him that
would try to find out what could be
done. I saw Mr.. Ball, commonwealth
attorney for Alexandria county, and
he told me all about the case. ad-
vised Ellison to stop fighting extra
dition and go to Virginia for trial.
cAhoOhp WIN tIdI was wen
| acquainted with the Virginia author
tiles. asked me to intercede for him.
told him that could not and would
not interfere. did this at least three
times in the presence of witnesses.
did speak to Mr.. Ball a number OF
times about the matter-in fact. every
time I met him 1 would ask him how
he was coming out with the case, but
never did I make any effort to have
it settled out Of court. Nothing was
ever said about money. as was inti-
mated to me by Maj. Pullman Au-
gust q. The Trial Board records will
show that in response to questions
Mr.. Ball stated positively there were
no improper suggestions on the part
Of myself and that all Of our meet
ings were accidental. could not have
influenced Judge Cloth In the mat
ter, for he had no jurisdiction in II
at all.
I II admitted all the facts in the
case; did not consider that I had
done wrong. and I am still of the
opinion that II a mistake was made
In this matter it was Of the head
and with no thought of personal gain
have no axe to grind. All that
ask is simple Justice. 1t does seem
to me that my clean record Of twen-
ty-six years service should entitlt
me to fair and just consideration d
Those are the details given to me
by Capt. Schneider. It is a serious
matter to. blacken a mans charac-
ter, and damn him without a full
and fair hearing. Any alleged Grim
inal is given the benefit of the doubt
To brand Capt. Schneider for life
without thorough application Of Jus
tice to his case would be a great
wrong to him and his innocent fam.
| lily.
never asked a favor Of Capt
| Schneider. He never did me one.
owe him nothing. He is not in, debt
to me for anything. But do know
his family, and his disposition to dc
right. and I do not believe him guilty
Of anything that involves his integ'
| rity.
Capt Schneider was appointed tc
the Metropolitan Police November
1891, and was promoted to sergeant
in 1859: lieutenant, 1906; and captain
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