The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-09-03
DOG
BOTHERED
CHICKENS

morse after spending a night
in Jail. Frederick Britt, 81.
who stabbed to death Mrs.
Lena Schmidt. As. a neighbor.
last night. today appears to
be quite content with his lot.
Il killed her" he declared.
"and they may hang me by
the neck. but | am satisfied"
Britt. who is a Prussian by
birth. gave as the reason for
his cold-blooded murder. that
Mrs. Schmidt's dog was chas-
ing his chickens. Britz and
Schmidt occupied separate
houses on the lot at $500
Ninth ave. s.
After warning her tina; she wpuld
either have 20 move or set rid of her
dog. Britx attacked Mrs. Schmidt
shortly before y. m. on Tuesday
in her kitchen. using butcher
knife. Her husband Frank schmidt.
driver for the leo Delivery Co.
heard his wife's screams. and rushed
inso the kitchen. where he knocked
the knife from Britz'n hand after he
had severely siash~d the woman.
H. r. kleck. seos Eighth ave. s..
heard the noise and went to the
Schmidt home. He took Britx home.
while schmidt went out 10 telephone
the police. I'm the meantime Pete
Ni,zen. 90. 7sis. Ninth ave. s.. and
Pete staiakov. az. same address. also
appeared ai the hane in response 10
call from schmidt They were help
inR AIRS. Schmidt when Britx sudden.
~ appeared az the house again. evi.
IDENTIFY having broken away from
Kieck. Britz entered the kitchen
while the two men had their backs
toward the door.
Britz attacked Nitzen with
pocket knife. slashing him severely
about the head. He then made n
second attack on Mrs Schmidt. stab
binK her so severely she died In her
home before she could be removed 20
hospital.
Britt. who lives with Mrs. II.
Snyder. so. In small shack In the
rear OF the Schmidt home. told the
police he was glad he had killed the
woman
0uarreled for Month
Britz declared. i'm Jail Wednesday.
that the woman known as Mrs. r.
Snyder. with whom he is living. Is
his wife and that her name is Britz
and not Snyder. He said she had
been sick for long time.
In a recital OF the details Of the
quarrel which led up 70 the killing
Britz told the police II had been
growing for month.
THE people got n dog n month
ago" he said. and ever since then
there has been trouble. The dog on
the first day began chasing the
chickens and I objected.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Schmidt
was sitting on bench ! had built.
sent my wife out to tell her that
she would either have to get rid OF
the dog or else move. She said she
didn't have TO get rid Of the dog or
move either. Then ! went out and
we had an argument andsshe said
owed Mrs. Brumcr. a neighbor. $50.
II called Mrs. Brurer over and
the dog. which they called Baby got
under4her feet. told Mrs. Brumer
she had better get away from the
dog and that made Mrs. Schmidt mad
and she got a whip and began TO
beat me over the head and call me
vile names. ! took n stick Mrs.
Bruner used TO walk with and ward
ed off the blows. 7 guess ] may
have hit her. She called me loafer
and everything.
"Her husband came home then and
told me he'd get me tomorrow.
tried 10 tell him the names his wife
had called me but he wouldn't listen.
He went into the house. Then !
went back 10 my house and got two
knives and went back told
Schmidt we would have TO fight II
out some way. He hit me with his
fists and I fought back. Then two
men came and they all beat me.
sIaahed out with both knives and
Mrs. Schmidt WAS in the midst OF II
all. don't know what 7 did. |
guess she IL dead "
Britz has been resident OF Sc.
attle for 20 years coming TO the
states from Hongkong as sailor.
He is Prusslan by birth and was
flrrnnrI.. a minor md Ininr a cafe