New Ulm review., 1921-11-02
JOHN SCHMIDT, SLEEPY EYE;
ATTEMPTS TO KILL HIS
WIFE SUNDAY.
HE DIES OF sELF-INFLIcTED
WOUNDS AT HOSPITAL
HERE MONDAY.

Schmidt, a resident OF that city for the
past several years and employed as
crossing fagman by the Northwestern
road at Sleepy Eye for about two years,
attempted to kill his wife and himself
at the family home on the banks of
Sleepy Eye Lake. Schmidt fired three
shots at his. wife, one Of which took
effect in. her head, over the left ear,
another entered her back and lodged
in one of her lungs, and the third
passed through the right sleeve of her
sweater without causing her any in
jury.
Shoots Self Six Times.
After shooting his wife in the kitchen
of their home, Schmidt went out into
the coal shed and fred six shots into
his own body. Three of these lodged
under the skin OF his head, having
fattened out against his skull, while
one each entered his chest just above
and below his heart region, and the
sixth bullet penetrated the palm of
his left hand, breaking bone. Another
bullet, showing no marks of having
come in contact with any hard object,
was found in Schmidt's clothing. 1t
is impossible to account for the latter
missile, as the bullets which entered his
body remained lodged internally.
Used 80 Caliber Revolver.
Schmidt used practically new .32
@ealiber revolver. of the so-called Bull
dog type, in attempting to murder his
spouse and commit suicide is a
five-shot revolver and he was obliged
to reload the weapon, leaving the last
cartridge of the second charge intact.
The revolver is covered with blood as
result Of thesterrible carnage through
which it passed. The style of the fire.
arm no doubt accounts for the fact that
the bullets did not penetrate the. skulls
of the victims, as the missile from
more modern weapon would have
proved more deadly.
Bullets Are Removed.
Immediately after Mr.. and Mrs.
Schmidt had been brought to the
Loretto Hospital here from Sleepy Eye
for medical attention, local surgeons
probed for the bullets that had lodged
beneath the skin of their heads. Three
missiles were removed from the form
er's head, two OF which having entered
through the same wound, and the.
bullet was extra cted from his hand,
while the one which had lodged
against Mrs. Schmidt's skull was also
removed. The four missiles which
had caused the head wounds Wer e
]ifattened out, being Of lead, while the
one that had lodged in Mr.. Schmidt's
hand also showed signs Of having come
/ in contact with hard substance.
Schmidt Dies Monday.
Schmidt passed away Monday morn-
ing at $50 o'clock, having been con-
scious practically all Of the time since
attempting suicide, except for brief
Z intervals during which he was in a
stupor. Mrs. Schmidt, while in a
/ precarious condition, seems to be
passing through the crisis, and hopes
for her ultimate recovery are held out
by the attending physicians. It is
not believed that the bullet which
i lodged in her lung will cause any
future trouble, and no attempt will be
z lmade now to remove it,
New Ulnite on Scene
Anton Schimschock of this city, who,
with Mrs. Schinschock and their little
son, was visiting at the home Of his
J, parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John g. Schim.
1 schock, at Sleepy Eye, heard shots
8 fred in the vicinity of his parenta
residence at about $50 clock Sunda,
morning, but paid no attention, be
!; iSving that boys were shooting Will
lEsmaH rifles. A short time later on,
aEof the Schmidt girls eana running eve
land said that her mother had beer
2Ishot. The New Ulmite hurried to tn,
!, ,lSchmidt home, only three doors dis
1 ltant from his parents house, where h
{ learned that Mrs. Schmidt had bael
E attacked by her husband. She ha,
& been taken upstairs and placed on 8
bed Going out in. the back yard, MI
Schimsc schnek found Schmidt lying il
!, the coal she'd, revolver in hand; an,
t t1fulIy conscious. The suicide victim
[lf told him rather nonchalantly that b
+ had shot himself six times and was no
q dead yet
8 Both Tell Their Story.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Schmidt toll
zooat1aqea on Qsse 3,N =