The Bismarck tribune., 1923-03-05
QUESTIONS AT
MURDER TRIAL
'RILE' WITNESS
Joseph Schwan Tells of Rela-
tions with Schneider Fam
lily and Poisons He Had
CALLS LAWYER LIAR
Said He Did Not Seek to d.
vert Any Suspicion From
Himself in Case


the kasimir Schneider murder
trial in district court here today.
The trial was resumed at $3.50.
Doctors had stated that Schneider
did net have diphtheria after hav-
ing him under observation Friday
and Saturday when the trial was
halted. He was in court with a
heavy scarf about his neck, and
frequently slipped a preparation.
Joseph SchwaQ, close neigh
Dor Of the Schneiders, was the
chief witness of the morning. and
he was vigorously coss-examined
by counsel for the defense. partic-
ularly as to po;sons which he had
in his home. He denied having
arsenic, which chemists say was
found in the stomach of Mrs.
Schneider, in his home.
Schwan testified that he had
seen Schneider in Russia, when
they went to school, but that he
talked German while Schneider
then talked Russian. He had
known Schneider in this country
fer twelve years. he said.
Relations with SchneiderS
He told of his relations with the
Schneiders, which he said was
friendly, and of medicine case he
had in his home which contained
poisons. He testified he had had a
conversation with Schneider in
April, 1922, about two months be-
fore Mrs. Schneider died, about
poisons.
p. d. Norton, attorney for
Schneider, was met with objections
the prosecution. when he attempted
to read from the transcript of the
preliminary hearing last July,
when Schwan also testified.
Schwan said that Schneider's wife
visited his home many times and
that he was at their home, and that
he was called to the Schneider
home by Schneider when his wife
died in June,
AT the preliminary hearing you
refused to answer questions re-
garding poisons, didn't you" Attor-
ney Norton asked.
"Yes." the winess replied.
"YOu said at that time il is none
Of my business"
mot, its not your business-you
didn't buy them," the witness tart
ly responded.
1t developed that Mr.. Norton had
called at Schwan's house recently
to talk about the case.
Didn't you say that if didn't
try to put this poisoning on you,
you would not say anything
against Schneider" Norton ask
ed.
mo SIR the witness replied.
Schwan had refused to let Mr..
Norton see the pOisons, and de-
Tended this by saying that the
states attorney or doctor was not
present. Schwan denied having
given any medicine to the neigh
bors.
Calls Attorney Liar
Didn't you tell Kasimir Schnei-
der's wife not to tell anyone you
were giving her medicine?" the at
tOrney asked.
You're darn liar" exploded
the witness. and Judge Jansonious
raped for order.
Schwan said Schneider's wife
was at his home the Sunday before
she died, but denied giving her
medicine or advice, as he some
times did to people. He was at the
Schneider house later.
Ibid you see anything that led
you to believe that Schneider
caused the death of his wife?" he
was asked.
No sir"
He was questioned as to a diff.
ference in his testimony at the
preliminary examination and now
he saying at the preliminary exam
ination that he did not know
Schneider before he came to this
country.
''Did you not mean that you saw
Schneider in the old country but
you did not know him?" Attorney
Sullivan asked. The witness re-
piled this was his meaning.
NJ Arsenic He Says
Mr.. Sullivan, on redirect exam
ination. asked regarding the p0is
ons Schwan had in the medicine
cabinet. Schwan said he had 10
dine, lysol. sugar of lead. which lat
ter he said was used to relieve
poison ivy. carbolic acid, cresaline
which he said was used to preven
diphtheria and similar diseases
and was a. prescription given by {
physician.
"Did you ever have any arse
nic?" Mr.. Sullivan asked.
mo, meyer did" the witness re
He asserted he was friendl!
with Schneider but the latter has
refused to talk to him since tn
preliminary examination last July
The state had several more wit
nesses to produce in its case, ant
it is probable that the states evi
dence may not be finished befOr'
tomorrow night at the earliest
The defense is likely to occup,
IL, n1o '.sSs