Delay for Schmidt Awaiting Testimony

Fate of Priest Slayer May Hinge on Insanity Evidence from Germany.

Hans Schmidt, who killed Anna Aumueller, cut up her body and disposed of it by dropping the pieces in sacks into the Hudson River, was arraigned before Judge Malone in General Sessions this morning to plead to the indictment for murder in the first degree found against him last Friday. When Clerk Cowing, having finished reading the indictment, demanded how Schmidt pleaded, his counsel, Alphonse Koelble, addressed the Court, saying:

“Your Honor, I would like to have the pleading in this case postponed for one week. It is my intention to make a motion that the Court appoint a commission to take testimony concerning the defendant in the land of his birth – Germany. According to my information he has been adjudged a lunatic in Germany, and I desire testimony concerning this.”

Assistant District-Attorney Delehanty offered no opposition to the delay, but he said that since District-Attorney Whitman expected in a day or so just the information Mr. Koelble wanted and would be willing to supply it to the lawyer, he saw no need of the appointment of a commission. Judge Malone then agreed to a postponement until Monday and Schmidt was taken back to the Tombs.

Delay for Schmidt Awaiting Testimony, The Evening World, 14 October 1913, page 3, column 8.