APPEARS IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
November 13 Schrank appeared in Municipal court before Judge August C.
Backus. Two sessions of court, lasting only a few minutes each, were
necessary to dispose of Schrank's preliminary hearing. At 10 o'clock
the court heard Schrank's plea of guilty, and took recess until 2
o'clock, when the following physicians were appointed to look into the
prisoner's mental condition: Dr. F. C. Studley, Dr. W. F. Becker, Dr.
Richard Dewey, Dr. W. F. Wegge, and Dr. D. W. Harrington, all of
Milwaukee.
The court also appointed Attorney James G. Flanders to represent
Schrank.
At both sessions of the court, Schrank appeared perfectly at ease,
walking inside the bar with a jaunty air, chin up and a curious look on
his face. His appearance had changed considerably since the night he
shot the ex-President. Then his clothing was torn and bedraggled, his
hair unkempt, face unshaven and his expression wild.
[Illustration: Johnston Emergency Hospital, Milwaukee.]
In Municipal court he was neatly dressed in a carefully pressed suit of
blue serge, shoes shined, clean linen and spotless white tie, with a
white handkerchief peeping out of a side coat pocket. He had been
cleanly shaven and his hair was carefully pasted down, while in his
hands he carried a new fedora hat and a raincoat.
As he was led to the front of the courtroom by Deputy Sheriff Albert
Melms, everyone in the crowd stared at him, but the prisoner walked
with a firm step, and looked neither to the right nor left. It was only
when he was called before the bar and asked to plead, that he wavered,
and then only for an instant. Judge Backus ordered him to stand and
listen to the charge made against him, reciting that "John Schrank, on
Oct. 14, with malice aforethought, did attempt to kill and murder
Theodore Roosevelt."
"What do you plead to that, guilty or not guilty?" asked District
Attorney W. C. Zabel.
"I plead guilty to the shooting," answered the prisoner in a voice that
was slightly husky.
"Did you intend to kill Theodore Roosevelt?" asked Mr. Zabel.
Here the prisoner's voice became steady again, and he answered:
"I did not intend to kill the citizen Roosevelt."
"Did you intend to kill the candidate Roosevelt?"
"I intended to kill Theodore Roosevelt, the third termer," was the
answer. "I did not want to kill the candidate of the Progressive party.
I shot Roosevelt as a warning to other third termers."
"There we have it," broke in the court, and Schrank was told that he
might take his seat.
District Attorney Zabel moved that the court either appoint a
commission of alienists to examine Schrank or have him tried before a
jury. Judge Backus announced that he would appoint a commission of five
experts at 2 o'clock, and took a recess, ordering the deputies to take
Schrank back to the county jail. As the prisoner arose to leave many of
those in the courtroom rushed for the door, but all fell back when the
court said:
"Let no man leave the courtroom until the prisoner has left the city
hall."
At the afternoon session Schrank was simply brought in and allowed to
sit at one of the tables. When the physicians who are to examine him
arose to be sworn, he eyed them curiously, but evinced no outward signs
of emotion.
The court allowed the alienists as much time as they desired to make
the examination of the prisoner, and ordered the sheriff to allow them
to see Schrank whenever they wished. The prisoner also was given an
opportunity to confer with his attorney.
The decision which the alienists were to reach, as ordered by the
court, was whether "the defendant, John Schrank, is sane at the present
time."
District Attorney Zabel announced that the following had been
subpoenaed as witnesses: Detectives Louis Hartman, and Valentine
Skierawski; Dr. Robert G. Sayle and Dr. T. W. Williams, Emergency
hospital, who attended Col. Roosevelt; Capt. A. O. Girard and John
Campbell, Rescue Mission, an eyewitness.
Mr. Zabel received several letters and telegrams from New York asking
for leniency, and commending Schrank's action.
Several were sent with the request that they be handed to the attorney
who would defend the prisoner.
People all over the country sent letters to District Attorney W. C.
Zabel advising him how to handle Schrank.
"Think of all the brains that are uniting with mine in trying to
determine how to handle this case," said Mr. Zabel, with a laugh. "And
the best part of it is that it's not costing the city or county a cent
either. How do you like this one," handing over a letter which said:
"For God's sake, don't let any Catholic priest get near him."
Another said: "Hang him up by the thumbs. No punishment is too horrible
for such a man."
A third man looked with suspicion upon the Socialist district attorney,
and believed that he read something wrong in the statement that Schrank
would not be placed on trial immediately.
"Probably Schrank is not so crazy after all," this man wrote. And then
he insinuated that Schrank very carefully planned to commit the deed in
a state where there is no capital punishment and in a county--the only
one in the country--in which "there is a Socialist district attorney."
Still another advised the district attorney to look into the minutest
details, as he saw some big rich and powerful influence back of Schrank
which had urged him on to the crime.
"These are only a few of the letters I received from men who are
probably in as bad a mental state as they seem to think Schrank is,"
said the district attorney.