The Attempted Assassination of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt — John Shaqi
The Attempted Assassination of ex-President Theodore RooseveltRemey, Oliver E.
History
The Attempted Assassination of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt
Remey, Oliver E.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
"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."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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