Ludwig Schmidt

How He Went to Gallows.

From a Special Correspondent.

RABAUL, April 4.

IT was nearing the close of the third trial.

Ludwig Schmidt had been arraigned in the Supreme Court of Rabaul twice before on charges of murdering primitive natives in the Sepik District, New Guinea, and had been sentenced by His Honour, Judge Wanliss, to pay the penalty with his life.

And this was yet another proven in stance of the condemned prisoner’s brutality, “The Crown witnesses,” continued His Honour, “gave the lie direct to the pri soner’s statement: and of one thing I am sure: he was lying just as hard as he could; but, liar as he is, he could not lie consistently. He was lying to his counsel, and he has lied to the Court.

There is, therefore, only one conclusion which I can arrive at, and that is: the prisoner is guilty of wilful murder of these two natives. . . . Prisoner at the bar, I find you guilty. ...”

“This is not true!” exclaimed Schmidt.

His Honour, after asking the prisoner if he had anything to say, and receiving a negative reply, then pronounced the death sentence.

That happened nearly three w'eeks ago, during which time Ludwig Schmidt’s heinous crimes and his questionable san ity have been commented upon by pro fessional men, and the Man-in-the-Street.

Regarding his sanity there definitely can be no question; Ludwig Schmidt was not insane. There was nothing to show that any of his atrocious acts were brought about by even temporary insan ity. This is proved, again, by the mere fact that he offered no evidence, but pre ferred to make a statement from the witness-box, an unsworn statement, so that he could not be examined and could not be punished if he lied.

However, a Medical Board was imme diately appointed to examine Schmidt.

Any suggestion that the prisoner was in sane was refuted by this Board.

So, on Wednesday, March 25, during the dark hours preceding the glory of the tropical dawn, Ludwig Schmidt sat with head bowed in the condemned cell of the European prison at Rabaul. He was listening intently to the ministrations of Rev. Father Zwinge, who had helped him to make his peace with God.

Then, just before half-past five, the w r arders came to prepare him for the ordeal. Lighting a cigarette, he looked up and said; “I am ready.” One of the warders handcuffed his hands behind his back.

As he walked towards the door of the cell the cigarette fell from his lips. He remained calm and self-possessed.

The dawn was just breaking as the officers led him into a compound at the rear of the prison, where the gallows had been erected the previous day.

Underneath a Kapiak tree stood the Sheriff and his Deputy, the Chief Inspec tor of Prisons, the Head Gaoler, and the press representative. All these witnesses appeared preoccupied as they watched the grim arrangements being made, in a very solemn and dignified manner.

As the bugle-notes of the reveille were dying away, Schmidt walked steadily up the steps leading to the gallows platform.

Turning him round so that he faced Mt. Kombiu, the Head Gaoler then put a black handkerchief over his eyes and another warder slipped the noose over his head.

The priest, standing on the top step, then said: “God have mercy on your soul, Ludwig Schmidt”; to which the prisoner replied: “Amen.”

The Head Gaoler signalled to the Senior Gaoler, who pulled away the strut which supported the platform. Thus, Ludwig Schmidt paid the extreme penalty.

There was no hitch during the pro ceedings. The medical officer announced that death was instantaneous. The body was placed in a coffin and carried by Chinese prisoners to a grave near-by, where the burial service was conducted by Rev. Father Madigan.