Joseph Schneider Shot Mayette Bielen, High School Girl.

——–

TWO BOYS STRUCK BY

THE SHOT GUN CHARGE

——–

Youngsters Were Pulling

Innocent Pranks Of Hallowe’en.

——–

At the examination held in the Forster Undertaking Parlors Saturday morning at ten-thirty o’clock, Joseph J. Schneider of Springfield admitted firing the shot which killed Mayette Bielen on the evening previous, when she with seven playmates were out playing Hallowe’en pranks. Coroner George F. Reineke was called to Springfield to conduct the inquest where the jury found the offender guilty of the offense. A charge of third degree murder had been brought against Schneider and he is being held in the county jail.

Waited For Children

It appears from the evidence offered, that Schneider had been sitting in his barn with the door open waiting for the youngsters to come. He had taken his station about seven o’clock in the evening, and had a Remington Pump gun loaded with 5 shots 12 gage shells. Nothing materialized until about eleven o’clock, when he heard children coming down the alley. He says he went to the door of the barn and fired one shot into the ground, intending to scare the children off his property. The second shot was fired in the air, and Mr. Schneider states that he thought he fired high enough so as not to hit anyone. He did not hear anything after the shot until someone called “Oh.” He then threw down his gun and ran down the alley where he found the little girl, not knowing who she was or how badly she had been injured. He picked her up and carried her to his home and told his wife to wash off the child’s face which was covered with blood. He then ran down the street to call the doctor. When he returned with a physician, the doctor felt of the little girl’s pulse and stated that there was not a chance for her and she died a few minutes later.

Two Boys Suffer Injuries

It was learned later that two boys,a Black boy and Harley Slade had been hit by the shot, the former in the leg and the latter in the leg and arm. They are recovering satisfactorily. The little girl had been struck by the charge of shot in the back, head and neck.

The girl was the 14 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Bielen of Springfield and was a Freshman in the schools in that city.

Man Arrested.

Immediately after the inquest, Coroner Reineke issued a warrant for the arrest of Schneider, who was brought to New Ulm in the custody of Sheriff Wm. J. Julius, where he is being held for trial. Monday morning Schneider appeared before County Attorney Streissguth and pleaded guilty to the charge of murder in the third degree. When asked if he was ready to plead guilty to the charge, the man said “I will have to. I did it.” He claims that he did not mean to hit anyone or harm any of the children. It was his desire to frighten them away before they pulled any of their pranks about his property. Further questioning showed that he is a married man, 46 years of age, with a wife and eight children. The oldest son is eighteen years old, and the youngest is a daughter who will be three years old this week. The father always provided well for his family, having just purchased a new home three weeks ago. His children were devoted to their father, spending a great deal of their time with him. He has lived in Springfield for the past 35years. He tended bar at the time the saloons were running, after which he worked in the Brick Yards in Springfield. For the past two and one half years he has conducted a soft drink parlor, having sold his interests three months ago.

Verdict of the Jury.

A jury of six men heard the evidence at the inquest and returned the following verdict:

“Mayette Bielen came to her death in the city of Springfield, Minnesota, on the evening of October 31, 1924, from a gunshot wound inflicted upon her by the discharge of a shot gun in the hands of one Joseph Schneider. Said gun was willfully discharged by said Joseph Schneider. Signed:–E. G. Slattery, John Shult, A.C.

New Ulm Review,

November 5, 1924

————————