Altogether, he is not a repulsive looking man. Merely a weak looking man. Laughs and grins come readily during his conversations.
The only remarkable feature about him is his knowledge of American history and politics. He is able to talk intelligently upon modern political questions, showing that he is a great reader along these lines.
The more one looks at him and studies him, the more one wonders what it is that could have pressed him forward to commit such a deed.
Nothing explains his weak character more than his hesitancy to fire the shot at Chattanooga. He had traveled miles to do it, and at the last minute his courage oozed out. The same thing happened in Chicago. He stood at Hotel La Salle with murder in his heart, but hesitated until it was too late.
And when he struck Milwaukee, he acted just like a boy afraid to coast down a big hill, who, finally impelled by the taunts of his comrades, closes his eyes and starts.
Look down through history and you find that the most atrocious crimes were committed by weak persons of the same caliber as John Flammang Schrank.
CHAPTER XII.
SCHRANK BEFORE CHIEF.
John Flammang Schrank was taken to the central police station, Milwaukee, immediately upon his arrest in front of the Hotel Gilpatrick. Under direction of Chief John T. Janssen, of the Milwaukee police department, the following examination of Schrank was conducted: