Title: John F. Schrank Municipal Court Records
Inclusive Dates: 1912

Creators:

• Milwaukee (Wis.). Municipal Court.
• Schrank, John Flammang, 1876-1943.

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 43

Quantity: 0.2 cubic ft. (1 box)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records from the trial of John Schrank, who attempted to assassinate Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. Contains court exhibits and transcripts.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0043

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John Flammang Schrank was born in Erding, Bavaria, on 5 March 1876 and immigrated to the United States at the age of 9. His parents died soon after, leaving Schrank to work for his aunt and uncle, New York tavern owners and landlords. Upon their deaths, Schrank's aunt and uncle left these properties to him. Schrank suffered yet another tragedy when his girlfriend, Emily Ziegler, died in the General Slocum disaster on New York's East River in 1904. He sold the properties and drifted around the East Coast for several years. He became profoundly religious and was a fluent Bible scholar with well-known debating skill. Schrank came to believe that Theodore Roosevelt should not run for a third term as President and began to follow him on the campaign trail.

Schrank attempted to assassinate Roosevelt outside the Gilpatrick Hotel in Milwaukee on 14 October 1912. The former President and presidential candidate was scheduled to deliver a speech at the Milwaukee Auditorium that day. Schrank had followed Roosevelt from New Orleans to Milwaukee. He shot Roosevelt in the chest. Roosevelt did not seek medical attention until after his speech and suffered only minor injuries. Schrank was arrested and pled guilty. The court declared him insane and he was transferred to the Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Waupun, Wisconsin. Schrank remained there until his death on 15 September 1943. Prior to the assassination attempt he had caused no documented trouble.

The collection contains documents of the Milwaukee Municipal Court trial of John Flammang Schrank. These consist of transcripts, exhibits, and handwritten documents from the trial. The transcripts are a combination of originals and photocopies. Other materials found in the collection include Schrank’s writings while in jail and written records of the physical examination of Schrank.

The collection is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Schrank, John F., Municipal Court Records, 1912, Collection 43. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The documents from this collection have been digitized and are available in the John F. Schrank Municipal Court Records digital collection.

The Attempted Assassination of Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin : Madness, Vengeance, and the Campaign of 1912

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

No acquisition information is currently on file. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Inventory by Jeffrey K. Carlin-Bartel, Volunteer Archivist, 2013. Processed by Bob Jaeger, 2018.

Box   1 Folder   1	Exhibit 1, “Unwritten Laws”, 1912
Box   1 Folder   2	Exhibit 2, Statement by Schrank, 1912
Box   1 Folder   3	Exhibit 3, Interview with Police, 1912
Box   1 Folder   4	Exhibit 4, Defense Argument, 1912
Box   1 Folder   5	Exhibit 5, Magistrate of Erding, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Physical Examination of John Schrank and Personalized Family History, 1912
Box   1 Folder   7	Transcript of Trial, 1912