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.