Hermann Schwarz

Timeline

• 30 August 1912 — Hermann Schwarz opened fire at people in the street from the second-storey window of his apartment in Romanshorn, Switzerland; in the initial shooting and the following siege he shot a total of twelve men, six of them fatally.
• 29 September 1912 — The Spokesman-Review published a report on the Romanshorn shooting.
• Sep. 28 — Seven men were killed and several others wounded in the capture of Hermann Schwarz as he defied attack in a house, barricaded himself, and then shot at pursuers into the woods.

Background

Hermann Schwarz was a 25-year-old local resident of Romanshorn, Switzerland. He had been discharged from the army due to mental trouble, and he was examined by several psychiatrists in the following months. He was found to suffer from mental illness.

The offence

Hermann Schwarz opened fire at people in the street from the second-storey window of his apartment in Romanshorn on the evening of August 30, 1912. In the initial shooting and the following siege, Schwarz shot a total of twelve men, six of them fatally. After barricading himself, he kept up continuous fire from 6 o'clock until past 11.

During the attempt to break down the door, four men were killed and eight others were wounded. The wounded included a policeman and the manager of the gas works.

After he disappeared from the house, a policeman came upon him in the woods and fired, but was mortally wounded by the madman.

Finally, Schwarz was arrested after a chase in which 100 people took part. He killed another of his pursuers before he was captured, and another person who had taken part died subsequently.

Investigation

Police and townsmen engaged in an extensive search operation after Schwarz escaped into a nearby forest. Fire brigade personnel were summoned after people rushed the house shortly after midnight.

Arrest

A policeman located Schwarz in the woods and fired; the policeman was mortally wounded by Schwarz. Schwarz was later arrested after shots during a chase involving 100 people, and he was taken into custody while seriously wounded.

Outcome

In the following months Hermann Schwarz was examined by several psychiatrists and was found to suffer from mental illness, resulting in his acquittal due to insanity. He was ordered to be institutionalized for the rest of his life.