The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-12
The Infnnticide at Philadelphia.
FINDING OF THE BODY OF ONE OF THE CHILDREN
CORnNER'S MODEST

] The lnfnnfScide at Philadelphia.
FINDING OF THE BODY OF ONE OF THE CHILDREN
CORONER's INQUEST.
From the Philadelphia Ledger, Nov. H.
On Thursday two of the special officers of the police
Nieetown for the purpose of endeavorng to find the
body Of of the children of Pamela Snyder which she
stated had been buried there They effected Their object
and inquest held upon the remains yesterday at
the Union street station house by Coroner Deavau in
the presence Of Alderman Kenney.
The first witness called Dr. Andrew j. Smiley, who
testified to having examined the remains of child found
amid a quantity of decomposed matter, contained in
rough wooden box about three feet long and foot
wide. He detailed in technical terms the various por
tons of the skeletons found including the bones of the
head spinal column, arms, and lower extremitcs. He
considered from the size of the bones that child had
arrived at its full time but from the advanced stage of
had been born alive, or to decide upon its SEX There
was mark upon the skull to indicate any violence.
Officer Clark detailed the steps taken in the case from
company with officer Seed to Ncctown. From informa
ton received from Charlotte Snyder, aunt of Pamela
minutes came to rough wooden box about three feet
beneath the surface 1his is the child that VIM Snyder
told that he and George Alemus had buried and he
at the time acknowledged himself 10 be the father
it, Pamela Myers at that time lived with her grand
mother in the house to WHICH the yard where the body
was found was attached. 1t is now occupied by Mr..
Rice The child was born Sunday evening February
ed 1852 aud the next day washed and laid out by
Officer Seed corroborated the evidence of Mr. Clark
stating, in addition, that Pamela had told him of having
had five children, two Of which SHE clicked TO DEATH One
of these she said che had thrown into the
yellow house opposite the house in which she arrest
ed and that it afterwards taken by her uncle
and other people, who buried it in the garden. think
the body found is that Of the third child she acknow
time, and she left them in the field ~ ' luz
Hanna Snyder, an aunt of the accused, testified in
relation a .s ito to the child in that she could
happened on Sunday; Pamela had been down to her
mothers, and after coming home appeared to be in Ia
cused Pamela of having given birth child but she
denied it after hunting for it, discovered it in the
out failed, but after night VIM. Snyder put ladder
down. and in that way got it out the body placed
in wooden box that used to bring coal In after being
washed, the next night it was buried; this about
three since and believe she has had two children
since; saw the child after it washed; it girl;
saw dent upon the head and supposed it was caused
from striking something in falling into the well; un-
derstood she taken sick before when riding into
the city with her brother while he serving
customers with milk she went alley and getting
into the again her brother drove out home with
her. her last child weeks ago. last Thurs
day IL knew this only by hearay, but know that she
was previously in the family way
Elizabeth Mcclure testified to having gone to snyder's
house, on the day after the finding Of the child, and
saw the body in clothes basket that it had been
in the pool and no one denied it. washed the child
and dressed it, believe 1t born alive, but
marks Of violence about its head throat suppose it
was smothered from be thrown into the pool There
Pamela had not been arrested She said George Care
was the father of the child md proposed calling it
Washington, because it born washington's birth
day. She LIVED in town before the birth Of the child
found and suppose met the father there One of the
children think the irst-ded Of smallpox and she
had child while living at the Rising Sun but know
nothing further than what heard.
Charlotte Snyder the wife of William Snyder) tcsti
fed TO having the child when first discovered the
sink, and also after it had been washed. Pamela lived
with her grandmother at the time and boarded in the
same house She came home on Sunday, near evening,
and afterwards went into the yard, where she must
have given birth to the child On her coming back into
the house accused her of it, but she would not
fes William Sn, der buried it; did not this DONE
but the spot was pointed out TO afterwards. She
had another child short time since. but know
thing with regard to what became of it.
Mrs Sarah Altemus testified that she recoected the
child was born nearly three years ago. in cold weather.
on nSaay Her aunt, MIS- snyder told her the child
mp stairs, where Elizabeth Mcclure washed and
Mrs. Sarah Kay testified that she was living Chester
when the child born, Feb. % 1882 She heard It
had been drowned and buried in the well The FIRST child
Pamela Myers gave birth TO- she stated,
eight years ago II was Immediately taken sick with
small pox, and died Pamela then only fourteen or
fifteen years of age The mother told witness that VIM
Snyder, her uncle, the father
George Atemus testified that the 22d Of February,
1852, he mistrusted that there something wrong,
about, as II something had been lost lie inquired the
object Of their search and informed they supposed
and raised what he supposed to be cds foot After.
wards ladder was brought and in the presence Of VIM
well The child taken from witness by Snyder. The
next day the witness and Snyder buried in the garden
The box in which it was buried was recognized BY wit
ness The father said to he George Care Pamela is
reported to have given birth to children since 1852
Thomas Rice testified that while digging well
the farm which he lives shc struck box
which William Snyder informed witness he had put
there. Mr. Rice said he had heard of child being born
and buried there, but did not suppose any foul
had been used TO destroy its life. He said 1t
mon occurrence for people in the country to bury
children in the gardens lots to the expense Of
putting them in the gravcyards. An additional reason
why he supposed no crime had been committed the
circumstance of alderman having investigated
Of supposed nfantcde and found nothing In it, In
swer to question by juror, whether he ever sup
posed the girl to be in delicate situation while In his
employ, the witness answered that he noticed
girl h his house he passed them as he would dog.
DAVIS Mott testified that he assisted In digging up
the bsx containing the remains Of the chd after the
spot had been pointed out by Mrs. Snyder
The testimony then closed, and the jury after
rendered the following verdict -
That the box contains the remains Of the body Of
female child born the 22d Of February, 1882, and