The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-29
A FIENDIsH CRI NE.
Confession of the Youthful Murderers of
Vanway at Mount Vernon.

Confession of the Youthful Murderers of
Vanway at Mount Vernon.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Aug. 24.-rhe youthful
murderers of Mount Vernon have made
fun confession of the horrible crime. There
is little difference in the statements of Sny-
der and Anderson, other than the one wants
to shift the throat-cutting onto the other.
Snyder says that he and Anderson met Van
way, the victim, on the levee at o'clock
Friday morning; that they went some dis
tance from the iron bridge 10 60
in swimming. After arriving there
they tried to borrow some money
from Vanway. He refused to loan them any.
Anderson then Knocked him down and cut
his throat. Then they took his money and
threw his body into the river. He also
stated that they hid the murdered mans
bat in q cornfeld, and that Anderson threw
the knife in a brush heap near the bridge.
After Snyder had made his confession an Off
Ger took him out of the Jail and allowed him
10 go and show him where they had thrown
the knife. The knife was found IN
a brush heap. 1t is a common wooden
handled knife with blade about two inches
long. Anderson made the f)llOwing state
ment: Zach Snyder and met Vanway on
the levee under the HemiDg milf ware
house. We were going up to g in swim
ming ] asked Nenwsy 10 g1 along. He
went with US up above the iron bridge. After
We got there Snyder tried to b srrow some
money from Vanway, but be would not let
him have it. We got sparring and Nsnway
hi me HI Of a lick. and knocked blm
down. He got up and said that | must not do
that sgaip. Snyder then knocked him down
with a club and sat on his head. ] held his
feet ard legs while Sayder cut his throat
He borrowed the knife from me. Vanwsy
did not say anything except. My God, Jack
don't kill me- He struggled little when
Snyder cut his throat, but not much. We
then took his money and put him in the
river, and by Cd he (Snyder) rods him in /.
to the river like you would a horse, aud
stayed on his back till he sunk. Snyder gave
me 81 and kept SO himself, saving: "You
know l did the work and should have the
most money Snyder's clothes were all wet
and he went home and hung them out on
line to dry. / did not get any blood on me
because held his feet, but Snyder got his
pants ali bloody. His mother washed them.
Snyder hid rae hat in a cornfield, and said it
would not be found until next fall. He
threw my knife into the brush-heap near the
bridge, and told my mother about the kill
ing on Saturday night, and she told me to
have nothing more to do with Snyder"
Snyder is small, dark-complected man
about twenty-one years of age, and nearly
five feet ten inches high, weighing about $50
po' nds He has downcsst look, and has
betn weeping nearly all the time since his
Arrest. Anderson Is slim, twenty-one years
old, and five feet ten inches high. weighing
100 pounds. He is defiant in his manner,
utiers an cath with nearly every sentence,
and dances and sings in his cell. He seems
to be under the impression that the denial of
the cutting part of the fiendish job will re-
suit in his scquittal. At the preliminary
trial both men were sent to Jail without bail,
10 await the action OF the Circuit Court.