The Indianapolis journal., 1884-01-26

a fearful blow on the head from behind which
felled him to the ground. He was unconscious
when the youthful murderers jumped upon his
PROSTATE form and began their bloody work.
Snyder held the head of the victim while Ander-
son sat astride the body, and with very dull
pocket knife cut his throat from ear to ear.
The first ncision of the knife had the effect to
revive the victim, who in an in
stant realized his awful position.
Vainly he cried for mercy, piteously begging
the young butchers to spare his life. He
struggled desperately for an instant with al
most superhuman strength, to free himself, but
he was overmatched, and was soon rendered
powerless through the loss of blood, which
flowed in streams from the CHASTITY cash in his
throat. The work of murder almost accom-
plshed the young demons then turned their
attention to securing the money and any valu-
ables to be found upon their victims person.
In order to cover up the traces of their bloody
work, they dragged the body to the river and,
before life entirely extinct, threw it in, one
of them holding it with his foot beneath the
surface until the last sign of life had dsap-
peared. They then swan some distance from
that the swift current would carry it far beyond
thedanger of discovery by anyone who had known
the deceased in life.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE CRIME.
They then returned to town by circuitous
route On the way they hid the knife used to
perform the horrible work, and also the hat of
the victim. On the following Saturday evi-
dences of fearful struggle, in the shape of the
blood spots upon the weeds and ground,
were discovered by countryman
passing along the road Hurrying
on to Mount Vernon, he reported
the circumstance and his suspicious. Soon large
numbers of persons had collected at the spot in
dicated, and various theories, which ignored
murder, to account for the blood and the dis
turbed condition of the earth were advanced. 1t
was the general opinion, however, that q great
crime had been committed, and searching parties
were Immediately organized to scour the coun-
try III the nelghborhood and to drag the river.
The search was kept up until the following after
noon, when the body Of the murdered boy was
discovered. 1t was much swollen and discolored,
but was easily Unidentified.
The excitement among the citizens when this
result became known was intense and hundreds
OF persons OF both sexes and all ages visited the
undertaking establishment to view the remains.
Among the number were Anderson and Snyder,
neither of whom betrayed the least emotion
discussing with those about them the probable
motive of the crime. Both however from vari-
GUS circumstances, were suspected, and on Mon
day morning they were arrested and locked up.
Their arrest was SO sudden and unexpected that
they had arranged line of denial between
them, and as they were confined in different por-
tions of the jail, it an easy matter to obtain
a confession. Snyder was made to believe that
Anderson had told everything" charging the
crime upon him (Snyder), and vice versa. Each
wishing to shield himself, accused the other.
By this means their guilt was established beyond
the shadow of a doubt But, to make assurance
dOubly sure, they were taken separately TO the
places where the knife and hat respectively
were concealed, and, without hesitation each
walked directly to where the damning evidences
of their guilt were hidden
At the preliminary examination, which oe-
CURED soon afterward in the face of his confess
sion Anderson pleaded not guilty on the ground
that he did not do the cutting' On the follow
ing day, however, he withdrew this plea, and,
with Snyder, entered plea of guilty They
were held without bail to await their trial at the
September term of the Circuit Court At the
trial an acquittal was asked for on plea of in
sanity, but it was, of course, not entertained for
a second. The trial was brief, and the Jury
promptly returned verdict of guilty and Judge
w. F. Parrett pronounced the sentence of
death, and named to-day the time for the exc
cution. Executive clemency was invoked in
vain.
From the day of the arrest Snyder was APP
parently full of penitence, frequently closing his
conversations with those who visited the Jail.
sobbing and moaning like child Anderson,
on the contrary, at first was very defiant, and
showed his Indifference by dancing and singing
in his cell and making clown of himself gener-
ally. But he became more subdued as the time
for the execution approached, and within the
past few days frequently expressed his regret at
the crime. Public sentiment from the first was
strongly against them, and lynchng was fire.
quently talked of. But the certainty that the
law would be allowed to take its course and that
the crime would be punished, spared Mount
Vernon the threatened disgrace,
Zacariah Snyder was born in Mt Vernon, and
and twenty-one years of age, being four
years older than the boy he helped to kill His
parents were poor and illiterate, and his father
during the late years of his life was hard
drinker and generally worthless He did odd
jobs about town, but nothing steadily and moth
ing well. His mother, who is still alive. is a
simple minded, good -natured woman, who has
the respect of all who know her. ''Zack," as
the boy was familiarly called, was a shiftless,
idle fellow, but had never been regarded as mean
or vicious; in fact, he was generally looked upon
as kind hearted and inoffensive though his asso-
ciates We're for the most part, hard cases"
John Anderson was also born in Mt. Vernon
and was about the age of Van Wyer. He was
for several years boot black, and was inclined
to be industrious. His parents reside in Mt
Vernon and are respectable, though illiterate.
His father is cooper by trade and is hard
working man.
Arrest of General Dan Macauley.
NEW YORK IAN d -(fenera1 Daniel Ma