Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-26
|FEoM An AWFUL CRIME
Two Indiana Men Dance to the Hanx.
mans Deadly Music.


mans Deadly Music.
MT. NERSos, IED., January 25.-Ander.
son and Snyder, the doomed men, retired
at 10 o'clock last night. During the night
Auderson's nose commenced bleeding. b.
coming serious, physicians were called. 1t
continued for several minutes, after which
he slept soundly. Both were called at FIVE
o. clock and ate heartily. A Catholic priest,
who bad been with them, gained admis.
sion. They having asked for a methodist
ministers. J. ". A.bury and a. E. wult-
SOD, the gentlemen asked for, arrived
promptly and conducted appH pirate exsr-
cises. AT $50 che
Death Wsrrant Was Read
and listened to without emotion. At ten
O'Clock Anderson was shaved. The prison
ers singing, led by Snyder, who also deliv-
cred prayer, asking for Divine mercy and
expressing confidence that their sins were
forgiven. During this scene the prisoners
and excited. He talked freely Of the crime
and frequently cried. Anderson was much
affected but under great self lfcontrol, freely
conversing with visitors and occasionally
smiling They returned to their cells
-WlseSgEHSy-~efe again attended by minis.
ters and the last preparations made. At IL AS
they were conveyed TO the enclosure near
the jail, attended by Rev. Ashbury and
Wulfson. Anderson was very compose.
Snyder was emotional and prayed aloud.
Anderson made a brief prayer. The trap
was sprung at IL so. Snyders neck was
broken. Anderson struggled and twitched
N rok, -. ~,
seven minutes, and in Anderson in six.
The bodies were cut down, put in coffins,
conveyed to Messengers undertaking
establishment and exposed to view. The
arrangements we're very complete and
there was no hitch from first to last.
The Crime fer Which Anderson and
Snyder We're Executed
was the murder on August 18th Of James
Van WeyeT, fifteen years of age. The lat.
ter was known to have had eighteen dol
lars On his person, and was enticei TO the
spot selected for the crime on the river
bank, mile east Of Mt. Vernon. While
his stteption was directed in another way,
SNYDER struck him on the head with club
which feled him 20 the ground, AMI then
held his head while Anderson, sitting
astrihe of the body, proceeded to out
bis throat from ear TO ear. at the first
plunge OF the blade the victim revived
al realizing his awful position begged for
mercy and struggled desI e.ately. He was
overmatched, however, and soon overcome
py the loss OF blood. After ritling the
pockets and before life was extinct the
body was thrown in the river and taken
out some distance into the stream, the muir.
dereTs swimming each side OF it. Blood
stains and the disturbed condition Of the
g1ourd were discovered next day. The
body after search was recovered Sunday
afternoon. Suspicion was at once directed
to Anderson and Snyder, who were arrested
be fore line OF denial could be agreed up.
on between them, and by the skilful man.
ipulStion of the officers
A Confession was Wruug from Each,
charging the commission of the crime upon
the other. The trial was brief and the
conviction prompt. Executive clemency
was invoked in vain. Van Weyer was
native of Kentucky and had resided at
Mt. Vernon only few months, doing odd
Jobs. He was an industrious, well-behayed
boy. Snyder and Anderson were both
from Mt Vernon. The former was twenty
one years of age, shiftless, idle fellow,
but previous TO the murder not considered
vicious. Anderson was bootblack, in
clned to be industrious but with bad asso'
ciates. Snyder's mother and both the
parents of Anderson are alive and reside