The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-01-31
The Ait vernon Hanging.


Mt. VERNON, Ind, Jan. 25'-lt is stat
cd IN connection with the Bit. Ftrnon
hanging that the crime for which Ander
son ami Snyd are executed Was the
murder on August 18th, of james Van
Weyer, II years of ago. The laitsr, who
was known 10 have SIS on his person
Was entlcei to the spot selected tor the
crime, on the river tank, q mile east OF
Mt Vernon, aud while his at eatiCn
was directed another way Snyder
struck him on the head With club
and ieIltd MIN TO the ground. He Ihen
held his head, while Anderson, sitting
aslride the boly cot his throat IRON ear
To ear with pocket kDlfe. AT the fl.s
plunge of the blade the victim revived
and r1aliz, d his awful position, begging
Tor mercy and struggled dep rAtely
He was oveTmatched, however, and Was
soon overcome by loss of blood. Alter
riding his pockets and before
life VS. extinct The budy WAS
thrown into the river and take
s0me Gi.tance out into the stream, the
murderers swimming each side of 1t.
| Blood stains and the dislur bed condition
OF The grOand were discovered next
day, and the body, after search, was re-
covered Sunday afternoon. Suspicion
was at once directed Ia Anderson aud
| SNYDER, who were arrested before line
OF denial could be agreed upon
| between them, and by sklllful
manipulation 10y the officers, a comics
| sion from each was obtained, and charg-
| ing the commission of the crime upon
the other. The trial was BRET, the con.
| Viction prompt and executive ciemency
was invoked In vain. Van Weyer Wes a
/ I1.l I'd at
| Mt. Vernon only a few months, doing
odd jobts The by was H.
dustIlGns and well behav d.
| Anderson and Snyder were both from
| ML. Vernon The former vas about 81
wears of age and was shiftiess, idle
fellow, but previous 10 tie murder was
never cons idered vicious. AndeTs III
was about II years Old and was an I'D
boot blaek. He as inclined to be ill.,
dustri0us but his associates were bad,
Sn, der's mother and both the paren.s
OF Anderson reside at Mt. Vernon.
At II 40 the prisoners were conveyed
to an encl. sure n ar the jail attended
BIZ Revs. Asbary aad Wilson. Ander
son was very much composed S0yder
was emotional and prayed aloud constant
". Anderson made a brief prayer
THE EXECUTION.
Anderson and Snyder, the doomed men
retired al 10 o'clock last night and slepI
soundlS; both were called at o'c ock
and ate heartily. The Catholic priest
who had been with them was denied nd
mission They had asked for the Meth.
o1ist ministers, j. w. Ashbury ard
FL. E WIllson. These gentlemen
was sent for, and promptly arrived, and
conducted appropriate exercises a.
8 80 the d. ath warrant was read. aItd
was listened 10 without emotion. AT II
O'Clock SNYDER delivered 3 prayer
. asking divine mercy, ard express
iag confidence that his siUs would
be forgiven Daring the scene
the prisoner was very composed
but Snyder was nervous and excited and
talked freely of the crime and frequently
cried. Anderson was much Affected
but under great self-controi. freely con
versing with visitors and occasionally
smiling This concluded they were re.
turned TO their cells where they were
again attended by ministers and the
last preparations for death were made
When the drop fell. Snyder's neck wa
q broken: Anderson struggled snl
twrtched a moment. Lie was extlrct N
snyder IN seven minutes. The bottles
j we're cut down, put in collins. and COZ
veved 10 Wess-inger's uuGsTiski g IS
tablishmeHt and exposed to publ c G y
The Arrangements were very complete
snd there was not hitch from fir ta
Last