The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-02-02
DROPPED II -eRkITY.

|
Anderson and Snyder. he Murdere Re
| Executed at Mt. Vernon. Ind.
Nit. VERNON, Ind, January 25.-An.
| derson and Snyder, the doomed men,
retired at 10 o'clock last night. During
the night Anderson's nose commenced
| bleeding and II became so serious tha.
| the guard was called. Ii continued to
bleed several minutes, after which he
| slept soundly. Both were called at 5
| O'Clock. They ate heartily. J. ".
Asbury and H. E. Wulsen, Metho-
dist ciergynen, were sent for and
promptly arrived and conducted ap-
proprlate exercises. At $50 the death
| warrant was read and listened to without
emotion. At 10 o'clock Anderson was
shaved. The prisoners began singing,
led by Snyder, VINO also delivered a
prayer asking Divine mercy and ex-
pressing confidence that his sins
would be forgiven. Snyder was
nervous and excited ard talked
freely Of the crime and frequently cried.
Anderson was much affected, but under
great self-contro], freely conversing with
visitors and occasionally smiling. This
concluded, they were returned to their
cells, where they were again attended by
the ministers and the last preparations
made. At lao they were conveyed to
the enclosure near the jail, attended
by Revs, Asblry and Wulsen.
Anderson was very composed. Sny-
der was emotional. He prayed
aloud constantly. Anderson delivered a
brief prayer. The trap was sprung at
11:50. Snyder's neck was broken. An
derson struggled and twitched for a mo-
ment. Life was extinct In Snyder II
seven minutes and IL Anderson IN eight
minutes. The bodies were cut down
and put IN the cofins and conveyed to
Messengers undertaking establishment,
where they were exposed to public gaze.
The arrangements were very complete.
There was no hitch from first to last.
The crime for which the two men
were executed Was the murder, August
18th, of James Van Weyer, II years of
age. The latter, who was known to
have SIS on his person, was enticed TO
the spot selected for the crime, on the
river bank, one Il lie east of Mt. Vernon,
ard while his attention was directed
the other way, Snyder struck
him on the head with a club,
telling him to the ground. He then
held the PROSTATE toy's head while An
dersoD, sitting astrde the body, cut Van
Weyer's throat frC N ear TO ear with a
pocket knife. At the first plunge of the
blade the victim revived and realized his
awful position, beg ging for mercy and
struggling desperately. He was over
matched, however, end was soon over
ttr-l ~
Weyer's pockets ana before life was ex-
tinct the body was thrown into the
river apd taken son distance out in
the stream, the mul derers swimming
each side of 1t. Biz cd STAINS and the
disturbed condition # the ground was
discovered next day, nd the body, after
search, was recovered Sunday afternoon.
Suspicion wds at once directed to Apder-
son and Snyder, who were arrested be-
fore a line of deDisl could be agreed
upon between them, and by skillful
manipulation bv officers a confession
was vruDg from them, each charging
the commission Of the crime upon the
other. The trial was brief aud the
conviction prompt. Executive elem
encv was invoked in vain. Van Weyer
was a native OF Kentucky and had re-
sided at Mt. Vernon only few months
doing odd jobs. He was az industrious
and well behaved boy. Snyder and
Anderson are both from Mt. Vernon.
The former was Il years of age, and is
shiitless. idle fellow. but previous to
the murder was never considered vi
cious. Anderson Was II years old, vas..s
bootblsck, inclined to be industrious,
but his associates were bad. Snyder
mother and both parents Of Anderson
are alive and reside at Mt. Vernon.