Los Angeles herald., 1890-03-25
FOR SEDUCTION.
j. H. SnOwden Tried for
This Crime.
His Victim Tells Her Story to
The Jury.
She is Annie Johnson, Friendless
Stranger Swedish Girl.
While Domestic in the Family of Rev
DR.. Eli Fay She Submits to Snowden
Under Promise of Marriage.

J. H. Snowden, charged with seduc-
ton under promise of marriage, was on
trial yesterday in Department l before
a jury composed as follows: G. Girls
void, 7. N. McCracken, Millard Fill
more, Abel Sutton, c. C. Cass, J. w.
Goodwin, A. Merriam, Frank Adams, J..
b. Beebe, N. B. Nesbett, 7. d. Anderson,
Robert Curlee.
Annie johnson, Swedish girl, who
was in the laundry at Bellevue Terrace
when Snowden was cook in the estab-
lishment, and who afterwards went to
live at Rev. DR.. Eli Fay's as domestic,
is the girl. She was put on the stand
yesterday forenoon as soon as jury had
been impaneled, and told her story
pretty much as it was told in the lower
courts some months ago. Briefly as she
gave it in court it runs as follows:
She first met Snowden at the Bellevue
Terrace. He was cook there and she
was employed in the laundry of <the
house. When they first met she was
displeased with him and did not care to
meet him, but he was very affable and
so persistent with his attentions that she
could not get rid of him. While she was
at work he would come in and talk with
her; he was of a jealous disposition and
disliked to have anyone else speak to
her. She frequently asked him not to
be so attentive to her. When he could
not see her he would send her dishes of
strawberries and oranges and prepared
good dinners for her especial benefit.
He was lavish in his compliments and
said he was very fond of her and wanted
to marry her. She would reply that she
was not ready to marry; that she had
not given the subject thought. But he
continued his attentions, and at last she
began to grow fond of him. She soon
left the Bellevue Terrace and went and
stopped with family named Larsen, on
San Pedro street, near Seventh. There
he called upon her nearly every evening
and renewed his prayer for her to marry
him. She occupied a room, but he never
was in it but twice. They usually sat
out on the porch or took walks.
After short vacation she went to DIR.
Fay's house and entered upon her duties
as domestic. Snowden continued his
attentions and renewed his proposals of
marriage. She consented. He said he
had $40, 900 ranch in New Mexico had
5000 in bank, and his father in Kansas
City was willing to give him $4,000.
His finances were such that he could
place her beyond the necessity of work.
After her consent to marry him he
urged that they assume the relations of
man and wife. She protested, declaring
that it was improper and great sin.
He argued to the contrary; that it was
no violation of any law to act that way,
as they had pledged their love and were
in reality the same towardeach other as
though they had passed through the
legal form OF marriage. At last she
yielded.
On cross-examination the girl said she
was % years old. She was raised in
Sweden, and came to America about
twenty-one months ago. She came with
two brothers. Snowden had illicit inter-
course with her first about three weeks
after she went to live at DIR. Fay's. This
was after he had made promises OF mar
riage to her. He said he did not care
how soon they were married, that he
would leave that to her. He visited her
on San Pedro street nearly every evening
while she was there. She was there about
three weeks. He used to stay with her
until 10 or II O'Clock. He accompanied
her to the Larsens' when she went there,
and came again the next evening. On
the occasion that he was in her room he
put his arms about her and caressed
her. He talked of marriage while she
was on San Pedro street sometimes.
She once heard a Mr.. Hepburn, at
the Bellevue Terrace, say that
Snowden was a married man. She
paid but little attention to it at the
time, for the reason that she was not
then at all interested in Snowden.
Afterwards the defendant assured her
he was not married, and then she be-
ieved him before all others. Her father
and mother are still in Sweden, her two
brothers in Kansas. She came to Los
Angeles in company with a girl she had
known at home in Sweden, who had
been to Los Angeles, and whom she met
in Kansas. She is back in Kansas now
with her own parents.
Doctor William Brill testified that
Snowden came to his office on the
morning of December IL, 1889, about 6
or O'Clock, and asked him to go with
him to see a servant-girl at DIR. Fay's,
who was ILL., Snowden told the doctor
10 90 WIFI HlIH ulTcCuly W tlc
girls room, as the family, was
still asleep. The doctor did so,
and found Annie johnson suffering very
much. He asked her some questions
and concluded it was a case OF miscar-
riage. He asked her if she was married
and she said not. He then questioned her
and Snowden and they both said she
might be pregnant, but Snowden put in
very emphatic disclaimer as to any
responsibility in the premises. He made
one examination and concluded she had
been pregnant, but was not sure it was
very early in the period If so. About
this time Mrs. Fay made her appearance
and being made acquainted with the
facts she turned to Snowden and said:
''Charlie, you are responsible for this,
and if you do not marry this girl at once
will shoot you." Snowden said that
was all right, that he would marry her
forthwith. DIR. Brill attended the girl
until she got better.
Mrs. Harriet Kelsey Fay, the wife OF
Rev. DIR. Fay, told how she came home
after marriage to DR.. Fay, August z,
1889. She found Annie johnson there
as domestic. When she arrived Snow
den was there. From that on he came
constantly to the house to see Annie.
They sat together on the veranda or in
the kitchen. He used to stay until well
into the evening. This continued until
noooypbor II Appio waa i'll two Or