Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-28
sNA|DECKI PAYS
DEATH PENALTY
IS HANGED FOR MURDER OF
MRS. SALMON
Former Soldier Goes to the Gallows
Calmly After Calling in Witnesses
and Confessing That He
Killed Woman

Joseph Snaidecld, self confessed per-
petrator of one of the most brutal muir
ders in the history of California crime.
was hanged in the prison yard of San
Quentin penitentiary yesterday morn
ing at 10:30 o'clock, death resulting
fifteen minutes later from strangula-
tion.
Snaidecki murdered Mrs. Celia Sal
mon of Los Angeles at her home on
South Olive street, last July. For
months the man had been spending
his time at the Salmon home, doing
no work but being supported by Mrs.
Salmon and her children.
Snaidecki arrived in Los Angeles
about three years ago. He had been a
soldier in the Philippines and his shat
tered left arm won him much SYM
pathy among some of the German
families Many cared for him, and
for weeks he secured plenty of food
and money from his kind-hearted coun-
trymen and women.
He stayed longest at the Salmon
home and when hints were dropped
that his absence was desirable he be-
came indignant. From that time on
he lived away from the Salmon home
but was a daily caller there while the
children were away at work
Finally he was denied admittance
and attempted to force an entrance.
Young Salmon attacked the man as
he attempted to leap through the win
dow.
Snaidecki reached for his hip pocket
but the younger man was ready and
shot him twice in the arm. Even these
injuries did not discourage the eX-
soldier and he continued to call at
the house when the children were
absent.
Many times he asked Mrs. Salmon
to be his wife and as many times she
refused. Then as a last resort he Sc
cured marriage license and went to
the Salmon house.
The children were away and he
slipped in quietly and surprised Mrs.
Salmon in the kitchen. You will sign
this marriage certificate and marry me
or 1 will kill you,' said the frenzied
man.
II will never marry you," answered
Mrs. Salmon and Snaidecki drew a
kriss knife which he had found while
fighting in the jungles of the Philip
pines. He leaped upon Mrs. Salmon,
flourishng the keen double e-edged dag
ger in his hand.
But the woman was brave and seiz-
ing a pair of scissors she tried to fight
her assailant. Slowly the man forced
her to her knees and then holding her
by the throat he plunged the knife
into her body several times.
He then attempted suicide by TAX
ing arsenic. Failing in this he stabbed
himself six times, inflicting only scratch
wounds. He was arrested in a North
Spring street drug store, where he had
fled.
At the trial, Snaidecki attempted to
besmirch the character of Mrs. Sal
mon, but his evidence was cut short
by the order of the court and he was
sentenced to be hanged.
Yesterday, Snaidecki went to his
death like the soldier he had been
During his trial, he had shivered and
rocked in his agony of fright but fol-
lowing his sentence he assumed the
carelessness of the soldier and remained
cool until his death.
At the penitentiary, yesterday morn
ing he called in witnesses and confessed
his crime, giving the story in detail.
He then walked to the gallows.
The body will be buried in the prison
cemetery.