The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28
KILLED IN HIS auto
Robert VI. Snyder. Indicted
Banker. Victim of Accident.
HEAD STRIKES TROLLEY POLE
Boy l. Run Down and Dies a Few
Hours Later-kansas city Capt.
tnlist, Tried on Bribery Charge in
It. Eouis, Had the Case NOIIe Pross-
cd, aud Was Re-indicted.

Kansas City. Mo. Oct. 2I.-Robert NJ.
Snyder. banker and capitalist, was killed
almost instantly about 5:S0 o'clock this
evening n an automobile accident at
Independence and Park avenues. and
Arthur Roden, the thirteen-year-old son
Of Robert +. Rodell 800 Minnie avenue.
died d few hours later at the Agnew Hos
pital. where he was removed after the
accident occurred.
Mr.. Snyder. with his chauffeur. Frank
". Schroeder, was driving along Inde-
prndenco avenue. when the boy. vino was
pulling coastiUE wagon. stepped in
front of the machine and was run down.
the automobile dragging him several feet
ana then running over his body.
The chauffeur swerved the machine TO-
ward the curbing when he saw the boy.
and in doing SO the right front wheel
struck violently against the curbstone
and glanced OF. grazing il for a dis
tance Of several feet.
Mr.. Snyder. who occupied the rear seat
was partly thrown from the t0nucau by
the impact. and il is believed his head
struck an iron trolley pole. lie did not
fall from the automobile.
Convicted of Bribery.
Robert Snyder was convicted in the St
Louis Circuit Court in October. 1894 Of
bribery in connection with the passage
by the ST Louis municipal assembly of
the Central Traction bin in 1SeS for mcrg-
ing several OF the street car lines here
Among his attorneys were William War
ncr. now United States Senator: II. s
Priest. formerly judge OF tho United
States District Court here, and T. ".
Lehman, of this city. The circuit at
toruey who prosecuted him was Joseph
". Folk, now governor of Missouri.
The defense presented no evidence to
refute the charge of bribery. but rested
its case on evidence to the effect that
snyder had continued his residence IN
Kansas City, No, and not removed 10
Now York, where he had rooms at the
Waldorf-Astoria. thereby being exempt
from prosecution under the statute Of
limitations. three years having elapsed
between the time Of the alleged bribery
and the bringing OF the Indictment
Evidence was offered by the State TO
show that Snyder had changed his resi-
dence to New York City, and the jury
taking that view. found him guilty and
gave him five years in the penitentiary.
Case Is Remanded.
The Supreme Court overruled this de-
cision, and remsnded the case on the
ground that the change of residence had
not been proven, and that the circuit at
torney, in his closing argument, had in
directly commented on the fact that the
defendant had not taken the witness
stand, such comments being prohibited
by statute
The case was TO have been retired the
18th of last month, but Circuit Attorney
Sager could not get his principal wit
nesSes. two of whom had removed to
Colorado, here and as the court refused
to grant further continuance, the case
was nolle pressed. A few days later a
new indictment was found, which is still
held
In the first trial the State presented tes-
timOny that Snyder gave Fred c. Uthoff.
of the St Louis city council, $4,000 for
votes Of the combine for the traction bill
The killing OF R. NJ. Snyder is the
second violent death TO occur in the Sny,
der family within the past few months
few weeks ago the body of Carey Sny>
der, an only son. was found near Hills
borO, Greg. Il is supposed that he met
death at the hands of bank robbers, and
that he was killed because Of his knowI-
edge Of the operations OF the bandits.