The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
AUTO KILLS BANKER AND BOY.
ROBERT M. SNYDER, ALLEGED
BRIBER OF ST. LOUIS, A VICTIM.

ms Machine struck Child in street and
Chauffeur in Effort 10 Save little Fell
low nan Into Curb -RRnker's Head Hit
Iron Trolley Pole son Recently Killed.
KANSAS CRY, Oct. 27.-Robert NJ. Snyder.
banker and capitalist. was killed almost
instantly about $50 O'Clock this evening
in an automo bile accident at Independence
and Park avenues, and Arthur Rodell, the
thirteen-year-old son Of Robert F. Rodell,
died a few hours later as a result OF the
accident.
Both died at Agnew Hospital, TO which they
were removed after the accident occurred.
Mr.. Snyder, with his chauffeur, Frank
NJ. Schroeder, was driving east along indie
pendenoe avenue when the boy, who was
pulling a o~oasting wagon, stepped in front
of the machine and was run down, the auto
dragging him several feet and then running
over his body.
The chauffeur swerved the machine
toward the south curb when he saw the
boy, and in doing 80 the right front wheel
of the Rutobmobile struck the curb and
Rlanced off,, scraping it for several feet.
Mr.. SNYDER, who occupied the rear seat,
was partly thrown from the tonneau by
the impact Inc it is believed his head
struck an iron trolley pole. He did not
fall from the automobile.
Robert NJ. Snyder was convicted IN tho
Sc. Louis Circuit Court in October, 1904. OF
bribery In connection with the passage by
the st. Louis Municipal Assembly Of the
Central Traction bill in 1898 for merging
several Of the street car lines here.
Among his attorneys were William Warner,
now United States Senator; II. s. Priest.
formerly Judge Of the United States Dis
trict Court here. and +. W.. Lehman OF this
city. The Circuit Attorney WHO prose
uted him was Joseph Folk, now Governor
Of Missouri.
The defence presented no evidence 70
refute the evidence OF bribery, put rested
its case on evidence that Snyder had con-
tinued his residence in Kansas City, Mo-,
and had not removed to New 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 in
diotmeut.
Evidence was offered by the State to show
that SNYDER changed his residence to New
York city. and the jury taking that view
found him guilty and gave him five years
In the penttentiary.
and remanded the case, on the ground that
the change Of residence had not been proven
and that the Circuit Attorney in his closing
argument had indirectly 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
Hager could not get his principal witnesses,
two Of whom had removed to Colorado,
here. and as the court refused to grant a
further continuance the case was nollied.
A few days later a new indictment was
found, which IL still pending.
In the first trial the State presented testi-
mony that Snyder gave Frederick @. Uthof
of the st. Louis City Council $50 900 for the
votes of the combine for the traction bill.
The killing OF r. NJ. Snyder is the second
violent death in the Snyder family in the
past few months. A few weeks ago the
body Of Carey snyder, an only son, was
found near Hillsboro, Ore. 1t is sup
posed that he met death 1t the hands Of
bank robbers and that he was killed be-
cause Of his knowledge of the operations
Of the andits