New-York tribune., 1909-12-20
MRS. MARTINS PAST
LIGHT ON SNEAD CASE
Woman in Tombs alleged to
Haze Ererted Strange Pozcers


The handwriting evidence held by the Es-
County IN. j. authorities In the lnVes-
tigation OF the death of Mrs Ocey W. NJ
Snead was overshad0wed yesterday by
bulk Of new evidence which was given To
Prosecutor Mott on Saturday night The
nature OF the new DEVELOPMENTS was not
made public. but Mr.. Mott said that they
greatly change the form of the case as IL
will be presented TO the grand jury.
Indictments against the three women held
for the death of Mrs. Snead will be asked
tomorrow and the extradition proceedings
against Mrs Caroline b. Martin. the moth-
er Of the dead woman. and Mrs Mary
Snead will be hurried.
Mr. Mott returned from trip to Pennsyl-
vania yesterday and then entered into
conference with Franklin w. Fort, couh-
sci for the women under arrest. Inc pos
sible nsan nifty of Mrs. Martin and the plan
of extradition were discussed Tor seVeia'
hours. Then Mr.. Fort hurried to the New
ark County Jail. where he outlined plan
of defence to Miss Virginia o. Wardia"'
who Mas arrested I'm the East Orange cot
tage on the day that Mrs. Sneads pooy
was found.
Prosecutor Mott said that all three wom-
en- would be tried on the same charge ana
that any claim of insanity will have TO oe
brought before the court. He added;
This case is so important that 1t seems
to me If the question of the sanity OF
Mrs. Martin is raised, the question VIII
have to be answered after indictment.
There will be no secret proceedings, and
10 two doctors will decide who shall not
be tried for the murder of Mrs. Snead. If
Mrs. Martin held her relatives under hyp-
motto spell ii is up to the jury to decide
The new evidence in possession of the
prosecution will probably eliminate the
suicide defence which was brought up by
Mr.. Fort. The Prosecutor said that If the
death note is shown to be genuine he will
be ready to try the women on charge of
aiding and abetting a suicide which In
New Jersey is the same as a murder
charge.
MYSTERY IN PREVIOUS DEATH.
The Information gained by Mr.. Mott on
his hurried trip to Pennsylvania has thrown
much light on the past of Mrs. Martin and
her power over her relatives 1t has also
explained the circumstances connected
with the death of John b. Snead whose
burned body was found in Virginia several
years ago Miss Wardlaw is said to have
been I'm the town where her cousin COM
mitted suicide, but Mrs. Martin, according
to statements made, had left the place
few hours before the body was found.
According TO the prosecutor Mrs. Martin
was responsible for tine separation of the
Snead boys from their wives. He said that
John b. Snead called on the chief of police
u a Virginia town to drive Mrs. Martin
from the place Later Mrs. Martin and
Snead We're reconcied. Then. according to
the prosecutors information. Snead joined
her at a hotel and a week later
mental wreck. This information will be
used If the question of hypnosis is brought
into the case. II was said that Mrs. Ocey
Snead was always under the influence OF
Mrs. Martin, and. according To the matron
of the F mbs prison. where the woman is
now held. she has complete control over her
sister, Mrs. Mary Snead.
While the insanity question is not consid-
cred seriously by the prosecution. the hyp-
nosis theory is being closely studied. \
special examination of the dead woman's
brain has been ordered to determine If she
in a cataleptic state when she died.
and if she had been a frequent subject OF
Eypnotism. The testimony of two Brook
lyn doctors who said that Mrs. Ocey Snead
appeared under a foreign influence when
they called on her. will be offered if the ex-
animation of the brain justifes this move.
FORT FAVORS EXTRADITION.
Mr.. Fort will consult with Mrs. Martin
and Mrs. Mary Snead in the Tombs prison
before the women are arraigned in the
Centre street court this afternoon. He
will urge them to accept extradition, as il
has been shown that they were in New Jer-
sey and had an interest in the East Orange
cottage. II Mrs. Martin consents 10 the
plan the requisition papers will be sent to
Governor Hughes Immediately after the &C
tion of the grand jury.
Mrs. Martin was retired as principal of
Public School II on the report of the city
superintendent. who stated that he consid-
cred the woman mentally incapactated for
the post of principal and recommended her
retirement. to take effect on September l,
1902
While the question of sanity is being dis
cussed by the lawyers i'm the case. Mrs.
Martin insists that she is capable of taking
care of herseIf and that she will continue
to act in her own defence. She spent the
day in her cell at the Tombs preparing for
the hearing to-day. After a careful study
Of the newspaper clippings relating to her
arrest the woman announced that she
would not have any further statements un-
I'll she has decided whom to retain as a
lawyer.