The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-02
AUNT or BROOKLYN YOUNG wo-
 MAN ARRESTED.
Secret of aH0use of 1ysteryv DiscIoses Strange Things--Poiiee are
 Puxxled at an Un-
 usual Crime.

New York. Dec. 1.--Mystery sur rounding the death of Mrs. O. W. N. snead. young Brooklyn woman. whose body was found in bath tub in Q va cant house in East Orange. N. J.. yes- tefday, was still unraveiied today, though the police have taken into cus- tody the victims aged aunt. Miss Vir- ginia Wardlaw, pending an investiga- ton, the aunt's statement having been regarded as contradictory.
 Clues lead detectives to FIatbush, Brooklyn. early today and what they found caused them to attempt the es- the death of Mrs. Snead in East Or ange, and happenings in Q so-caIled mouse of mystery" in the Brooklyn suburb. where Miss Wardlaw, Mrs. Enead and two strange old ladies lived until recently.
 Further probing Into the strange oc- currence disclosed that Mrs. Snead had .am insursuce policy of 81eseoo on her life and that the two women had come to East Orange from. Flathuahs Search of the ''houss Of mystery in Brooklyn by the detectives today led to the discovery of blood spots in va- rious rooms of the house. Tn the kftch- en stove the police found two bundles of human hair. while crushed down in the stove were four human bones. part ly burned.
 A skull of child ?. years old was brought forth from the stove. The blood spots in four rooms of the up- per floor were discovered and the de- tectives have ordered the cellar to be dug up and the floors torn up. Mrs. Snead's husband disappeared last sum- mer.
 Close consideration was given today to a note found pinned to a pile of clothing on the floor near the bath tub in which Mrs. Snead's body lay
 The note said that the writer's lit- died and that she had been prostrated with illness.
 When you read this will have conn mitted suicide" the note continued. It was signed 70. W. N. Snead.,' When arraigned before Recorder Mott in East Orange today. Miss Wardlaw refused to make any state ment. and asked for an opportunity to engage counsel. She was remanded for five days.
 The police are convinced that the note found near Miss Snead's body is not in the handwriting of the dead woman.
 Miss Wardlaw is Held.
 New York, Dec. 1.--Virginia Ward law. a gray-haired spinster, was arr
 raigned before recorder at East or ange, N. J., today, formally charged with the murder of her young niece, Mrs. Ocey w. N. Snead, whose body was found in a bath tub in deserted house in East Orange Monday. Death. according to the coroner, was due to drowning in less than a foot of water but in view of mysterious features of the case--the young wo- mans detention in a deserted house
 while having a s20,000 insurance poll icy on her life, and owning propery | in Brooklyn valued at $16,000, and her apporent help1essness for months past. Miss Wardlaw was held without ball for examination Monday.
 Two other women, said4to have been associated with the victim. are under surveillance. according to the police. The Wardlaw womans deneanor in court today was grim and taciturn and in keeping with the mystery which surrounds the case. When the formal charge of murder was read, she manl- Tested no emotion. but when taken to cell, broke down and wept, evinc- ing concern over her niece's body' which, she said, she feared would be buried in Potter's field.
 The police theory is that Mrs. snead had been in a helpless condition for months, unable to direct her own af- fairs, and was at the mercy or Wno- ever acted as her guardians.
 A will has been discovered. said to have been signed by the victim, which gives to an infant son the sum of $500 and bequeathed the remainder of the estate. both real and personal. to Mrs. Sneads grandmother. Martha Eliza Wardlaw.
 The infant son referred to In the will |. g,. t~tf flaa at taken from its mother and presumably placed in an institution.