Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-08-27
Southern Jurist Has Long Con-
ference With Attorneys and
Snead Murder Suspects.
REITERATES HIS BELIEF
IN INNOCENCE OF SISTERS
Viii Attend Trial as Adviser of
Family but Viii Take
No Active Part.

The line of defense outlined by
Chandler w. Riker and Chauncey II
Beasley. who will represent Mrs. Caro-
line B. Martin when she comes to trial
on September q for the murder OF ars.
Ocey W. NJ. Snead. her daughter. was
approved yesterday by Judge Archer
A. Phlager. of Bristol. Va.
This approval came after Judge
PhIager had finished two hours com
ference at the county jail with Mrs
Martin and Mrs. Mary ". snead
Judge Phlager has beei. a personal
friend of the Wardlaw family in the
South for more than thirty years. and
since the arrest Of Mrs. Martin. Mrs
Mary B. Snead and Miss Virginia Q.
Wardlaw has taken an active interest
in the case he came To Newark yes
terday TO consult with Mr. Riker ana
Mr.. BeasIey. and after conferences
lssti. more than two hours, durine
which !. 44nkiin w. Fort. who originals
represented Miss Wardlaw. was pres
ent. Judge Phlager gave out this stare-
ment:
.T am satisfied that everything possi-
oAC - OCAAA6 AOLir ~ Ft0t<~% NtA1 @--A-+ -
OF Mrs. Martin and Mrs Snead in their
trial. I have knozTn Mrs. Snead for
many years and also Miss Wardlaw.
Mrs. Martin was in New York city the
greater part of the time and I did nor
know her as wen as the rest of tAs
family.
No Motive for Murder.
The Wardlaw family is fine ons1
a..d - 49,
three sisters, would ever think of such
a thing as committing murder for In
surance money. They had no reason
TO do so. AS you know. they were pre-
pairing at the time of Ocey Sneads nm
timely death to make arrangements for
turning some of their real estate hold
ings into money fer the purpose Of ezz
tabiishing home for aged genflewonl-
en- In East Orange.
The Wardlaw women never had
much money They were all teachers
and made good living AS they grew
older they turned TO other lines. that is
of establishing homes for women sitH7
ated like themselves"
Judge Phlager is a man about 50
years of age. and mas lived in Nixs
ginia practically all his life. He is o1lh
of the best-known jurists in that StateE
Small in stature. he does not look
like the man that is the power behind
the defense of the accused sisters or
the man who has aroused all OF f11a
middle South in their behalf
What is your interest in the case z.
was asked Judge Phlager
Simply this: I have known the
Wardlaw family for more than thirer
years. They are honorable people, ana
do not believe the sisters are guiltt
of the crime they are charged with
Ocey Snead committed suicide through
grief over the loss Of her child and the
subsequent desertion of her by her
husband. The FACT that she died under
peculiar circumstances is unfortunate
but knowing the three sisters as l did.
am absolutely satisfied they had ne
hand il her DEATH"
Judge Phlager Returns
Judge Phlager returned TO his home
In the South last night. He said just
before leaving that he would be on
hand when the case comes to trial on
September 81, but said strongly that he
would not take any part in the court
proceedings. II will be present just rs
friend of the two sisters who are on
trial for their life. A family adviser.
if you care TO put IL in such was.
he said
It was learned from Judge Phiaser
that Mrs John A. Wardlaw. the 81
year-old mother of the accused women.
is almost blind and very feeble. but i
still taking an active interest in the
case of her daughters. She win not be
present when the ease GENES 10 trial.