New-York tribune., 1911-01-10
WATCHED 0CEY SNEAD DIE
Plea of Mrs. Martin Admits
Legal, Not Moral, Responsibility.
PRISONER SPEAKS IN COURT
Insists Her Crime Was Involun-
tary Manslaughter
May Be Ten-Year Term.

With plea Of non vult to manslaughter
from Mrs. Caroline b. Martin, the eldest
of the three Wardlaw sisters, who were in
dicted for the murder of Mrs Martins
daughter, OCey w. NJ Snead, there was
ended in the Court of Oyer and Terminer
in Newark yesterday morning one of the
strangest criminal cases in the annals OF
Now Jersey. AS peculiar as any of the
many features that marked the mystery
since the finding of Ocey Snead's body in
a bathtub in her East Orange home, on
November 2S, 1909. was the manner in
which the sequel came.
There were several Interruptions by the
woman during an argument between coun-
sci relative TO the acceptance OF the plea.
As offered by Frank II. 5ommer and Sam
uel Kalisch. her lawyers, the plea of Mrs.
Martin was TO involuntary manslaughter.
and carried with II a denial OF her moral
guilt, whatever might be her legal respon-
sibilty. The court declined to accept such
a plea, and only with the understanding
that he was 10 determine whether the
crime was voluntary, involuntary or any
other kind. ordered it entered.
The nearest TO an explanation OF the
famous case was indicated by counsel for
the defence I'm giving a reason for the un-
usual plea offered. The lawyers remarks
recalled the theory advanced at the time
OF Mrs. Martins arrest and subsequent ar
raignment in the Tombs police court. that
Ocey Snead victim Of the morphine
habit, had died by her own hand while
surrounded by relatives also addicted TO the
use Of the drug, none of whom made any
effort TO thwart the young woman in her
effort at self-destruction.
The final chapter of the noted "bathtub
mystery" will probably come on Saturday.
when Mrs. Martin will be arraigned for
sentence. The maximum penalty is ten
years in state prison. At the same time
Mrs. Mary w. Snead, who was arrested
the day after Mrs Martin. will be taken
into court. and the case against her prob
ably will be nolle pressed. The third sister
was Miss Virginia Wardlaw. who notified
the police OF the crime and was the first to
be placed under arrest. She starved her
self to death in the Essex County Jail last
August.
The plea by Mrs. Martin came as a sequel
10 several conferences between counsel and
the court. 1t was about 10 o'clock when
Judge Ten kyck took his seat on the bench
to take Mrs. Martins plea. and it devel-
oped there would likely be the hitch which
came over the form OF plea.
Mrs. Martin was seated beside Mr. SOM
mer, who was assigned by the court re-
Gently TO look after her interests Mr.
Kalisch, addressing the court declared that
he and Mr. Sommer had decided to advise
Mrs. Martin 10 withdraw her plea of not
guilty 10 the murder Indictment and plead
non vult to involuntary manslauGhter
Prosecutor Mott. apparently. disregarding
the qualification used by Mr.. Kalisch pro-
ceeded 10 tell Of the willingness indicated
by counsel 10 enter a plea to manslaughter
when Mrs Martin interrupted
Involuntary mansiaughter. If you please,
sir" she said to the prosecutor. who turned
quickly and. addressing the woman sharp
ly retorted. "Mansaughter, madam"