The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-19

her husbands fate for months after his
murder, citing as an example, the fact
that the cellar had evidently not been
entered from the date of the crime I'M
til today, but he is not prepared right
now to accept her statement that she
did not read the Snyder confession
until few days ago. He also regards
as quite peculiar Mrs. Daytons state
ment that although she was in the
house at the time of the murder she
was unaware of the crime at that
time.
Bought Insurance.
Dayton, his wife, and three children
had lived in Richmond some time prior
to his murder. A short time before his
death he had his life insured for $1,000.
This policy has not been collected up
to the present time because no proof
of his death was available.
Little is known of Snyder. When he
first came here, a few years ago, he
was known by some of his acquaint-
ances as Joe Stewart. His past is
clouded in mystery, but it is known
tudL at OLC IilllC hO was q SNhool
teacher. He can speak five languages.
He admitted having been a soldier and
that he had at times lived in Mexico
and Arizona. He cOrrespOnded with
no one, so far as the police have been
able to ascertain, and never talked
about himself. 1t is understood that at
one time he lived at Hamilton, Ohio.
where he served Jail sentence.
Chief Gormon in reviewing the his
tory of one Of the most peculiar crimes
in the history of Wayne county, stated
that he became interested in the case
four months after Daytons disappear
ance.
Fellow workers of Dayton at local
factory in January, 1911, reported to
the police, Mr.. Gormon said, that they
thought that he might have met with
foul play. as he had not been at work
since the first part of the previous
September and his family did not
know his whereabouts
Suspected Snyder.
Mr.. Gormon and a police officer
searched the river valley and neigh
boring ravines for a few days, but
without securing trace of the miss
ing man. Mr.. Gormon suspected Sny-
der of having some knowledge of the
fate of Dayton and in March, 1911
when the man was arrested on the
charge of chicken stealing he was in,
strumental in having him sent to jail
for long sentence so he could hold
the man pending a further investiga.
ton into the Dayton case. However
nothing developed from this second in.
vestigation and when Snyder was re.
leased from Jail he returned to the
Dayton home where he resided until
his disappearance last Tuesday. His
flight then, as has been stated. was
the result of Mrs. Dayton's threat to
inform the police of his crime. Mr.
Gormon states that when he was in
vestgating the Dayton case Mrs. Day.
ton informed him that she knew moth.
ing of her husbands whereabouts, say,
ing the last time she saw him was on
Labor Day morning when he went out
the side door of the home. When ask
ed if there was cellar under the
house Mrs. Dayton said she was posi-
tive there was none.
Description Of Man.
The following is a description OF
Snyder given by the police:
Aged about so; about feet, inches
high; weight $50 pounds; prominent
nose: smooth shaven and large feet
walking flatfooted; hair sandy; wore
soft brown hat, dark coat of mixed
colors, blue overalls and tan shoes
Looked seedy.
Mrs. Dayton's Story.
Lying on cot downstairs, sur.
rounded by her family, Mrs. Dayton to
day told the police she hoped that
Snyder would be caught and would
forfeit his life for the terrible mur-
der of her husband. 81 have been nerv.
Gus for years. and TO think that Snyder
could take the life of my husband is
more than l can understand. and l do
not know how / can stand it. My hus.