Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-01
The Sad Fate of Miss snodgrass.

The Sad Fate of Miss Snodgrass.
The body of Miss Dorcas Iiams Snod-
grass has been found, but the mystery
surrounding her death has not been solv-
ed. Last week the Register told how
Miss Snodgrass, who was daughter oil
Mr.. and Mrs. John Tabb Snodgrass, oil
Martinsburg, had disappeared from the
home of her sister in Mount Vernon,
New York. Many theories had been ex-
plotted in explanation OF her disappear
ance, but nothing definite was learned
concerning her until Monday morning,
when her decomposing body was found
lying in the water of little creek empty
ing into the Hudson river at Catskill, N.
Y, not far from Albany.
The body was found by James Young,
who was canoeing with his daughter. 1t
was lying in the reeds and rushes along
the border of Dubois creek. The spot
where if was discovered is several hun
dred yards up a shallow, narrow, wind
ing stream. The many turns in the creek
lead the officials to doubt that the body
was carried so far by the tide. Many
small boats enter the bay In the river
where the creek empties into the Hud-
son. This fact gives rise to the theory
advanced by some that Miss Snodgrass'
body had been conveyed to the place
where it was found by one of these cas-
ual visitors. The body was lying face
downward in the reeds and mud. A di-
amond ring was on one of the fingers, a
Christian Endeavor pin was on her dress,
and pocketbook hung on the dead girls
arm.
The body had been in the water, evil
IDENTIFY, at least week or ten days, and
was badly deconposed. 1t was removed
to local vault and made as presentable
as possible, and the officials in charge,
who had found the name SnodgraSS on
the underclothing, and who had found
other marks OF identification, notified the
young Woman's relatives at Mount Yer
non. Frederick Schmidt, the young cleo
trical contractor TO whom Miss SnodgrasS
had been engaged to be married, went at
once to Catskill, and made certain iden-
LITIGATION of the body.
Ii is believed that the unfortunate young
woman was murdered and that her body
was conveyed to the place where it was
found by one of the numerous yachting
parties that have recently visited that
section. 1t is considered unlikely that it
could have floated there of itself, assum-
ing that she had jumped or fallen over
board from one nf the Hudson river boats.
She may have been drugged or poisoned
by some one who enticed her away.
A party OF newspaper men, accompan-
led by the coroner and the district attor-
ney, made thorough search of the creek,
in the vicinity where the body was found,
and they recovered the hat worn by
the dead woman at the time she diSap-
peared, with the hatpins still sticking in
it. Attached to the hatpinS were strands
| OF hair and some flesh, which would fur
nish the basis for the idea that the hat,
| lying at distance of about 100 feet from
the body, had been torn from the head
during struggle. IL there was Strug-
gle, all marks were erased from the ground
surrounding the place where the body
| was found. No abrasions or visible
marks of any sort were found on the
body.
There are many theories advanced as
to the events Immediately preceding Miss
SnodgrasS's death and to the cause OF
death itself. Coroner Van Vandenberg
has certified that from the circumstances
surrounding the case the cause of death
was drowning" Local officials, howev-
er, are inclined to believe Miss Snod-
grass was the victim Of foul play. Lieu
tenant Silverton expressed the opinion
that Miss Snodgrass died as the result OF
an accident.
Sheriff Post, of Greene county, in
charge of the police investigation, said ::
"In my opinion, Miss Snodgrass' body
was brought up Du Bots creek in a launch
or other boat and deposited at or near
the place where il was found. do not
see how it would have been possible for
a body to have been carried by the tide
as lar up the stream. This, TO my mind,
negatives the theory that Miss SnodgraSs
fell or jumped off boat in the Hudson
river" Practically the same views were
expressed by Loren J. Hubbard, chief OF
police.
Mrs. George Person, whose home on
a neighboring hill overlooks the swamp,
said she heard a woman scream in the
night about ten days ago, but she did not
attach any meaning TO the cry. 81 heard
some one call. Help Help said Mrs.
Person. 81 looked out over the creek,
but seeing nothing, soon forgot all about
IT,"
Miss Snodgrass came of well-to-do
Berkeley county family. Her father,
John Tabb Snodgrass, makes his home
at Martinsburg, although as an employe
of the United States Fisheries Commits
sion he is now on duty in Oregon. Her
brothers, Edward X. and |. T. Snodgrass,
have a farm at Berryville, Va. A sister
with whom the young woman had made
her home for the past six years is the
wife Of John L. Crider, chief engineer for
the construction of the New York, West
chester and Boston Railroad.
The body is to be brought to Martins
burg for burial.
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