Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-11
NEW SENSATIONS
IN SNEAO TRIAL
PROMISED
Famous Texas Killing Case To
Be Heard Today-Feud
Outbreak Feared.

AMARILLO. TEXAS, Nov. 1.-lnterest
IN the second trial OF John BeaI Snead
for the killing Of Captain Albert O. Boyce
on January 10 of this year. has been
famed to fever heat by Sneads recent
murder OF young Al Boyce, with whom
his wife eloped 10 New YORK and Wnni-
peg. Canada. on November s. 1911, and
the gathering of the Snead- Boyce clans
here today for the trial.
This trial is scheduled 10 be called,
and II is expected that testimony
vii be adduced that Will shake the
millionaire society of this city to its very
foundations This testimony, il was said
oday would be OF such a sensational mas
ture that q further outbreak Of the feud
night be expected to follow IN it's wake
There have already been five violent
deaths directly attributable to the love Of
he young koyce for The beautiful wife Of
Ohm Snead, the millionaire banker Of this
city. The first death occurred when Cap
ain \. c. Boyce, father of young Al
'oyce, and also millionaire business
nan Of this city, was shot down In a hotel
lobby by John Bcal Snead with whose
wife young Boyce had eloped
sneads Father Slain.
This killing occurred on January l3
1912. and was quickly followed by the
murder OF Captain J. r. Snead father Of
John Beal Snead. by a former employee
who was apparently demented. This man
was X. {. HlHard. who committed the
murder on March s. 1912 just outside the
postoffice ana then turned the pistol on
himself with fatal effect. billiard left q
note stating, THAT Snead began it," and
that he had set himself the task OF aveng-
ing the death Of the elder Boyce.
The fourth death in the Snead- BoyCe
feud occurred on september IA. when
John Beal Suead. disguised as a farmer,
waylaid Al Boyce. his wifes seducer, near
a church in This city and empticd one
barrel Of a shotgun into the body Of his
enemy. Young Boyee died almost instant
ly and Snead Immediately surrendered
himself
This ended ,he Hist IT violent dea tbs
that accompanied the woo.ng OF The beau
tful Mrs. Lena +. Snead by young Boyc,
as chronicled by the ready weapons Of
the feudtsts Another and more sinister
death, however. has been recorded. This
was the sudden death Of Edward 1hrock-
morton, son Of Il former governor Of
Texas. and one Of the states PRINCIPAL
witnesses In the Trial Of John BeaI Snead.
which occurred on February l. Before he
passed out he stold his wife thai be had
been "doped.' No Investigation was
made Of the matter, however, and his
death still remains a mystery
Behind this shedding Of blood lies the
love OF Mrs. Lena Z. Snead and Al Boyce
with the alleged III treatment of Mrs.
Snead as an Incentive to Boyce to strive
Tor the physical liberty of The woman of
his choice, ana the proud intolerance Of
finRlG f,, lit L.,
murder.
Goes Back to School Days,
To reach the very root of the rivalry
between John Beal snead and Al Boyce
recalls the school days of the murdered
man and his slayer, At that time Lem
Snyder later Mrs. John Beal Snead. WAS
deeply in love with Royce
As the years went by, however she be-
came engaged 60 and married Snead
Two children We're born TO this union and
the home life of the Sneads was believed
10 be ideal by their friends
In August Of 1911, according to the tes-
timony Of Snead during his first trial for
the murder Of the elder Boyce. his wife
fell Ill and II was then that he noticed
the attentions Of young Boyce Upon one
occasion he said, he found Boyce holding
the hand of his wife a the side of her
sick bed.
The upshot of the situation was that
Mrs Snead was sent TO a sanitarium ut
Arlington Heights, supposedly suffering
from mental alteration Here she re-
ceived frequent letters from Boyce and
on November s, 1911, while out walking
with nurse she met Boyce and they
eloped
Their first stopping place was New
York. Later they went 70 Winnipeg
Canada, Here Boyce fought a motion for
his eXtradition on the score of being an
undesirable, but found that mother love
was steadily dragging the affection Of his
wife TO Amarillo, where she had LEFT two
little ones
Eloplna wife Returns
Eventually Mrs Snead returned to her
home. where she was promptly placed in
IN ansylum through the influence OF her
husband. This action was fought out in
the court however. and on January 10.
six days before she was declared sane
by a jury, Captain Boyce was shot by
Snead.
During the trial of her husband Mrs.
Snead, now out of prison. did not take
the stand in his defense refusing offers
said to have totaled thousands Of dol
lars offered by the rich relatives of Snead
and clinging tenaciously to her love for
her affinity. The trial ended unsuccess-
fully for the state, and the second trial
date was set for November H.
In the meantime, Al Boyce had come
back 10 Texas. and it was the written
overtures Of Boyce to Mrs. Snead that
are alleged to have led Snesd TO seek his
life It is also these letters which are
expected 10 provide a sensation when
the court convenes Samples of the sen
timental correspondence that passed be
tween Boyce and Mrs Snead wer, pro-
yided at the first trial Of Snead
one of these addressed 10 My Darling
Girl" contained the following message.
"Oh precious, ! do miss YOU SO much
Please write me. darling and tell me
everything. How long will 10 be before
you can obtain a divorce? Life holds
nothing for me, precious. but you. and
without YOU It is weary. hdeous drag
And when we are together again SO
want your two children with us"
WILSON'S DAUGHTER TO
Thn lk " ln n lAInnL