Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-08-16
| INQUIRY OF MURDER
| IS Still UNDER WAY
To Further Examine King Neigh
bors, Is Report.
DETECTIVES STILL BAFFLED
And Solution Of Mystery Appears As
Great Enigma As Ever
Before

May Brandon. wife of Valentine n.
Brandon, who was slain in her home
on Second street on Wednesday of
last week, will be further examined
by the detectives and other authori-
ties who have been working on the
case, some time this afternoon, is
probably the most important develop
| ment in the mysterious tragedy that
| came to light today
1t is stated on authority that Mr..
and Mrs. King, who have been on a
brief visit to relatives in Washington,
their former home, would return TO
Annapolis some time early this after
noon, and they will appear before the
\ police officials probably in the Office
of Sheriff Sullivan at the Court House.
The corps of detectives are en-
| deavoring to clear up every iota of
the maze of conflicting reports that
have been brought to their attention
as tending to have some bearing on
the horrible murder, and it is said
they wish to question Mr.. and Mrs.
King on certain points which have
not heretofore been inquired into.
Mr.. and Mrs. King, it is said, willing
ly consented to come to the city and
appear before the authorities
In the meantime, it further became
known that the investigating authori-
ties are still in doubt as to who COM
mitted the brutal murder. The null
titude of reports that have been in
circulation ever since the crime was
discovered, coupled with others that
crop up from time to time, seem to
have greatly garbled the case, and
the solution of the mystery appears
to be as much of an enigma today as
it has ever been. From reliable
sources it is learned that the authori-
ties have not eliminated anyone from
possible guilt owing to the circum-
stances surrounding the tragedy In
other words, it is stated they still
have certain persons under surveil-
lance.
The chain of circumstantial evil
dence that has been woven about the
negro John Snowden has every
semblance as tending to indicate the
negro's connection with the murder,
but he has made so many conflicting
statements of his movements on the
day of the affair both during his grill
ing here. and since his incarceration
in Baltimore. that considerable doubt
now attaches to whether or not he is
guilty. Furthermore, certain other
evidence has been picked up here and
there about the city that would ap-
pear to lift the element of strong
suspicion now resting on the negro.
And besides, there is an almost gem
eral belief among residents of the
city, white and colored, that Snowden
is innocent and further, that the
crime is not the act of negro.
1t is realized that there are more
or less bad characters among the ne
gro population of the city, but many
persons have pointed to the fact that
a negro would hardly enter the home
of a white man in broad daylight, and
i'm a thickly settled section of the city
and commit such brutal act.
Regardless of the testimony of two
negro women who claim to have seen
Snowden leave the Brandon residence
between IL and II o'clock last We'd
nesday morning, other evidence has
been gathered to show that Sn0wden
was at his home in Acton Lane be-
tween noon and l o'clock on the day
of the murder, and appeared TO be
perfectly calm and composed. Ana
the murder is not regarded here as
the work of a few minutes. Here IN
Annapolis little attention is paid 10
the varying statements that the ac-
cused negro has made to the ponce
officials i'm course of his examination
at the hands of the detectives in Bal
timore. The police, it has been ire
ouently stated. expected confession
from the negro, but all along he has
stoutly protested his innocence. So
there is the puzzle, for as general
rule a negro breaks down when he is
submitted to the third degree methods
| of examination.
Another point which developed to-
| day was the mention of the name of
| man in the case, who has not hereto
fore been spoken of, as a possible sus-
pect, and it is stated that this party
is also under surveillance pending
| the clearing up of certain points.
In connection with the investiga-
| ton of the mystery certain statements
have been published in some of the
newspapers, which. by the way of in
| sinuation, have cast reflection upon
the Rev. E. s. Williams. a colored
| minister who is pastor of Asbury
Methodist Episcopal Church, whose
| home is in the neighborhood of the
| Brandon residence These matters,
which came to the attention of the
authorities. and they let it be known
today that Mr.. Williams is above all
element of suspicion of having made
any conflicting statements On the
contrary, they state he is aiding them
in every possible way in the efforts to
run down the criminal, be he a white