Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-14
NEWC[UESAPPEAR
FOLLOWING ARREST
MADE IN ANNAPOLIS
More Evidence Found That
John Snowden Was at the
Brandon Home Wednesday.
BODY TO BE ExHUMED
FOR SECOND AUTOPSY
Many Think Judgment Should b
Reserved About Colored Ma,
Now in Custody.

der of Mrs. Iottie May Brandon in her
little home in Annapolis last Wednes-
day took on renewed vigor today, with
the discovery of new clues.
The arrest of John Snowden, a colored
ice wagon driver, last night, has been
followed by discovery of new evidence
that he was in the vicinity of the murder
house about the time Mrs. Brandon 10
thought to have been killed.
A new line of investigation. however,
is suggested by the delivery to the
Maryland police of a bundle of bloody
clothes found the day after the MUIR
der.
AS further step to clear up the case
it was decided today to exhume the
body of the murdered woman at Glen
wood cemetery here and perform a sec.
ond autopsy.
Evidence Not Conclusive.
From a STAFF Correspondent.
ANNAPOLIS. Nd. August I4.-Not-
withstanding the fact that John Snow
den. colored ice wagon delivery man,
was arrested here last night and taken
to Baltimore for investigation the
possible murderer of Mrs. Valentine
Brandon last Wednesday. the most ex-
pert judgment obtainable here today 10
that decision should be reserved as to
who killed the wife of the young Wash.
ington stenographer.
Baltimore detectives returned here to.
day for the purpose of endeavorfng to
obtain evidence which would assist In
fastening the crime upon Snowden. As
one deputy sheriff expressed it today
to the staff correspondent of The Star.
We have almost got the rope around
his neck"
On the other hand. however. when the
detectives renewed their work upon
the case here this morning they ran
straight into the report that the police
had discovered bundle OF bloody
clothing belonging to a woman.
This clothing was found last Thurs
day. the day after the murder was conl-
ton, Baltimore and Annapolis electric
railway. The discovery, however, was
not reported to the. police until late
last night or early this morning.
Police More Active Than Ever.
The police are endeavoring TO ascer.
tain what significance, IL any. may be
attached to this discovery in connec-
ton with the crime. Notwithstanding
the arrest of Snowden. there has been
no relaxation in the efforts to solve the
mystery of the murder.
There are many important points
which the police would like to have
cleared up. among them such questions
as what became of a one-doilar note,
which Mr.. Brandon told the police ne
left with his wife on the Wednesday
morning she was murdered before he
went to work: what became of the box
of aspirin tablets she is reported to
have purchased from a nearby druggist
on the morning of the day she was
killed and other similar questions.
Snowden told the police that he had
not been in the neighborhood Of the
murder on the day IL was committed,
but a saloonkeeper who conducts q
bar frequented principally by colored
persons, near the house where the
murder was committed. said Snowden
was in his place about the hour at
which the police think that the crime
was committed and that he had paid
for a drink with a one-dollar bill.
one-Dollar Bill Given Saloonkeeper.
There is a report in Annapolis today
that the one-dollar note missing was
presented to the saloonkeeper in =
torn-in-half and crumbled condition.
which might indicate the possibility
that il had been obtained as the result
of a struggle.
The, saloonkeeper told newspaper cor
today. as well as Deputy
Sheriff Lee, that he does not remember
the exact condition of the one-dollar
note; that he had made his deposit in
bank in the customary course OF ms
business the day after the murder was
and that he has no means
Of furnishing evidence as to the con-
dition of the piece of paper money
when it was received by him. Never
theless the police are endeavoring 10
trace the note.
Made Sure of Snowden's Identity.
Mary Perkins. colored maid employed
by Mrs. William Murray. was re-ex-
amined today by Sheriff Sullivan, the
states attorney and detectives. She
without deviation the story
told Yesterday. She said she was sit
ting in the front room of her home. di-
rectly across the street from the house
in which the murder occurred. ABOUT
II o'clock last Wednesday morning.
The blinds were closed except for q
narrow opening.
Her attention was attracted by the
sounds of scuffie in the front room OF
the Brandon house. She said she saw
a chair flash past the window of the
Erandon front room. il it was fall
ing. and Immediately heard the sound 3
Of the chair or some other oe1ect
striking the floor.
She saws she turned TO her sister. who
was in a back room. and exclaimed:
Good Lord. do you suppose that man
is beating his wife and her in the con-
diticn she's in?' She said the noise
in the Brandon house continued for n
few minutes and about fifteen minutes
later she saw Snowden coming out of
the house She says she watched him
until he was almost to the next corner.
when she saw him change bottle
from his side coat pocket to his hip
pocket.
she told the authorities that the next
Law she and her sister walked past the
wagon from which Snowden was delfv-
aring ice passing the man twice so as
10 make certain her Identification of
him as the man she saw coming out OF
he Brandon house.
The reason she did not tell her story
sooner she said. was that she was too
,adly frightened and feared possible
Detective Dougherty tn
lima ted that Snowden would be brought
pack to Annapolis tomorrow for ex-
animation.
,rndau the county conrn issianere nHA