Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-17
SNOWDEN
WILL NOT CONFESS
Maryland Officials, However,
Think They Can Prove He
Committed Murder.
evidence is ACCUMULATING

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. August 17.-John
Snowden will never confess to the MUIR
der of Mrs. Lottie Brandon-such is the
impression of Annapolis today. and is
also the opinion OF Baltimore Head
quarters Detective Joe Dougherty, who
has worked on the case since Sunday.
This is the reason the inquest has not
yet been reconvened. The jurors will
not be called together until every avail
able scrap of evidence against Snowden
has been selected.
Dougherty. Sheriff Sullivan and the
other authorities feel sure Snowden is
the man. Sheriff Sullivan made a posi-
tive statement to this effect this morn
ing. When asked IL Snowden was con-
sidered by MIN to be the murderer and
IL the other suspects had been elimi-
mated. States Attorney Green said: Il
am not eliminating anybody. but you
newspaper men who have been on the
case and know as much about it as l
do ought to be able to answer that
asked what he considered the strongest
single link in the chain being wrapped
about Snowden.
The fact that he was seen by two
people coming out of the house, of
course" was the reply.
Interest in Habeas Corpus Move.
Much interest is felt in Annapolis over
the reported habeas corpus proceeding
which Jerry L. Smith of Annapolis is at
tempting to put through In the Baltimore
city courts. The proceeding in such
case. IL successful, would require the state
TO lay its cards on the table. That Judge
Duffy will order 1t in so important a case
is not considered likely here. Sheriff Sulli-
van will probably go to Baltimore again
this afternoon with the idea of partici-
pating in the effort to wiring a confession
from Snowden. He made a trip to Balti-
more yesterday with this idea in view, but
was urged by the headquarters force not
to attempt his line of questioning Just vet
and returned without seeing the accused
negro.
Coroner William s. Welsh this morning
said that his opinion, based on obserya-
ton OF the finger prints and others wounds,
were that Mrs Brandon had been handled
py man Of unusual strength rather than
py woman. and that the indicated bru-
tality of the attack leads him to believe
the man was a negro.
Disproves Another Snowden Story.
Snowden was tripped in another Of
the many false statements he has made
to the Baltimore detectives since he
was started on the hours and hours of
grining following his arrest on Monday
night His sister, Florence Simms. and
his niece last night denied positively
to The Star correspondent that he had
stopped at their house the morning of
the murder and chatted with them.
They say they did not see him at ali
that day.
Miss Florence Baker, whose home is
midway between the Brandon house
and the corner saloon to which Snow
den says he went after passing" the
Brandons and was asked<by her-why
he was not working on his ice wagon
denies any recollection of seeing him
that day.
However. this denial was given TO
the oficials and following it when Miss
Baker was asked about the incident by
newspaper men she stated that she had
been asked by Mayor Strange not to
talk with any one about the case
After coming to Annapolis for a
further conference with the detectives
yesterday morning. Valentine Brandon
husband of the murdered woman, left
in the afternoon to go to Baltimore
with the expressed intention that the
police there would let him confront the
alleged murderer of his wife. Sheriff
Sullivan. who has not yet participated
in any of the long grilling of the ac-
cused negro. also went to Baltimore
with the intention of trying to break
down Snowdens stand against any adj
mission of guilt. 1t was felt here that
with his reputation among the negroes
of the community as charitable and fair
in his dealings with them. he, IL any
may induce the accused man to see the
sion of false statements Mr.. Sullivan
was recently instrumental in securing
the pardon of 'Froggy" Johnson, who
was serving a life sentence for killing
his common law wife about twenty
years ago.