The Washington times., 1917-08-14


Wednesday morning, and that the
murdered woman had q struggle with
her slayer for possession of It.
Martin also said Snowden came into
his saloon yesterday with five 81 bills,
and wanted them all changed into
silver.
The saloon keeper said he was POSI-
tive Snowden was in his place about
noon on Wednesday. He said he did
not look carefully at Snowden's face
or hands to ascertain whether or not
they had scratches on them, as .he
mans regular appearance in the bar
rUUm did not attract any particular
att srtion from him.
That the Annapolis and Anne
Arundel authorities believe Snowden's
arrest solves the murder mystery IL
indicated by the fact that they did
not offer the reward they intended
Offering. It was expected that the
city council would offer q reward of
$500 at its meeting last night, and
that the board OF county commits
sioners would offsr 81 900 today.
snowden Is a brutal looking. heavy
set, medium sized negro, who was
prosecuted on q charge OF robbery
by states Attorney Green about eight
months ago.
For several months he has been
employed as the driver OF q supply
ice wagon owned by Parlett and Par
lett. He did not work last wednes-
day, and Is known to have frequent
ed several saloons in the vicinity OF
the Brandon home on that day.
The detectives say they are con-
hdent he attacked Mrs Brandon for
the purpose OF assaulting her, and.
after choking her into insensibility,
struck her over the head several
times with a beer bottle. which he
had placed in his pocket after drink
ing its contents in a saloon.
Le1t House with Bottle.
Although two beer bottles were
found in the Brandon home Thurs
day, neither OF them, detectives say.
is the weapon used by the slayer, as
snowden was seen with a beer bottle
In his hand as he left the house.
In q four hour cross-examination in
Sheriff SuIlivan's once last night
snowden accounted for spending 50
on Wednesday. Morgan Parlett said
he paid Snowden 81 on Tuesday. A
81 bill is missing from the pocket
book in Mrs. Brandon's home, her
husband being positive that he gave
It to her before he left wednesday
Snowden says he gave his common
law wife SI.o0 of the 81 his employer
gave him and spent the other 10 cents
for cigarettes. About o'clock Wed
nesday afternoon he appeared at the
saloon Of John c.. Martin on West
street, a block and q half from the
home and treated two other
negroes to a bottle Of beer, rendering
= 81 bill. This bill is supposed to be
the one taken from Mrs. Brandon's
= Arrest Unexpected.
The arrest of snowdsn came as a
complete surprise. It was made as
he and Bernard Chambers. another
negro. who worked with him on the
Ice wagon, were stabling their horses
It the Ice plant. The two negroes
we're taken into custody by Detectives
eohler. Kratz. and Dougherty. and
Deputy Sheriff Lee, who were accom-
panied by Mayor James Strange.
The negroes were marched through |
he main street OF the village to the
,ourt house for interrogations, fol-
owed by q constantly Increasing |
.rowd, which surrounded the court |
louse and remained from o'clock |
intil s:45. when Chambers was re-
eased and Snowden was brought out |
md placed in an automobile to be
aiken TO Baltimore.
The release of Chambers was most
iramatic. States Attorney Green ap-
,eared on the top Of the court house |
Iteps with Chambers and announced |
n stentorian tones to the crowd:
This man Is innocent. Let him
pass along"
+. After the prisoner had been taken
o Baltimore States Attorney Green
made the following statement:
I'VE are confident the arrest OF |
snowden clears up the murder of Mrs. /
Brandon. We have q very strong case
Igainst him. He was not at work |
Wednesday. He was drinking in sa-
oons in the vicinity OF the Brandon |
iome on that day. He had been to
he Brandon home on several occH-
ions TO see his common law wife,
Who worked there every week a. a
yasherwomAn, and he knew that Mrs.
was alone all day. He lived
n the alley in the rear OF the Bran
lon home, and has q bad reputation.
IdentIneation Il Positive.
added to all this we have 9 posi-
live Identification by two eolored
women who live across the street
rom Mrs. Brandon that they raw
i'm 60 into and later leave the mur-
Iered woman's home. These two
olored women saw him in the sheriffs
ffice while we were questioning him
nd are certain he Is the right man.
10Th these women know Snowden by
Iome and know he worked on an ice
wagon.
although snowden denies he was
n the house OF the murdered woman
N Wednesday, j believe the ciroum-
tantial evidence we have against
I'm is sufficient to convict him"
Although q bundle OF woman's
lothing containing blood splotches
vas found near the tracks OF the
Baltimore and Annapo-
Is Electric Railway yesterday, Dep
Ity Sheriff William Lee said today
hese garments had no connection
nth the Brandon murder case, as
showed that the stains
'ere made q month or more ago.