Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-25
COURT LAST
HOPE RAY FOR SNONDEN
Habeas Corpus Application De
MED Yesterday And U S. High
Court Offers Faint Hope
CONDEMNED MAN PRAYs.

With only two more days 10 elapse
before he must take his place on the
gallows 10 pay with his life for the
brutal murder OF Lottie May Brandon,
the last faint hope save one that
the sentence might be commuted or
reprieyeN granted has slipped away
from John Snowden
Snowden's last hope now rests in
The United States Supreme court aud
the final appeal Is expected 10 reach
that tribunal either today or fomor
row,
Another faint hope WAS kindled in
the coIored mans heart yesterday.
CLEANED for minute and then went
.out In the afternoon Judge John G.
Rose of the Federal Court il Baiti-
more passed adversely on an appiica-
.tion by Snowden's lawyers for ha-
beas cospns BY which the execution
would have been STAYED on
Has Washington Lawyers.
snowaen's lawyers are George IL
PendIeton. G. s. Williams ard Thomas
Beckett. the last two being members
of the washington bar
According TO Attorney Pendleton
he and his colleagues in the habeas
corpus proceedings, had anticipated
any adverse decision on Judge Roses
part By making every preparation for
seeking the Intervention of the SUI
preme Court Of the United States to
prevent the execution on Friday of
the condemned man They inmediI
tely fled an appeal from the decision
with Clerk Arthur L. Spalner, few
minutes after 1t was rendered and
this. Attorney Pendleton stated, being
certified to the Supreme Court and
reaching that body either today Or to-
morrow, the effect Of the appeal will
be almost inevitable TO arrest the exc
ention through the processes Of court
which must follow on It's reaching the
Supreme Court judges. The basis Of
the proceedings III the unconstitution-
ality Of Snowden's trial By reason first
=of the jury having been composed ex-
.c1usiveiy Of white men, and therefore
not having been a jury Of his peers;
and secondly. Of the verdict OF the
jury not having been rendered In due
form.
Claim Verdict Form Wrong.
This verdict, it is claimed. was am
nounced By the foreman OF the jury
lin the one word guilty II is al
legged that the presiding Judge, Frank
I. Duncan, corrected this manner of
statement OF the jurys conclusion on
the part OF its foreman and himself
submitted the words guilty OF murder
in the nrst degree This. II Is con-
tended. is at variance with the 14th
Amendment to the Constitution, which
declares that no person shall be de-
prived of life, liberty or property with
ont due process of Law The verdict,
In the circumstances stated became,
II is contended. that OF the court and
not Of the jury The trial was also ir-
regular. 1t is claimed. because Of the
change OF venue from Anne Arundel
to Baltimore county having. as aIleg
ed. been effected without the knowl-s
edge or assent of the accused man
Puts On Death Sui.
Sherin BELLS delivered to Snowden
yesterday the new suit Id which he
win be attired Friday morning when
he walks TO the scaffold and in which
he will be buried The suit IL Of blue
serge snowden put it on as soon as
1t was handed to him then fell on his
knees and with his head buried ia his
arms knelt BY the side of his cot and
prayed for more than two hours.
According To the sheriG Snowden ii
bearing up well and eats heartily
He sleeps soundly al night and appar-
emily ii not disturbed The only ones
who are allowed to see him in the
death cell beside the guard is his
spiritual adviser and singing band