Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-08
HEARD SNOW PLOT
AGAINST WIFE OVER
PHONE, DAVIS SAYS
Attorney Testifies He Listen
ed In on Talk With
Mrs. Acker.

d
ington attorney for more than forty
years. testified before Judge Robert
Hardison in the United States branch
of the Police Court today that he had
listened in on a telephone converse
tion between Mrs. Ena P. Acker and
Chester A. Snow, during which the
latter, Mr.. Davis testified, agreed to
plans for doing away" with Mr..
Shows divorced wife, Mrs. Adds Hub
bard Snow, by the use of a powerful
drug.
Mr.. Davis was the first witness at
the preliminary hearing of the case
in which Mr.. Snow, millionaire
patent lawyer of this city, is under
$4,000 bail on warrant sworn out
by Assistant United States Attorney
James Re Archer and in which Mrs.
Ena p. Acker. and a chauffeur named
Hugh Milton Langdon are under arrest
legged conspiracy to murder Mrs. Snow.
The courtroom was crowded long
before this case was called at IL
o'clock. The hearing was delayed
while the attorney for Langdon. who
had been called in last night by
portunity to consult with his client.
Davis Tells Of Meetings.
Mr.. Davis explained that he has
been attorney for Mrs. Snow since
April, 1917, in divorce proceedings and
other proceedings incident thereto
He said his first conference on the
present case was about the middle
of March, and that he had not be-
come acquainted with Langdon or Mrs.
Acker until July 5. He said he was in
Rockville court about 10 o'clock that
morning when he was called to the
telephone in the clerks office and re-
ceived message from Mrs. Snow.
Mrs. Snow had had communication
from Mrs. Acker, seeking an appoint
ment for that day in Mrs Ackers s
home Mr.. Davis said he had advised
Mrs Snow under no circumstances to
go near Mrs. Acker's house or to see
her except in his presence.
About 11:20 o'clock he had another
telephone message from Mrs. Snow,
saying that Mrs. Acker was going to
Mrs. Shows home, at 1904 Huntington
street, Chevy Chase, at noon. and ask
ing him to be present. He was driven
by friend to Mrs. SHOWS home.
reaching there about 1915. Mr.. Davis
testified, Mrs. Acker, whom he had
never seen previously, reaching there
about 1890. Mrs. Snow, Mrs Acker
and Mr.. Davis went into conference.
There were several relatives of Mrs.
Snow in the house, her son, Hubert
and Mr.. Zimmerman. who is to be
witness in the case. Mrs. Acker greet
ed Mrs. Snow very effustively and de-
monstratively. said Mr.. Davis
SHOWS Counsel objects.
George P Hoover, who was counsel
for Mr. Snow in the divorce pro-
ing him in the present conspiracy
case. protested at this point of the
examination that no alleged state
ment by Mrs. Acker can be admit
conspiracy is shown first by other
testimony He explained to the court
that conspiracy is a criminal partner
ship. and when this partnership is
shown each party becomes an agent
of the partnership, and then the testi-
any or all of the conspirators. Judge
Hardison agreed with this state
ment.
Mr.. Davis said that Mrs. Meyo or
Meo or Acker. under which names the
defendant, he said, is known, and all
OF which appear on the warrant, said:
eve come to disclose the most hor-
rible plot 1 ever knew"
She said, according to Mr.. Davis tes-
timony, that she had been employed by
Mr.. Snow at first to involve Mrs. Snow
by trailing her, shadowing her and be-
on her."
"She said that Mr.. Snow wanted her
to lead Mrs. Snow into conduct which
he could use to his advantage" testi-
fed Mr. Davis. "Bluntly. to put her in
a position of temptation or compro-
mise"
Tells Of Plan Suggested.
According to Mr.. Davis. Mrs. Acker
had told them that she had been en-
+l,,r fHv. fyoa
that nothing came of 1t in the way
of proof, and that then Mr.. Snow pro-
posed to her to get rid of Mrs. Snow
"to get her out of the way by any
means she might" Her plan. as Mr..
Davis testified Mrs. Acker explained
it to them, was to take Mrs. Snow in
an automobile and administer poison
or sufficiently powerful drug and
to have the automobile turned over
in a ditch in such a way as to appear
as if Mrs. Shows death was an ac-
cident.
In reply to the question from Judge
Hardison whether this was agreed
upon by Snow" Mr.. Davis replied that
| Mrs. Acker had so told them. She
said she had two men in her employ
who would do anything she bade
them" said Mr.. Davis.
Says LanEdOn Was Called In.
"'Ive one of my men out there! "
Mr.. Davis testified Mrs. Acker ex.-
claimed, and, going to the door. called
| in her chauffeur who proved to be
Langdon. according to Mr.. Davis.
".This is Langdon, one Of my men,
Mrs Acker said, and bade him Tell
him. with reference to the plans Tor
disposing of Mrs. Snow" Mr.. Davis
told the court.
i Attorney Hoover again protested
against this testimony being admitted
! a gainst his client. Judge Hardison
Iasked a question which put into the
record that Langdon had not been
present during the recital Of Mrs.
! Acker's story to Mr.. Davis and Mrs.
Snow.
Mr.. Davis gave the Langdon state
ment as follows
He said that on January IS OF
this year he was employed by MI
Snow to aid in the plot to make away
with Mrs Snow. He said that while
he himself was in the detective busi-
ness he was not in the murder bust
ness. but he did not say this to Mr.
snow. He loitered around the Farra-
gut apartment. where Mrs. Snow
lived"
Judge Hardison here interrupted
| with "a question as to whether Mrs
Aeker and Langdon engaged in this
conspiracy in good faith"
Mr.. Davis replied that he was mere
iJv reciting their statement as made
in his presence
| Resuming his report of Mr.. Lang
don's statement, Mr.. Davis said:
| "Langdon made several attempts to
.nick~up Mrs. Snow. The last of April
he was discharged by Mr.. Snow or
account of the slowness with which
matters were progressing. but he con-
tinued in the employe of Mrs. Acker. u