Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-18

Man Charged With Killing
Two churfs Near Rolla IS
n court at Rugby.

aDesias Lake 9. s}HJAn. i 1s.-Attos,
4neSy..ItFss1 .IHsayanapf yesterday OPENED
..hste sftSkt before Jake Rlrr iii 1ths
5dtstFtct court AtSffHEbys.Yor the iHsasf
HyapeSterS Ssayder, being tsted thAtx16n
the GiargeSsof having murdersdiSii31
TWO $ekumS, Archie Rud4EarI1 4RtrtSri
near the laksview school hoasesTh b
bodies OF h Fletcher boys were
found septelnber 80. 1920. q few days
AFTER n alle9$d murder, and Snyder
was arrested IN Minnewaukan In
company, with "a h~alf-brced Indian
Girl named Nancy Lorne. with whom
he Is said to have elOped. 8
The trial was In progress since last
Tuesday, when the Jury was selected,
n the state, represented by States
Attorney w. 7. Morrtssy Of Towner
county. assisted by John J.. Kehoe.
special prosecutor placed about 80
portant being Nancy Lorne herself.
who testified that there was keen riv-
airy for her affections between Snyder
and Earl Fletcher, n Of the dead
men. Other witnesses, especially sew
eral physictans. testified as to how the
Fletcher boys came. tc their death. 3
A confession, ALLEGED to have been
made to the authorities by Snyder aft
evidence. In this Snyder told the
story of the murder, which will be
the basis Of his defense at the trial
which. in effect, 10 that he killed the
Fletcher boys in self-defense,- and att
er n OF them had intimated that
they were out to get him." 80.
! Snyder's Story. y
According to Snyder's story, he and
the Fletcher boys drove to the. Lake
view school house in; Ford ION. the
day of the murder. The. two brothers
were in the front seat and Earl was
at the wheel. When they arrived near
the school. which is isolated from
eight miles from Rolla, although in
Towner county. one OF the Fletcher
boys, according to Snyder. turned to
him and said: wei, syl, you might
as well give in right here"
This remark, according to the de-
PENDANT, placed him on his guard. He
grabbed a hammer that lay lin. the
back of, the ean and hit one Of the
Fletcher boys over the head. The
other boy. jumped out Of the car. but
Snyder went after him with q gun,
shooting him once, after which he
said he threw his gun away because
it was plugged. The other. Fletcher
boy. according to Snyder. then re-
turned to consciousness and came aft
er snyder with q German LuRer gun.
The two had a tussle during. which
Snyder got control of the gun and
shot Fletcher.
He alleged that knowing the ree-
ords Of the Fletcher boys, he was sure
that, following their fight over the
Indian girl, they would 'Eet him." so
he was not going to take any chances.
He and Earl had several arguments
over the girl. but the maid cast her
lot with Snyder, and refused to have
anything to do with Fletcher.
Came for HarveA.
The Fletcher boys and Snyder drove
here from Iowa in a Ford and during
last summer they were employed AZ
farm hands. Snyder alleged the dead
mel had gotten into much trouble in
their home state.
States Attorney Morrissy, judging
by the evidence adduced from wit
nesses last week, is attempting to
prove that Snyder killed the Fletcher
boys to rob them. n witnesses testi-
fled that when the bodies were found
the pockets in their clothing were
turned inside out, although Snyder
insists that he was the only member
of the trio that had any money on the
day of the murder. Snyder also said
he feared they would rob him.
In all probability the trial will con-
tinue throughout the week. Snyder
will be the most important witness for
the defenRe s.