The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-31
DUAL TRAGEDY
is CLIMAX TO
LOVE TRIANGLE
Farm Manager Kills Woman
and Self After Being
Fired.
BIZ Times SpeciaI

By Times Special
DANVILLE, Ind, Dec. 31.-Mur-
der and suicide brought a tragic
climax to an Illicit love affair here
Sunday when Ralph Mullendore
Heath, "a, of $50 West Thirty-third
street, indianapolis, fired four
bullets into the brain of Mrs. Mae
Snyder, As, his employers wife, and
then turned the gun on himself.
Since September, Heath had
managed a poultry farm at the
Snyder summer home here. Notes
left in his room indicated his af-
fection for Mrs. Snyder, wife of w.
E. Snyder, manager of the exclusive
Hotel Seward, Detroit, was recipro-
Gated.
Snyder, informed Of their rela-
tions, ordered his wife to come to
Danville and dismiss her paramour.
Saturday, she and Heath talked the
matter over, authorities learned
from Mrs. Snyder's sister, Mrs. John
Grider, of VincenneS.
Dresses in Best Suit
John Belts, caretaker, died at his
home adjoining the Snyder home
{ SALurday midnight. After arranging
to have the body sent to an under
taking establishment, Mrs. Snyder
and Heath returned to the Snyder
home where Mrs Nellie Guilkey,
Heath's aunt, was employed as
houSekeeper
A few hours after they had re-
tired, Heath arose, dressed himself
in his best clothes, shaved, penned
farewell notes to his aunt, parents
and Snyder, then took a As calibre
revolver from a dresser drawer in
his room and walked into Mrs.
Snyder's bedroom.
The two we're heard in loud con-
versation. Five shots rang out-four
of the bullets entering Mrs. Snyder's
head while the fifth went wild.
Mrs. Guilkey ran to the room, but
Heath threatened her with death if
she did not return to the kitchen.
Then he returned to his own
room, reloaded the gun, lay down on
the bed and fired one shot into his
brain, dying instantly.
"You should thank me for getting
rid of such woman as your wife" !"
said the note Heath addressed to
Snyder, who came to Danville by
airplane when informed of the
tragedy.
Writes Notes to Parents
Other notes found by Sheriff
Henry Rodney included those to his
parents Mr.. and Mrs. H. j. Heath,
with whom Heath lived at Indian
apoliS.
II know I have been bad boy
and made you lots of sorrow" said
one. "But ] hore you will forgive
and forget. I think you know the
relation that Mae (NIrs. Snyder) and
I had had by the nights 1 have
spent with her. Now there is diff
ference and the best way out is the
outcome of this"
Another note to Heaths mother
said: Mother let this be published
in a paper. I hope that people look
at this as my fault and not from
you or dad. II was all my own
fault"
Heath evidently had planned the
act well in advance for he had in
dorsed a check to his father covering
his account in local bank.
Expected to Attend Party
Heath's parents were expecting
him to visit them Sunday when
word came of the shooting. They
we're expected to come to Danville
for New Yeaf's party with their
son today.
The Snyders and Heaths had been
intimate friends for a number of
years. Heath was Democratic pre-
cinct committeeman of the Fif-
teenth precinct of the Fourth ward
at Indianapolis, where he had lived
twelve years. He had been married
out was divorced.
Funeral services for Heath will
be held at the home Wednesday at
2 p. m. Burial will be in Crown
Hill. The parents, a brother, Ray
G. Heath, and sister, Miss Muriel
Heath, survive.
The Snyders formerly lived in
Indianapolis, but moved to Detroit
ten years ago. Mrs. Snyder's body
was removed to Indianapolis Sun