Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-06
mrs. SNyDERLOSES
DEATH-STAY HOPE.
Insurance Suit Postponed
Until After Execution Date.
Smith CIemency Doubted.
Fy the Associated Press

fy the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. January Slope ot
Mrs. Ruth Snyder for rostponement
Of the date Of her execution on Ianu-
arv u was apparently dashed again
TODAY when il was announced that
argument on a motion for Jury trial
III the suit brought against her by
the Prudential Life Insurance Co. was
adjourned until January Ia,
Edgar Hazeltcn Of Mrs. Snyder's
counsel made application for jury
trial and il was considered possible
that The date Of Mrs, Snyder's eNecu'
ton might I've postponed in the event
that supreme Court Justice Levy
ruled that she would he needed IS n
witness.
May Delay Decision.
Remarks by GOV. Smith at the elem.
cnCy hearing for Mrs. Snyder and
Henry Judd GRAY were interpreted by
newSpa pers as indicating he would
not override the decision Of the courts
thar the two must die in the electric
chair next week.
The governors decision on the plea
for a So-day stay Of execution TO per
init examination of the TWO by
psychiairists. is not expected until
next week.
The governor at the conclusion OF
the hearing in Albany yesterday did
not say whether or not he would
grant clemency. but during the arsu,
ment he made several dry remarks
indicating he did not think very much
o. this pSNchosis stuff" and This
twilight zone business" Counsel had
made much IN their argument Of the
assertion that both prisoners were 81
emotlonillr diseased that they were
not fully responsible for their acts.
Orders Counsel to Argue Law.
The governor was asked 10 grant
the stay of execution so that practi-
TONERS of the new psvchiatry''
might examine the prisoners and see
1t they were not inha biiants of "A
mental twilight zone in which they
could distinguish right from wrong.
but did not have the will power to
Keep from doing wrong.
Gov. Smith halted this line of arg,i-
ment finally 10 instruct counsel tina l
he did not consider il pertinent and 10
order them 10 get on the law and
stay there"
Mrs. Snyder's chief counsel started
To quote St Paul concerning the let
ter and spirit of the law. hut the gov
ernor lnterposed with the opinion tina
the state Legislature was more
modern source of law than st. Paul
District Attorney Newcomhe. who
prosecuted the case. asked that jus
tice he allowed 10 run its course, =
q course that would lead 10 the Sing
Sing death chamber shortly after IL
o'clock next Thursday night. He said
that after the trial he had gone over
The evidence with great care TO see il
. there were any extenuafing circum-
stances which might Justify a recon-
mendation Of leniency, but that he
FOUND not single one.
Gray last night received the we'll
wishes Of two doomed men who shook
hands with him as they marched past
his cell in the Sing Sing prison death
house on their way 10 the electric
chair. They were Charles J. Doran n.
IL, of Albany. and Louis Mason. 30.
negro, Of Buffalo. Both were exc
cuted for murders committed during
hoidups.
Mrs. SNYDER who II In another par,
Of the death house. did not see the
Two men, She was said by prison AT =
tendants. however, 10 have displa we'd
extreme nervousness when told the
governor had refused Doran Glenn
encv.
Two more going and no hope ap-
parently." she remarked