Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-13
SNYDER SLAYERS
ARE PUT TO DEATH
Bodies of Widow and GRAY
Claimed by Mothers
After Executions.


OSSININC, y, Y. January 1S.-The
bodies of Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd
Gray. executed last night for the mur.
der of the womans husband, were
borne away from the death house at
Sing Sing prison before dawn today.
A police escort cleared a path for
the hearses through gaping crowd at
the prison gates. The mothers OF the
TWO slayers had claimed their bodies.
The last official act in the case was
made by the keeper of the records.
From the files he took the blue cards
reserved for the condemned. Across
the faces OF them he wrote: Dis
charged by execution, January l.,
1925"
Six Minutes Apart.
Mrs. Snyder and Gray died in the
electric chair for the murder OF her
husband. Albert Snyder. magazine art
editor, who was beaten TO death while
asleep in his home at Queens. Village,
l.. l.. March 20 last.
Mrs. Snyder was pronounced dead
at 1909 O'Clock and Gray at Ills.
Suggestions freely made that Mrs.
Snyder would collapse at the end were
not borne out. She walked 10 the
chair and seated herself in IL with lit
tie direction from two matrons accom-
panying her. They held her arms
out were guiding her more than lend
ing support
Gray was the GRAY OF the Long
Island City courtroom. who walked
with elastic tread 10 and from the
trial each day. In court, however,
Gray for all his almost jaunty walk.
always stepped in and out OF the
room with eyes averted. At ms
execution, the former corset sales
man looked directly into the faces
Of the awed witnesses. numbering
almost two score.
Both Say Prayers.
Mrs. Snyder walked into the exc
cution chamber with slightly drag
ging step and although her eyes were
wide open they were apparently un-
seeing and il was evident that Tor
her the crowded room did not exist.
She closed her eyes as she slipped
into The electric chair.
Both died with prayers on their
lips. Just before the black mask. the
last detail of the final arrangements.
was placed over her face, Mrs.
Snyder cried:
Forgive them. father, for they
know not what they do.
Gray's last words were not audible,
but il was certain his lips were NOV
ing in prayer as the current was
applied.
The last from the outside TO
speak 10 the condemned pair were
their lawyers and Father Murphy.
Long Island City Jail chaplain. VINO
ministered to Mrs. Snyder. The
priest quoted Mrs. Snyder as saying
III ever there Was penitent. ll
ia l." The woman was also quoted
AZ saying she bore no malice 10 any
who had criticized her. No mention
Of Gray was made in her quoted last
utterancss.
Gray Kindly % Widow.
Cray WAS described an referring 10
Mrs. snyder in kindly terms. Lovers
long before they killed Albert Snyder
with a sasfwei2ht and picture wire ~
he slept. they became enemies after
the murder and, III their joint triai.
attempted 10 place the greater burden
of resryonEiblIify on each other. They
dlG nor meet in Sing Sing and did
not rec each other ss they went to
their death.
Had they met, Gray would unques-
tionaby have been siruck by the
change IN Mrs. Snyder's appearance.
She looked nearer 80 years old thar
32 Gray did not seem 10 have aged
beyond his 81 years.
Visitors TO Grsy's cell 10 say good by
Yesterday were his moi her. his sister
nd his broi her.ir law. They remained
~ the last possible moment.
Crowds Gather Outside.
Only one member ~ Mrs Snyher's
family visited her. y brother
gaping crowd. assembled as close
10 The prison - guards would permit.
furnished an angle 10 The execution
ibst coutd be explained only by morbid
curiosity. There ~as nothing to hear
and otfing to ses bui several hun.
Gf+1 crowded ~ the streets outside
ns PRISM. Diners rode up aud down
ii automobiles. They never knew
when tbe man snd W0rnan died bui
they stDJd long hours In The darkness
waiting
Eleventh hour efforts 10 stsy the
execution ~ Nfs snyder sHd Gray
continued on Page 7. Column J.
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