New Britain herald., 1928-01-12

Warden Lawes would honor the stay granted by the supreme court jus ttce. and 1t was understood he plan- ned to confer with 0overnor Alfrsd E. Smith and Commissioners Of Cor rection Kisb on the legal questions involved.
 Edgar F. Hazelten. chief of Mrs. Snyder's counsel said that Warden Lawes would undoubtedly heed the order, and that he would be "most seriously in contempt" # hs did not
 First Stay of Ktnd
 No stay of execution has ever been granted before on this ground in the history of the criminal law" Haxelton said, ''but, of course. the warden has nothing to do with tho grounds on which | court order is granted"
 Haxelton said that if he convinced the court that Mrs. Snyder would be | necessary witness In the insurance litigation. 1t would bs impossible to foresee the length Of time the stay of execution might continue. In event of an appeal from tho decision in the civil case. he said he would ask that the stay be continued until the final decision.
 Insurance Go. Suit
 The insurance suit was brought by the Prudential Insurance Co. of America which claims that the policy was fraudulently obtained by Mrs. Snyder. without her husbands . knowledge or consent. Tho prosecu- tion held at the trial of Mrs. Snyder and Gray. that this insurance was the chief motive for the murder.
 When tho stay was granted Mrs. Snyder had apparently given up hope. Joseph LonArdo. enc of her attorneys, who visited her in the death house to secure her signature to the application for . writ oi habeas corpus. said he found her Respondent.
 Mrs. Snyder looked like . dead woman" Lonardo said. ''when went into the death house she touch cd my hand. and she was as cold aa ice.
 T took her other hand. It wal like another piece of ice. touch ed her head. It was froxen.
 Cheer up, Ruth ! said. You're not dead yet
 "'No. she said. finally. but I'm afraid I'm going to be-
 She talked absent-mtndodly as if she could not bring her thoughts to what she wanted to aay.
 Bcwails Her Fate
 I'm . young woman.' she said. I'm young and in tho prime of life. I'm young. and they're going to kill me. It don't seem right. Lonardo. don't want to die. Oh. I'll 70 all right. I'll have to go. But I seem 50 young and 70 full of life
 "'You're not going to die yet he said he told her. Were going to get this writ"
 Although agreeing to the applica- tion for . writ of habeas corpus. Haxelton let 1t be known that he dis approved, since he had put himself on record by his line of argument when the case was appealed as con- cedin8 that there was no federal question involved.
 The application. fin addition to the claim that the joint trial violated Mrs. snyder's constitutional rights. sets up tho further claim that the original trial was "yitiated by mob dominance"
 Both these claims were argued be- fore the appellate court. which de- cided that the Joint trial was consti- tutional and refused to take serious ly the mob dominance" plea.
 Relatives Tell Condemned
 Both Mrs. Snyder and Gray learn ed of Governor Smiths refusal of executive clemency through rela- tives. Mrs. Snyder was shaken by the news, but recovered quickly and asked:
 ''Is there no other hope?"
 Gray apparently had entertained no hopes of clemency. and took the news phtlosophically.
 Gray is absolutely calm and re- signed" one of his attorneys, William J. Willard. said.
 He is in . serene frame of mind, and is looking forward to the worst without making any complaint"
 A final examination by Dr. Joseph W. Moore. of the state lunacy com- mission, resulted in . report that the mental condition of the pair had not changed since they were ex- amined last week by the entire com mission.
 Father Patrick Murphy, the Long Island city prison chaplain who con- verted Mrs. Snyder to Catholicism. went to Sing Sing with . court order allowing him to see her. but was re- fused admittance by Warden Lawes under instructions from Commission CT of Correction Kieb.
 When Dr. Kieb was asked to state his reason for refusing me en- trance" Father Murphy said. "he said it was because of the conversion in the Queens county jail, and he added publicity and religion do not mix I have never sought any pub- licity and have given no newspaper interviews on tho subject"