The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-28
Family of Victim and Son
of Killer Face Want in
South Carolina.
BBNEA Serrice

NOLOMBlA, y. u, dec. Z6.-Mur-
~ der and the laws grim exac-
ton Of the death penalty have cast
their fateful shadows over the lives
Of five children in two South Caro-
lima cities.
The tinseled holidays pass by like
fearsome ghosts here for little 7
year-old Clyde Snipes Jr., each one
bringing closer the dread moment
when his mother, Mrs. Beatrice
Snipes, is to pay with her life the
debt which she owes to the state for
the killing of a policeman.
And in Rock Hill, the four chill
dren of slain patrolman Elliott Har-
riS cluster at the knees of their
widowed mother, the future bleak as
their insurance money and $500
donation gradually-but all too
rapidly-diminish
Parents in Prison
Clyde Snipes is staying with an
aunt in Columbia, but soon is to be
forced upon county care because
funds for his upkeep are lacking.
His father is in prison on a seven
months sentence that expires in
June.
His mother is in prison-expect-
ing the birth of another child, and
is sentenced to be executed April 7.
The four Harris children - Elliott,
6; James Lloyd and Mary Ann, A.
year-old twins, and Gettys, g.
months are equally innocent
sufferers.
Tragedy did not blight their joys
over Christmas, however. Little !
Clyde Snipes sent a letter to Santa
Claus asking for toy truck which
he had seen in a shop window The
Harris children listened eagerly
while their mother read of the
progress Of Santa Claus toward
their little home.
Officer Is Slain
1t was a fateful July II that
brought this tragedy to the five
children. Mr.. and Mrs. Snipes were
driving toward North Carolina, En-
route they were stopped by Officer
Harris, who demanded a license.
Snipes had none. One word led
to another. Mrs. Snipes claims Har-
ris struck Snipes several times. She
demonstrated Harris, she claims,
struck her. They tussled
In the end, Harris was killed.
Snipes was arrested for driving a
motor car without the owners con-
sent and Mrs. Snipes surrendered
on a murder charge. Subsequently,
she was found guilty and sentenced
to be executed in April.
Meanwhile it was discovered she
was to become a mother shortly
after Christmas. Popular movements
were started to prevent the death
sentence.
No sympathy From Victim
She will be the first woman to be
executed in South Carolina if the
sentence is carried out.
But Mrs. Harris has little SYM
pathy with the movement.
Il don't feel that if it were left |
to me that 1 would change her
sentence" she said, Il do not think
she regrets it. I don't see that her
becoming a mother should alter
the case. I have been a mother
four times"
Meanwhile, the five children are
the innocent victims. Little Clyde /
already has had a tempestuous |
life. in and out of public institu-
tons. His aunt says her health |
will not permit her further to care
for the child after the first of the
year.
The state agencies say they have
not sufficient funds to care for Clyde
in one of their institutions. The /
father will not be out Of Jail until
June and little Clyde is allowed to
visit his parents only occasionally /
the father in the Jail yard and the
mother behind the bars of the
prison cell that soon is to become a
nursery. /
Mrs. Harris already is planning
for her four children, made father |
less by the tragedy. She is studying
bookkeeping so she may get job /
and care for them before the insur-
ance money and community gifts |
have been spent.
A mysterious driftwood of I'M