Evening star., 1938-12-20
Snyder Called Victim
OF Circumstances as
Trial Nears Close
Defense Insists He Fired
At Alderman Only to
Protect His Own Life
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20.-Defense
oratory pictured Martin (the Gimp
Snyder as an innocent victim of cir
cumstances today for the jury which
by nightfall may be deciding his
fate.
AS a result of shooting 30-year-
old Pianist Myrl Alderman, the
Gimp stood charged with attempted
murder, kidnapping and violation of
the State gun law But Defense At
torney Jerry Giesler hammered
away on the argument his client
fired to protect his own life.
The trial of Snyder, divorced hus-
band Of Song Queen Ruth Etting.
lacked only an hour or SO of final
summation by GieSler and Prose-
cutor U. U. Blalock before the jury
could receive its instructions and
retire.
Character Views Conflict.
While Miss Etting and Alderman,
her bridegroom of less than a week,
remained away from court, clash
ing views of Snyder's character and
gunplay were presented by opposing
counsel yesterday.
Giesler recalled the Gimp's sworn
story that he had not drawn a pistol
on Alderman when the latter drove
him from a radio station to the AL
derman home last October Is; that
he had not threatened the lives of
Alderman, Miss Etting and his
daughter, Edith Snyder; that he
only shot Gin Alderman's direction"
without intent to kill him when the
latter picked up Miss Etting's pistol
and menaced him.
The charges that Snyder kidnapped
Alderman at the radio station and
that he tried to murder Miss Etting
and his daughter, Giesler asserted,
were ridiculous, absurd and non
sensical."
Plan to Kill Held Absurd.
1.-THE only thing worthy of con-
sideration left is whether Snyder
planned to kill Alderman. If he
did. there was plenty of opportunity
while he and Alderman were driving
out to the house." the defense law
yer said.
HE had a right to seek out Alder
man and Miss Etting. She had di-
vorced him and there was a property
settlement on him as her manager.
Snyder had heard she and Alder
man were married-and he wanted
to protect his property rights"
The defense argument struck a
climax: Snyder could have slain
in cold blood, but he had no murder
In his heart!"
Prosecutor Blalock, in turn, was
scornful as he told the jury:
do you think that Myrl Alder
man would have let Snyder call him
a procurer If Snyder had not been
holding gun in his ribs?"
Deny Alderman Was Armed.
Blalock brought up the denials
OF Alderman, Miss Etting and Miss
Snyder that the pianist was armed
when a 38-caliber bullet struck him
in the abdomen as he sat on a
bench IN the music room of his home.
Why, asked Blalock, was Snyder
carrying a pistol when he went
looking for Alderman, "after say
ing that guy is not going to live
of Of my money!"
He quoted Miss Etting regarding
her flight to the bedroom to obtain
a pistol she kept there and of her
struggle with her ex-mate for its
possession, after Alderman was
wounded.
Snyder didn't kill Ruth Etting
because he is yellow" shouted Bla-
lock. HE was scared to death he
was going to get some Of his own
medicine. II he hadn't been run
ming through the hall after an un-
armed woman, his own daughter
would not have taken a shot at him. "
The prosecutor reminded the jury
of Edith Snyder's testimony that
she demonstrated with her father:
Don't kill Ruth, she's all I have!
My God, don't take her away from
me-"