Evening star., 1946-11-25

ing the tragedy go deeper than q
boyish rage, which, according to the
boys story, resulted from repri-
mand because he kept the family
car out late the previous night.
The youth was quoted as con-
Tossing that after he had been told
he would be deprived Of use OF
the automobile until he was IL,
he obtained his foster fathers 20
gauge shotgun and killed his par
ents and sister while they were
grouped about q kitchen luncheon
table.
Also interesting to psychologists
and other investigators was the
boys behavior after the shooting
in taking Mr.. Snyder's pocketbook,
containing SIS, driving from the
scene In the family car, picking up
boy companion and accompany
ing him to a washington neighbor-
hood movie.
The companion was credited by
authorities with persuading young
Snyder to surrender at the Bethesda
police station and report the slay-
ings.
His report led officers to the dis
covery Of the bodies and conf1rma-
ton Of the boys story. His story
was that he first shot each Of his
foster parents in the side. then fired
a single charge into his sisters head,
and shot each parent a second time
each In the head.
Boy Appears Calm.
Despite the boys outward calm,
investigators said he appeared terri
fled by suggestions that he be re-
quired to return to the room where
the shootings occurred.
He was taken back to the house
during the course Of the investiga-
tions, but was allowed to remain
outside.
Acquaintances of young Snyder
and teachers who had known him in
school said they had observed moth
ing In his behavior which had
caused them to suspect that he
might be inclined to violence.
His relationships to the family
and in his classrooms were de-
scribed on the whole as being ap-
parently those of any normal boy
of his age.
Mr.. Miller said he was astounded
by reports which give the impression
that Robert Is hard, criminal
type" Mr.. Miller is former State
policeman and Marine Corps officer
who was wounded and decorated in
the Saipan campaign.
Friend Of Family.
Explaining he has known the Sny-
der family many years and the boy
since his adoption. Mr.. Miller de-
clared:
"The boy is far from being indif-
ferent or undisturbed by what he
has done. He is very much upset
about 1t.
This is case of lack of under
standing ON the part Of his parents
and an unhappy home life. He is q
pEOQuCt Oh Lie tltCuiAioSdiiSCc eAtASA
which he lived.
Z "As well as know his parents
and liked them, ! feel should say
that they were guilty of poor ham
ding Of their children and domestic
strife. #&
with the Snyder boy and Snyder
girl, 1t was case of the former
could do no right and the latter
could do no wrong.
"I am not able to say whether
the boy is psychopathic or not, but
I will say it is plain that his back
ground could confuse even normal
boy. I would be inclined to say that
he could have been an average boy.
'I do not believe the full details
Of the actual killing end the cir
cumtances have been made known.
There are lots of things even the
boy doesn't know about, am sure.
Plans to Assist Boy.
Regarding the trip to the movies
young Snyder made Immediately
after the killing, Mr.. Miller said
there Is a perfectly logical explana-
tion for it." but would not elab-
crate. He said that he is acting