Criminal Justice Matters: Murder of Walter Myers, Trial of John Snelling, Preston Snelling/Murder of Kid Turner, Trial of Liler McCune, Escape of John Snelling, Joe Schmuck, Will Jackson, 1925-26, Winn Parish, La. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: August 14, December 4, December 11, 1925, July 4, July 11, 1926 Winnfield News-American; August 13, December 3, 1925, May 20, July 1, July 8, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise. August 14, 1925 Winnfield News-American St. Maurice Dance Scene Of Homicide J. W. Snelling is Held Here For Murder of Walter Myers Walter Myers, 24 years old, a resident of St. Maurice, was stabbed to death by J. W. Snelling, at whose home he was attending a dance Saturday night, according to the report of a dying statement made by Myers to his sweetheart just before he succumbed from the wound which was inflicted just above the heart. There were no eye witnesses to the tragedy. Myers stepped out on the porch while the dance was in progress and was mortally wounded. It is reported that he spoke a few words to his sweetheart before dying, and that he charged J. W. Snelling at whose home he was a guest as being guilty of the act. Snelling is being held for murder in the Winn Parish jail. Efforts to secure information laying the basis for a motive for the homicide has entirely failed. The entire matter seems to be enshrouded in mystery, and the few who know some of the details of the tragedy seems extremely reluctant to talk. An extremely important point legally is the fact that Myers is reported to have made the statement that he knew he was going to die. He said to his sweetheart according to the report: "I know that I am done for, do the best you can," and named the person who stabbed him. If this statement had not been made the evidence would be excluded as hearsay, since it is necessary that the deceased say that he knows that he is going to die, before it is admissible from the lips of another. This is but one of the three cutting episodes in Winn Parish Saturday night. Fulton Wagner was almost stabbed to death while attending a dance in Milltown, a suburb of Winnfield, and Arthur Weaver was stabbed by T. H. Lyons on the Jefferson Highway near Crews. December 4, 1925 Winnfield News-American Snelling Case Is Given To Jury Late Thursday Afternoon Early Friday Morning No Verdict Is Reached; Jury Is Expected To Report About Noon Today As we go to press the jury in the Snelling case, which has consumed this week in the district court here, has not rendered its verdict. The case was turned over to the jury on Thursday evening just before six o'clock after every inch of ground had been hotly contested from the very beginning. The jury was completed Tuesday afternoon about four o'clock and examination of witnesses was begun immediately. In this case where John and Preston Snelling were charged with the killing of Walter Myers last August, the defendants are represented by the firm of Moss & Peters, while the District Attorney is being assisted by Julius T. Long of Shreveport. Near the close of the case the elder Snelling took the stand in his own defense, shouldered the entire blame for the slaying, declaring his son was innocent. The father claimed he killed Walter Myers in self-defense and this claim was presented to the jury by defense counsel. District Attorney Fuller and Julius T. Long, the prosecuting counsel, asked the full penalty of law for the elder Snelling, as was indicated from the very beginning of the trial. This case has been of wide interest to the entire parish and especially to Ward 5, the ward in which the killing occurred. The courtroom was crowded all day each day as well as the night sessions, many people attending from all over the parish. December 11, 1925 Winnfield News-American Second Trial For Snelling; Liler McCune Is Acquitted Preston Snelling Acquitted, Jury Unable to Agree on Guilt of John Snelling; Negro Found Not Guilty The fall criminal session of the eighth district court adjourned last Saturday afternoon after hearing many cases. Other than some ten or more cases in which pleas of guilty were entered for poisoning fish in Saline this term of criminal court heard the Snelling case in which John and Preston Snelling were charged with the murder of Walter Myers last August and Liler McCune, negro, charged with having killed Kid Turner, negro. In the Snelling case Preston Snelling was acquitted and the jury was unable to agree as to the guilt of John Snelling. After ballotting twenty times it was determined that the jury was hopelessly divided. It is reported that they stood ten to two for the conviction of John Snelling on the charge of manslaughter. Thus a mistrial was entered relative to John Snelling, who was released on bond and will be tried at a later date not yet determined. Preston Snelling was officially discharged. Immediately after disposing of the Snelling case trial of Liler McCune was begun. The jury was selected Friday morning, witnesses were examined and the case went to the jury Friday night. Saturday about (illegible) the jury reported the defendant was found not guilty. In this case the state was represented by District Attorney Harry Fuller and the defense by A. Leonard Allen. July 4, 1926 Winnfield News-American John Snelling and Two Others Escape From Parish Jail Outside Aid Is Given Prisoners Who Escaped Undetected Tuesday Night; $ 100 Reward Offered for Snelling John W. Snelling, convicted of manslaughter, an inmate of the Winn Parish jail pending an appeal, together with Joe Schmuck, arrested last Saturday night charged with stabbing a negro woman and Will Jackson, negro, serving time on a liquor charge, broke jail here Tuesday night. The delivery was effected by assistance from the outside it was stated, since Snelling was in a floor door on east side of jail and the door of his cell was opened it is supposed by some person or persons, forcing floor door open. The absence of these prisoners was not discovered until Wednesday morning about four o'clock by Deputy Marshal and nightwatchman M. E. Jolly, who reported it at once to Deputy Sheriff Bryant Sholars. A reward of $ 100 is offered for the arrest of Snelling by Sheriff Heflin and officers of adjoining towns and parishes have been notified to be on the look out. Snelling is described to be 55 years old, about six feet tall, red hair, and red complexion, blue or gray eyes, large frame weighing 175 pounds. His home is near St. Maurice. July 9, 1926 Winnfield News-American John Snelling, an Escaped Convict Commits Suicide Escaped Jail Tuesday Night and Killed Himself When Capture Seemed Inevitable John Snelling, who broke jail here Tuesday night, and was about to be captured by official possemen led by the sheriff, took his life by shooting himself in the head Friday afternoon near the home of Sam Bossier who lives about two and one half miles west of Chestnut. It is understood Mrs. Bossier heard the shot but thought it was an automobile blow out until the body was discovered. Snelling was awaiting the outcome of an appeal from his conviction and sentence of eight years in the penitentiary for the slaying of Walter Myers at St. Maurice August 1925. The tragedy was the outcome of a quarrel over some trivial matter at a dance at the Snelling home. The body was carried to Ward 10 and interred in the Pine Ridge Cemetery Saturday afternoon. August 13, 1925 Winn Parish Enterprise Killing Near St. Maurice Walter Myers, 22 years old, was stabbed to death at a dance at the home of J. W. Snelling, 51 years old, at St. Maurice Saturday night, and Snelling is in jail here charged with the murder. It was reported that the row which led to the tragedy was caused by a difficulty which Snelling had with Myers' father. It is reported that Myers' sweetheart, Miss Wright, witnessed the tragedy and accused Snelling. Arthur Weaver, 30 years old is in a hospital in Natchitoches suffering from serious knife wounds alleged to have been inflicted by Tom Lyons, when the two men met on a highway, Weaver enroute from a revival and Lyons from a dance. Lyons, the report goes, in joking manner, accused Weaver of taking his hat, which apparently provoked the stabbing. Lyons is charged with assault to kill, and is under $ 500 bond. December 3, 1925 Winn Parish Enterprise Father & Son on Trial for Murder John Snelling and his son, Preston, went to trial here Monday for the alleged killing of Walter Meyers at a dance at the Snelling's home near St. Maurice last August. The case has been the center of attraction in town during the week as both families are prominently known in the parish. The regular venire was exhausted and 100 tales were drawn before the jury could be completed. The following men were accepted as jurors and as the Enterprise goes to press the case is still in progress: C. W. Fox, Ed Lewis, R. C. Taylor, R. P. Smith, C. J. White, Amon Kelly, W. R. Sikes, Rube Willis, Edwin Ford, J. C. DeLoach, F. M. Porter, and E. B. Howard. Moss and Peters are defending the Snellings and District Attorney Fuller is being assisted by Julius T. Long of Shreveport. The case will probably be given to the jury this afternoon or tonight. May 20, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise Snelling Convicted of Manslaughter District Court convened here Monday with a heavy criminal docket. Indications are that only a small percentage of the cases will be disposed of and that many cases will be carried over. The case of State vs. John W. Snelling charged with the murder of Walter Myers was taken up Monday morning and the jury reported early Thursday morning rendering a verdict of manslaughter. Defense attorneys are perfecting an appeal and will carry the case to the Supreme Court according to announcement made at the close of the trial. The case of State vs. Chris Bailey, et al, charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, was called Thursday and will probably consume the rest of the week. July 1, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise Snelling And Others Break Jail John Snelling, sentenced to serve from 8 to 10 years in the State Penitentiary for slaying Walter Myers last August, and who was being held in Winnfield for pending a decision from the Supreme Court for a new trial, broke jail Tuesday night with two other occupants, Joe Schmuck and a negro named Will Jackson. A large bar door of iron concealed in the jail was used to pry the door open. They had not been apprehended up to today. July 8, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise Finds Escaped Convict Dead Body of John Snelling, Who Broke Winnfield Jail, Found Near Chestnut, Suicide John Snelling, who broke jail here the night of June 29, while under sentence of eight to ten years in the penitentiary for the killing of Walter Meyers last August, was found dead three miles west of Chestnut in Natchitoches Parish late Friday afternoon with a bullet hold through his head. Snelling was reported seen in the Chetnut section Thursday night, and deputy sheriffs from here and Natchitoches at once left for Chestnut. They were reported to have been close on the trail of Snelling several times during the day. Snelling is reported to have told an old woman living near where his body was found ythat he would kill himself before he would be captured and sent to the pen. The shot that killed Snelling was fired at close range. The hair and scalp were badly powder burned and a .38 calibre pistol with a recently fired shell was found under his body. Based on the facts the state officers believe that Snelling committed suicide.