Camden Courier-Post, October 9, 1952View transcription
Camden Man Held In Store Beating Of Aged Widow
Suspect's Police Record Started at Age of 9 Years
A Camden man with a record of arrests since he was nine years old is being held by Camden police today charged with the near fatal beating of Mrs. Rachel Weiner on Oct. 1.
Woodley Rex Snyder, 26, of 737 Kaighn ave., was booked Wednesday night in police headquarters on a charge of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill after he allegedly admitted the savage beating of Mrs. Weiner in a small candy store she operates at 763 Kaighn ave. Her condition remains critical at Cooper Hospital.
Snyder "surrendered meekly" and was arrested at 6.15 p. m. Wednesday at the parsonage of the Rev. George Nicholas, 823 Walnut st., pastor of the Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Ann and Sycamore sts. Police said Snyder lived at the parsonage until Sept. 11.
Convinced by Pastor
Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley and Detective Clifford Del Rossi, who had worked around-the-clock since the beating in an effort to capture Mrs. Weiner's assailant, made the arrest. The detectives said the Rev. Mr. Nicholas cooperated with police and had convinced Snyder he should give himself up.
Police Chief Koerner said Snyder "admitted hitting Mrs. Weiner on the head seven or eight times" with the butt of a .25-calibre automatic pistol.
The blood-stained pistol and a blood-stained jacket and pair of pants, recovered during the investigation, are being sent to
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Man Held
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Trenton for examination at the State Police laboratory.
Lived With Brother
Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy disclosed how suspicion fell on Snyder.
"Snyder and a roommate, William Spearman, lived at the home of Snyder's brother, Julius, on Kaighn ave., Murphy stated. "Spearman told police that some of his clothing was missing. A search of the room revealed bloodstained clothing, which Spearman said must belong to Snyder.
"Further search disclosed a .25 calibre revolver under a mattress and Spearman said this did not belong to him and must be Snyder's. Snyder's brother backed up Spearman on identification of the clothing."
Conley and Del Rossi quoted Snyder as saying:
"I had no motive. I walked into the store to get something to eat and she walked toward me. A feeling came over me."
The detectives said Snyder admitted having the gun in his possession, but denied that he entered the store planning a hold-up. Snyder was quoted as saying:
"If I needed money, I could get it this way."
Snyder's trail after the beating led from Camden to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rockville Center, L. I.; back to Philadelphia, to Camden, to Philadelphia, to Washington, to Baltimore, to Philadelphia and then to Camden Wednesday when he was arrested.
Eluded Pursuers
Detectives were on Snyder's trail continually and missed him by less than an hour in Baltimore. Conley and Del Rossi traced him to an uncle's home in Baltimore, but Snyder at the same time was in an aunt's home in the same city, where he allegedly stole $12, according to detectives.
According to detectives, Snyder served time continually from the time he was nine years old until he was 20. In 1942 he was sentenced to Jamesburg on five charges of breaking, entering and larceny, and served additional time for escape.
Agrees to Surrender
Detectives said Snyder returned to Camden at 4 a. m. Wednesday after telephoning the Rev. Mr. Nicholas, who pleaded with him to give himself up, from Philadelphia.
Detectives quoted the preacher as saying Snyder told him he'd "rather be shot walking down the street than return to prison." The Rev. Mr. Nicholas fed him and after continued pleadings Snyder "told him to call police," Conley said.
Snyder was first aware that he was wanted by police when he visited an aunt in Rockville, L. I., on Monday.
Suspect's Police Record Started at Age of 9 Years
A Camden man with a record of arrests since he was nine years old is being held by Camden police today charged with the near fatal beating of Mrs. Rachel Weiner on Oct. 1.
Woodley Rex Snyder, 26, of 737 Kaighn ave., was booked Wednesday night in police headquarters on a charge of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill after he allegedly admitted the savage beating of Mrs. Weiner in a small candy store she operates at 763 Kaighn ave. Her condition remains critical at Cooper Hospital.
Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley and Detective Clifford Del Rossi, who had worked around-the-clock since the beating in an effort to capture Mrs. Weiner's assailant, made the arrest. The detectives said the Rev. Mr. Nicholas cooperated with police and had convinced Snyder he should give himself up.
Police Chief Koerner said Snyder "admitted hitting Mrs. Weiner on the head seven or eight times" with the butt of a .25-calibre automatic pistol.
The blood-stained pistol and a blood-stained jacket and pair of pants, recovered during the investigation, are being sent to Trenton for examination at the State Police laboratory.
Lived With Brother
Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy disclosed how suspicion fell on Snyder.
"Snyder and a roommate, William Spearman, lived at the home of Snyder's brother, Julius, on Kaighn ave., Murphy stated. "Spearman told police that some of his clothing was missing. A search of the room revealed bloodstained clothing, which Spearman said must belong to Snyder.
"Further search disclosed a .25 calibre revolver under a mattress and Spearman said this did not belong to him and must be Snyder's. Snyder's brother backed up Spearman on identification of the clothing."
Conley and Del Rossi quoted Snyder as saying:
"I had no motive. I walked into the store to get something to eat and she walked toward me. A feeling came over me."
The detectives said Snyder admitted having the gun in his possession, but denied that he entered the store planning a hold-up. Snyder was quoted as saying:
"If I needed money, I could get it this way."
Snyder's trail after the beating led from Camden to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rockville Center, L. I.; back to Philadelphia, to Camden, to Philadelphia, to Washington, to Baltimore, to Philadelphia and then to Camden Wednesday when he was arrested.
Eluded Pursuers
Detectives were on Snyder's trail continually and missed him by less than an hour in Baltimore. Conley and Del Rossi traced him to an uncle's home in Baltimore, but Snyder at the same time was in an aunt's home in the same city, where he allegedly stole $12, according to detectives.
According to detectives, Snyder served time continually from the time he was nine years old until he was 20. In 1942 he was sentenced to Jamesburg on five charges of breaking, entering and larceny, and served additional time for escape.
Agrees to Surrender
Detectives said Snyder returned to Camden at 4 a. m. Wednesday after telephoning the Rev. Mr. Nicholas, who pleaded with him to give himself up, from Philadelphia.
Detectives quoted the preacher as saying Snyder told him he'd "rather be shot walking down the street than return to prison." The Rev. Mr. Nicholas fed him and after continued pleadings Snyder "told him to call police," Conley said.
Snyder was first aware that he was wanted by police when he visited an aunt in Rockville, L. I., on Monday.
