Ruth Snyder/Judd Gray Murderers
NYT Archives – Newspaper Cameramen Wait Outside Of The Queens County Courthouse Where Ruth Snyder’s and Henry Judd Gray’s Murder Trial Is In Progress, NYC, 1927.
Ruth Snyder/Judd Gray Murder
1927 – 1928
For months before her execution in 1928, the Daily News and other New York tabloids told lurid stories of how Ruth Snyder, a New York housewife, and her lover, corset salesman Judd Gray, beat Snyder’s husband and strangled him with a picture-frame wire. The driving force behind this coverage was a New York tabloid press war between the Daily Graphic, the Daily News and William Randolph Hearst’s Daily Mirror.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The New York Daily News is known for its cover issue showing the execution of murderer Ruth Snyder. The well-known image is often described as being one of the most famous tabloid photos to have ever been published.
NEW YORK TIMES
1927
March 21, 1927
GIRL FINDS MOTHER BOUND
March 21, 1927
LETTERS TO GRAY FOUND
March 23, 1927
SLAYERS OF SNYDER FACE SPEEDY TRIAL – RECANT CONFESSION
March 22, 1927
WIFE BETRAYS PARAMOUR AS MURDERER OF SNYDER, AND HE THEN CONFESSES.
March 22, 1927
GRAY’S FIRST STORY WAS A FULL DENIAL
March 22, 1927
MRS. GRAY CLINGS TO FAITH IN HUSBAND
March 22, 1927
GRAY UNDER GUARD ON TRAIN
March 23, 1927
WIFE VISITS GRAY IN QUEENS
March 23, 1927
SERVICES FOR SNYDER HELD
March 24, 1927
SLAYERS INDICTED
March 25, 1927
POISONED WHISKY IN SNYDER HOME BARES EARLY PLOT
March 26, 1927
SAYS GRAY WAS HYPNOTIZED
March 27, 1927
GRAY NOT CHURCH TEACHER
March 27, 1927
FOILED GRAY SUICIDE BY POISON ON TRAIN
March 28, 1927
POISON A MYSTERY IN SNYDER CASE
March 29, 1927
SNYDER STRUGGLED TO ESCAPE SLAYERS
March 30, 1927
DEFENSE DIVIDED ON SNYDER MURDER
March 30, 1927
M’LAUGHLIN RAISED POLICE EFFICIENCY
March 31, 1927
TRACE PAPER FOUND NEAR SNYDER’S BODY
April 1, 1927
GRAY MURDER CLUES BURNED IN SYRACUSE
April 2, 1927
THREAT OF SUICIDE BY SNYDER TOLD
April 2, 1927
SYRACUSE STATE CONCLUDED
April 3, 1927
STATE BUILDS CASE ON SNYDER MURDER
April 4, 1927
TO DECIDE ON GRAY’S PLEA
April 5, 1927
CLEARS GRAY’S FRIENDS OF MURDER ALIBI PLOT
April 6, 1927
COURT SETS APRIL 18 FOR SNYDER TRIAL
APRIL 7, 1927
GRAY READY FOR TRIAL FOR SNYDER’S MURDER
April 8, 1927
NOT A CRUEL KILLER, GRAY WRITES IN CELL
April 9, 1927
MRS. SNYDER TO ASK FOR SEPARATE TRIAL
April 10, 1927
SNYDER’S BEDROOM IS SEALED BY POLICE
April 12, 1927
GRAY WARNED, SPIRITUALIST SAYS
April 12, 1927
ORDERS MRS. SNYDER TO TRIAL WITH GRAY DESPITE HER PLEA
April 13, 1927
WHY GRAY KILLED, PUZZLE TO MOTHER
April 12, 1927
GRAY WARNED, SPIRITUALIST SAYS
April 12, 1927
ORDERS MRS. SNYDER TO TRIAL WITH GRAY DESPITE HER PLEA
April 13, 1927
WHY GRAY KILLED, PUZZLE TO MOTHER
April 14, 1927
GRAY ACTS TO RAISE CASH FOR HIS TRIAL
April 15, 1927
GRAY IS EXAMINED BY FOUR ALIENISTS
April 16, 1927
MRS. SNYDER ASKS WOMENS’ SYMPATHY
April 17, 1927
MRS. SNYDER BREAKS AS TRIAL DAY NEARS
April 17, 1927
EVIDENCE SOUGHT UPSTATE
April 18, 1927
GRAY IS FOUND SANE BY HIS OWN ALIENISTS
April 19, 1927
TESTIMONY OF ALIENISTS
April 19, 1927
SNYDER TRIAL HEADLINES
April 19, 1927
NOT A JUROR PICKED FOR SNYDER TRIAL OUT OF 50 EXAMINED
April 20, 1927
ONE JUROR CHOSEN FOR SNYDER TRIAL
April 21, 1927
FOUR ARE QUALIFIED AS SNYDER JURORS
April 21, 1927
WILL ROGERS ON THE SNYDER CASE
April 21, 1927
HEAVY-FOOTED JUSTICE
April 21, 1927
DR. STRATON MAY QUIT AS SNYDER “REPORTER”
April 22, 1927
7 ON SNYDER JURY
April 23, 1927
FULL SNYDER JURY PICKED ON 5TH DAY
April 24, 1927
SNYDER JURORS GUARDED IN HOMES
April 24, 1927
BY PRODUCTS
April 25, 1927
PASTOR DISCUSSES SNYDER MURDER
April 25, 1927
STATE OPENS TODAY IN SNYDER TRIAL
April 25, 1927
TAKES DR. STRATON TO TASK
April 26, 1927
SNYDER WAS TRICKED INTO BIG INSURANCE, STATE WITNESS SAYS
April 27, 1927
TEXT OF CONFESSION MRS SNYDER MADE
April 27, 1927
SNYDER JURY HEARS WIDOW’S CONFESSION TO SLAYING HUSBAND
April 28, 1927
FULL TEXT OF H.J. GRAY’S CONFESSION
April 29, 1927
MRS. SNYDER GOES ON STAND TODAY TO DENY GRAY STORY
April 30, 1927
WIDOW ON STAND SWEARS GRAY ALONE KILLED SNYDER AS SHE TRIED TO SAVE HIM
April 30, 1927
LAY LACK OF POLICE TO SNYDER TRIAL
May 1, 1927
TRAFFIC FORCE NOT CUT
May 1, 1927
CHILD TO TESTIFY AFTER MRS. SNYDER FACES STATE’S FIRE
May 2, 1927
MRS. SNYDER FACES LONG ORDEAL TODAY
May 2, 1927
REJECTS PLEA OF WALLACE
May 2, 1927
DR REISNER DRAWS SNYDER CASE MORAL
May 3, 1927
JUDGE ADEL VISITS SNYDER TRIAL
May 3, 1927
MRS. SNYDER FIGHTS BACK AS THE STATE ASSAILS HER, ESPECIALLY ON INSURANCE
May 4, 1927
GRAY SWEARS MRS. SNYDER BROACHED MURDER PLOT
May 4, 1927
CROSS EXAMINATION OF MRS. RUTH SNYDER ON HER LAST DAY ON THE STAND
May 5, 1927
GRAY DESCRIBES MURDER; SPARES NO DETAIL OF CRIME; INSISTS WOMAN LED HIM
May 6, 1927
GRAY DENIES WISH TO KILL; INSISTS WOMAN DOMINATED
May 9, 1927
GRAY AND WOMAN TO MAKE LAST APPEALS TO JURY TODAY
May 7, 1927
SNYDER CASE TO GO TO JURY ON MONDAY; ALL TESTIMONY IN
May 7, 1927
ROGER’S FIRST, LAST AND ONLY OPINION ON THE SNYDER CASE
May 7, 1927
“NOTHING TO GAIN FROM THE CRIME” SAYS GRAY IN LAST DAY ON STAND.
May 8, 1927
MRS. SNYDER HOPES, GRAY IS RESIGNED, AWAITING LAST PLEA
May 9, 1927
GRAY AND WOMAN MAKE LAST APPEALS TO JURY TODAY
May 10, 1927
JUDGE WARNED JURY TO AVOID SYMPATHY
May 10, 1927
MRS. SNYDER AND GRAY FOUND GUILTY IN THE FIRST DEGREE IN SWIFT VERDICT
May 11, 1927
GUARD MRS. SNYDER, VICTIM OF HYSTERIA
May 11, 1927
A MODEL MURDER TRIAL
May 12, 1927
SENTENCE SPEEDED FOR SNYDER SLAYERS
May 13, 1927
SLAYERS OF SNYDER HEAR DOOM TODAY
May 14, 1927
SLAYERS OF SNYDER HEAR DOOM UNMOVED
May 16, 1927
SNYDER SLAYERS GO TO SING SING TODAY
May 16, 1927
SHOOTS HUSBAND OVER SNYDER CASE
May 16, 1927
SNYDER CASE SAD, SAYS DARROW
May 16, 1927
LAW STUDENT ARRESTED AS HE ACCOSTS SMITH IN HOTEL AND TRIES TO TALK OF SNYDER CASE
May 18, 1927
PRISONERS GIVE UP NAMES
May 19, 1927
GRAND JURY REFUSES TO INDICT HADDON GRAY; FINDS NO PERJURY IN EFFORTS TO AID SLAYER
May 21,1927
MOTHER VISITS MRS. SNYDER
May 25, 1927
APPEAL FOR GRAY JUNE 13
June 3, 1927
GRAY’S WIFE VISITS HIM FOR TIME
June 3, 1927
MRS. SNYDER TO FIGHT VOIDING OF INSURANCE
June 8, 1927
COURT FIGHT OPENS FOR SNYDER CHILD
June 18, 1927
SNYDER INSURANCE REFUND IS REJECTED
June 22, 1927
EXAMINE MRS. SNYDER, GRAY
June 26, 1927
MRS. SNYDER SEES COUNCIL
July 3, 1927
JURY WILL RESUME INQUIRY ON MRS. SNYDER
July 3, 1927
GRAY PLAYS CARDS IN CELL
July 10, 1927
COMPANY SERVES ORDER ON MRS. SNYDER
July 21, 1927
MRS. SNYDER WANTS GRAY TO TAKE BLAME
July 21, 1927
DENIES MESSAGE TO GRAY
July 26, 1927
WITHHOLDS VERDICT ON SNYDER INSURANCE
July 27, 1927
SNYDER ESTATE CASE OFF
July 28, 1927
GRAY WON’T TESTIFY AGAINST MRS. SNYDER
July 29, 1927
MRS. SNYDER LOSES INSURANCE PLEA
August 11, 1927
JOINT SNYDER TRIAL REGARDED AS LEGAL
August 15, 1927
SLAYERS OF SNYDER WON’T DIE THIS YEAR
August 29, 1927
MRS. SNYDER’S APPEAL TO CALL TRIAL UNFAIR
September 14, 1927
SNYDER CASE REPORT READY
September 22, 1927
TO USE TRIAL IN 1682 IN SNYDER APPEAL
October 5, 1927
TO FIX SNYDER HEARING
October 18, 1927
SNYDER INSURANCE SUIT IN COURT
October 25, 1927
NEW SNYDER TRIALS ASKED OF HIGH COURT
October 26, 1927
WOULD NAME SNYDER CHILD
November 24, 1927
STILL HOPE TO SAVE SLAYERS OF SNYDER
November 25, 1927
MRS. SNYDER PLEADS TO CONTINUE FIGHT
November 26, 1927
MRS. SNYDER PINS HOPE ON GOVERNOR
November 29, 1927
LEOPOLD ALIENIST TO AID MRS. SNYDER
December 1, 1927
KIEB DEFENDS BAR ON SNYDER ALIENIST
December 2, 1927
SMITH SETS DECEMBER 29 FOR MRS. SNYDER’S PLEA
December 3, 1927
NO DATE FOR SNYDER PLEA
December 9, 1927
SMITH SEES MOTHER OF RUTH SNYDER
December 12, 1927
NEW ‘MAN’ IN SNYDER CASE
December 15, 1927
ASKS NEW SNYDER INQUIRY
December 17, 1927
GRAY SCOFFS AT “NEW EVIDENCE”
December 19, 1927
LAWYER ASSAILS JUDD GRAY
December 20, 1927
GRAY DELAYS PLEA FOR LIFE
December December 28, 1927
ABANDONS SNYDER APPEAL
December 29, 1927
GOV SMITH TO HEAR MRS. SNYDER’S PLEA JAN. 5
1928
January 3, 1928
SCUDDER WRITES SMITH; VIEWS ON CLEMENCY FOR SNYDER SLAYERS
January 6, 1928
SUIT MAY HALT EXECUTION
January 7, 1928
DENIES SUIT IS TO MOVE TO AID MRS. SNYDER
January 9, 1927
MRS. SNYDER CAUGHT SMUGGLING LETTERS
January 10, 1928
MRS. SNYDER RENEWS FIGHT FOR HER LIFE
January 11, 1928
SMITH REFUSES CLEMENCY TO MRS. SNYDER AND GRAY
January 12, 1925
MRS. SNYDER WINS A STAY UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING
January 13, 1928
WIFE TRIED 7 TIMES TO KILL HUSBAND
January 13, 1928
SHE GOES TO DEATH FIRST
January 14, 1928
MRS. SNYDER LEFT MESSAGE TO CHILD
January 16, 1928
WILL GIVES HADON GRAY $1
January 17, 1928
SNYDER-GRAY DEATHS CALLED CRUEL ORGY
February 11, 1928
MRS. SNYDER’S WILL FILED
March 10, 1928
OPENS SNYDER STRONGBOX
August 24, 1928
TO MAIL JUDD GRAY LETTER
August 26, 1928
GETS JUDD GRAY’S LETTER
October 31, 1928
COMPANY OPENS FIGHT ON SNYDER INSURANCE
November 1, 1928
ACCUSED AT SNYDER TRIAL
November 10, 1928
SNYDER’S $95,000 INSURANCE VOIDED BY COURT
November 19, 1928
JUDD GRAY’S BOOK OUT
Postscript
December 11, 1929
REFEREE FOR SNYDER SALE
December 3, 1930
RUTH SNYDER’S GIRL FAILS IN $50,000 SUIT
December 7, 1949
QUEENS TO DESTROY NOTED CRIMES FILES
July 27, 1955
JUSTICE SCUDDER MARKS 90TH YEAR
February 23, 1960
TOWNSEND SCUDDER DIES
April 28, 1970
FLORABEL MUIR, 80, OF THE DAILY NEWS
October 23, 1972
ALFRED TURK DEAD
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