believed that he was in fact ins ANG physic: ans and experts who
had examined him expressed their opinion that he was sane and he
was convicted and sentenced to death, He was hanged in the Dis-
trict Jail on June 2? 3 1900. dtronically, Snell, who was the
largest man ever to be hanged in Washington and stood 6'6" tall
and weighed close to xnxg@figxx 300 pounds, almost had his head
severed by the drop of ‘tthe trap even though the fall had been
les ssened considera bly because of his size,
Birmingham NEWS, Birmingham, al b= (oe ad and 6-29-1900
at he was in fact insane, physicians and experts who
ned him expressed their opinion that he was sane and he
cted and sentenced to death, He was hanged in the Dis-
i1 on June 29, 1900. Ironically, Snell, who was the
t man ever to be hanged in Washington and stood 616" tall
hed close to xwxg@Gpxa 300 pounds, almost had his head
by the drop of the trap even though thea fall had been
considera bly because of his size.
NEWS, Birmingham, Ala. wend and 6-29-1900
hanged in 4
:
hood 616" tall
SNELL, Benjamin Hill
Snell, a l2-year-old white native of ¥ mes, had been employed in a
Montgomery, Ala., bank before moving with his wife and family to
Washington, D, C., where he accepted a position as a special exami-
ner in the U. 5. Government Pension Office. The Snells employed as
a domestic servant amt a 13-year-old girl, Lizzie Weisenberger and
Spell promptly became infatuated with her and began attempting to
force his attentions on her, She complained to her parents and they
removed her from the Snell home to their own for her protection,
arly on the morning of Aug. 6, 1899, he slipped into the Weisenrber-
ger home and went to the room where the girl was sleeping. He
grabbed her by the hair and slashed his razor across her throat
twice with such fury that her head was almost severed from her body.
Mrs, Webkenberger, hearing her daughter scream, rushed into the room
and Snell slashed her across the arm, He was promptly taken into
custody and charged with the murder of the girl even though he claime
shat he had no recollection of having killed her, a pose that he
maintained until his death. His attorneys offered a defense of in=
Sanity and thouch his arts : :
anity and though his actions tended to bear this out and many people
6/29/1900
.
SNELL, Benjamin Hill
h
Snell, a )\2-year-old white native of 3
Montgomery, Ala, y bank before moving with nis wi
Washington, D. C., where he att ted a position as a special exami-
ner in the U. S. Government Pension Office. The Snells employed as
a domestic servant amt a 13-year-old girl, lizzie Weisenberger and
Spell promptly became infatuated with her and began attempting to
force his attentions on her, She complained to her parents and they
removed her from the Snell home to their own for her protection.
Harly on the morning of Aug, 6, 1899, he slipped into the Weisenber-
ger home and went to the room where the girl was sleeping. He
grabbed her by the hair and slashed his razor across her throat
twice with such fury that her head was almost severed from her body.
Mrs. lpewrnatchad hearing her daughter scream, rushed into the room
and Snell slashed her across the arm. He was promptly taken into
custody and charged with the murder of the girl even though he claimed
that he had no recollection of having killed wher, a pose that he
maintained until his death, His attorneys offered a defense of in-
Sanity and though his actions
1
Q oe
3
A
Lo
Lt 8
a
tended to bear this out and many people
6/29/1900
it]
a position as a
8. Goverment Pension Off
a 2 donesth c servant mut a 13-year-old
romptly became infatuated with
attentions on her, She complained to her parents and they
ron the Snell home to their own for te = protec
morning of Aug.
hone and went to the room where the girl waa slleepd
grabbed h the hair and slashed his razor
ce with such fury that her head was almost
Mrs, Weikenbergor, hearing her daughter screa
and Snell slashed her across the arm.
harged with the murder
accepted special exami-
fice. The Snells amployed a
» ldazde Weisorberger and
‘though
pose tha
defense o:
