The Murder of Albert Snyder

The marriage was troubled from the start.�Their age difference may have been part of the problem.�Albert just did not have the energy for attending the social events that Ruth so enjoyed.�She kept house and served him tasty meals, but Albert wanted more.�He wanted someone with whom he could discuss issues and share ideas.�Ruth found books and art dull.�Why, he wondered, couldnt she be more similar to his beloved Jesse?�Why couldnt Ruth take an interest in culture?�She always wanted to play bridge or jitterbug and listen to Cole Porter tunes.�Ruth also did not share two of Alberts other passions -- sailing and hiking.

For her part, Ruth felt as if she had kissed Prince Charming only to have him become a frog.�She could not comprehend his cerebral conversations, nor did she want to.�Another problem was that Ruth was becoming increasingly jealous but her rival was a memory: the dead Jesse Guishard.�Albert wore a necktie pin with the initial J.G. His sailboat was the Jesse G.�Worst of all, perhaps, was that their home had a large picture of Alberts dead fianc�e in the living room.�There were also many smaller reminders of Jesse, including a photo album devoted to her.

Jealousy occasionally got the better of Ruth and she removed the portrait.�But that always led to an intense fight with Albert who demanded that it be re-hung.

Then Ruth received what to her was good news: she was pregnant.�Albert was not pleased.�He had not wanted children.�Ruth couldnt understand his attitude.�Wasnt one of the main reasons people marry is so they can have a family?�He was even more disappointed when the child was born and it was a girl.�Ruth named her daughter Lorraine.

The baby drove the couple further apart.�Albert did not share Ruths interest in the infant and he did not like being bothered by early morning crying and the smell of diapers.�Albert also thought childbirth had ruined Ruths figure.

The family moved from neighborhood to neighborhood in New York City. Then in 1923, they settled into Queens Village.�At each residence, Jesse Guishards portrait had prominent display.

The Queens home was two-and-a-half stories, painted muted pink with green trim.�Two maple trees stood in the yard. To the right of the house was a driveway leading to a garage in back.�Eventually a makeshift bird fountain, constructed out of a large saucepan and a pole, sat in the back yard.�Lorraine Snyder would spend much time replenishing the pan and calling to birds.

At a certain point, Ruths mother, Josephine Brown, moved into the Snyder home. Ruth now had a babysitter for her daughter.�The extroverted Ruth began attending more parties and socials.�Delighted by her high spirits, friends nicknamed her Gay Tommy.�(The word gay did not have its contemporary meaning in that era.)

One afternoon, when Ruth was lunching with a friend at Henrys, a Swedish restaurant, enjoying a smorgasbord. The friend introduced her to Judd Gray, a slender, bespectacled corset salesman with a chin cleft.�

Now 32, Ruth was concerned about her figure.�She had a tendency to put on weight and may still have been self-conscious about the thickening effect of childbirth on her waistline.�Smiling, she asked to see some some of Judds wares.