The Murder of Albert Snyder

Shortly after the sentence was passed, Ruth Snyder converted to Roman Catholicism. Some more cynical observers believed that this was a calculated ploy to win a commutation from New York Gov. Alfred Smith, also a Roman Catholic. If so, it was a mistake. The governor was even less likely to extend mercy to a co-religionist and leave himself vulnerable to charges of religious favoritism.

Ruth and Judd were taken to the Death House at Sing Sing where Ruth would be the only woman during her stay. While much of the general public sympathized with Judd as a man caught in the coils of an evil woman and hated Ruth, sentiment in Sing Sing was precisely reversed. There is nothing more despised in the hyper-masculine world of male criminals than male weakness. Shifting blame for ones own crime onto a woman made the Putty Man lower than a slug in the eyes of most of his fellow prisoners and they shunned him. He was, however, able to make a few friends, according to Murderess!, Gray found it possible to converse with the occupants in the cells bordering his. He even managed to play checkers with them by calling out moves corresponding to the numbered squares on a checkerboard.

While denounced in the press in terms of horror, Ruth did have her admirers. They were submissive men who swallowed hook, line, and sinker Judds depiction of her powers. According to Crimes of Passion, Ruth received 164 offers of marriage from men who -- in the event of her being reprieved -- were eager to exist humbly beneath her dominance.

Even more isolated than her co-defendant, Ruth spent her time writing. Her memoirs would be published as My Own True Story -- So Help Me God! In the New York Daily Mirror. It was a confused mishmash of observations, memories, and outright craziness. The first step on her way to her present predicament had begun with adultery, Ruth believed, so she devoted much of her prose to warning other women away from affairs. 

I wish a lot of women who may be sinning, she penned, could come here and see what I have done for myself through sinning and maybe they would do some of the thinking I have done for months and they would be satisfied with their homes and would stop wishing for things they should try to get along without when they cant have them.

Maybe there are women who have nice homes (and husbands who do the best they can for them) even if they dont like their husbands and they could bear it if they would only make up their minds everything cant be just perfect.

Some husbands dont make enough money to get their wives the things they wish they had and if the wives have the brains they will just take what they can get and try to make the best of it.

As the months of sustained terror wore on, Ruths mind began to unravel. It showed in her writing. She wrote, Judd Gray talks! -- about the big brown bug he put out of its misery -- does (he) -- J. G. -- ever think back of RUTH BROWNS BUG he put out of his misery? What Ruth refers to here is quite unclear but the question automatically occurs to the reader: was Albert Snyder RUTH BROWNS BUG?

On January 12, 1928, both people convicted of murdering Albert Snyder were put to death. In keeping with the Sing Sing tradition of executing the most distressed prisoner first and getting the worst of an inevitably grisly business out of the way, Ruth was taken to the electric chair before Judd.

Her entire head was not shaved but a bald spot was made for the electrode. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying as she was led to the death chamber, a matron holding her under each of her arms. When she saw the electric chair, she started screaming hysterically and her body went limp. The matrons forced her to the chair as she shrieked, Jesus, have mercy on me! Then as the black leather mask was placed over her face, she prayed aloud for her executioners using Christs words, Father forgive them, they know not what they do.

Ruth Snyder's electrocution

Just as her body shook with the force of electricity, a newspaper photographer raised his trouser cuff where he had secreted a small camera, and snapped a picture of her dying. Cameras were forbidden at executions but this man had smuggled it in and the photograph appeared in front pages the next morning. It is still frequently displayed in articles about the death penalty.

When Judd was brought in, he was obviously terrified, but not faint. He walked to the chair even as rivulets of sweat poured down the skin of his ghost white face. He and the clergyman who accompanied him said parts of the Beatitudes to each other.

Blessed are the pure in spirit, Judd announced as he sat in the death chair.

Blessed are they that mourn, the clergyman replied.

For they will be comforted! Judd filled in. Blessed are the merciful. The guards had trouble adjusting the leather mask to his face. An obliging Judd held his head still so they could do their job. Then electricity shocked the life out of Judd Gray.