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John L. Snelling

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John L. Snelling

Birth	:	5 Feb 1885 Indiana, USA
Death	:	9 Mar 1916 Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, USA
Burial	:	Manchester IOOF Cemetery, Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.6944000, -83.5997000
Description	:	Also known as "Kentucky Jack" John Snelling of Ohio, was a deputy with the Coal & Iron Police, recently hired on by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company at Claridge. It was during the infamous Westmoreland County Coal Miners Strike of 1910, that Snelling, shot and killed Jacob Patla during a confrontation in the early evening of Wednesday, 13 July. Patla was a striking coal miner at the Claridge Mine; a husband, father of four children, and another child on the way at the time of his death. Snelling was charged with Patla's murder, and his case came to... Read More	Also known as "Kentucky Jack" John Snelling of Ohio, was a deputy with the Coal & Iron Police, recently hired on by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company at Claridge. It was during the infamous Westmoreland County Coal Miners Strike of 1910, that Snelling, shot and killed Jacob Patla during a confrontation in the early evening of Wednesday, 13 July. Patla was a striking coal miner at the Claridge Mine; a husband, father of four children, and another child on the way at the time of his death. Snelling was charged with Patla's murder, and his case came to trial in October, presided by the Honorable Lucien W. Doty of Greensburg. _____________________________________________________________________________ Contributors note: As I have transcribed the newspaper accounts of the incident below verbatim, all the stories referred to Jacob Patla as John Cutler, John Putler, Jacob Putley, Jacob Putler, etc., but never his name proper. I have opted to reinsert his proper name where it appeared misspelled to avoid confusion. _____________________________________________________________________________ State Troopers Arrest John Snelling, Charged With Killing Man, Near Claridge Special to the Pittsburgh Post, Greensburg, Pa., July 14. Hiding in the woods near the place where he had shot and killed Jacob Patla, a striking miner, one mile south of Claridge. John Snelling, 30 years old, a deputy sheriff, who had been stationed at the Keystone mine at Claridge, was arrested this morning. The arrest was made by eight State Troopers who had been sent to the place by Captain William Marsh, and Snelling was later committed to the Westmoreland County jail by Justice C. W. Clark, of Penn Township. Snelling stated that his home is at Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, where he served six months as town marshal, resigning on October 4, last. He declares that he shot Patla in self defense. Snelling said that last evening he started with two others toward Jeannette to meet a man who had been working in the mine and escort him to Claridge, it being feared that the strikers might molest him. Snelling said that his companions walked ahead of him, and after leaving Claridge, he met a crowd of about six strikers. After some words, Snelling said, one of the strikers threw a stone, striking him in the back. According to Snelling, Patla then walked towards him with his hand on his hip pocket. Snelling said that Patla had partly pulled a revolver from the pocket, when he opened fire with his own weapon. According to Snelling he discharged his weapon six times and the strikers fled, but during the retreat fired about 15 shots. _____________________________________________________________________________ SHERIFF KILLS Friends of Murdered Man Claim he was Ambushed STATE TROOPERS ARREST OFFICER in Fatal Shooting, Occurs Near Claridge Mines at Greensburg According to Snelling, Who Shot Miner, He Committed the Killing When His Life Was Threatened By a Crowd of Strikers He Then Fled To Woods. By Associated Press, Greensburg, July 14. John Snelling, a deputy sheriff, 30 years old, was arrested today when found hiding in the woods near the Claridge mines where he shot and killed Jacob Patla, a striking miner, late last night. The arrest was made by eight State troopers sent to search for the missing deputy, following the discovery of Patla's body by the roadside, with four bullet wounds. It was claimed by the miners that Patla was shot from ambush, but Snelling, who, according to the police, confessed to killing the miner, declares that he did so in self defense. He says that he met half a dozen strikers on the road last night and that one threw a stone at him. Patla who was one of the miners, advanced with his hand in his pocket as though to pull a revolver, says Snelling, when the deputy fired in self defense, the other strikers fled, he says, after firing fifteen shots, none of which took effect. The miners are aroused over the killing and the deputy was kept under strong guard at the jail. The Harrisburg Daily Independent - 14 July 1910 - page 1 _____________________________________________________________________________ DEPUTY SNELLING FREED BY JURY Greensburg, Pa., October 8. Deputy Sheriff John Snelllng, known as "Kentucky Jack" was found not guilty this morning by the jury which heard the case. Snelling was accused of shooting to death Jacob Patla, a striking miner, at Claridge on July 13. The jury was out all night, and reported with its verdict early after court opened this morning. The verdict caused a big surprise. Judge Doty, who presided during the trial, made no comment on the verdict. The Pittsburgh Press - Saturday 08 October 1910 - page 7 _____________________________________________________________________________ Click the following link for Jacob Patla. _____________________________________________________________________________ According to reliable sources, the incident occurred at, or very near the junction of Bushy Run Road [933] and Claridge Elliot Road [4037], just south of Claridge, in Penn Township, Westmoreland County. GPS: 40.359009, -79.613514 Addendum (12 July 2019) As documented on the 1910 U.S. Census, 23 April, Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, Sheet 17 A, line 29, 427 Second Street; John L. Snelling was living at home with his parents and employed as an iron worker with a construction company. Information and research compiled by This Old Scarecrow Memorial revised 04 October 2016, 12 July 2019

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John L. Snelling's memorial?
John L. Snelling's memorial is located at: Manchester IOOF Cemetery, Manchester, Adams County, USA.
When did John L. Snelling death?
John L. Snelling death on 9 Mar 1916 in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John L. Snelling's memorial?
Latitude: 38.6944000
Longitude: -83.5997000

Family Members:

Parent

SGT Enos Marion Bartlett “M.B.” Snelling

(1841 - 1912)

Sarah F. Eubank Snelling

(1859 - 1935)

Siblings

Edgar Enos Snelling

(1878 - 1931)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Manchester IOOF Cemetery
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6944000, -83.5997000

2. Manchester Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6886080, -83.6038110

3. Wilson-Nash Cemetery
Sand Hill, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6748486, -83.6156435

4. Cedar Leaf Cemetery
Concord, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6782990, -83.5727997

5. Sullivan Cemetery
Sand Hill, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6653045, -83.6195853

6. Pownall Cemetery
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6737700, -83.6354400

7. Wilson Family Cemetery
Sand Hill, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6646336, -83.6293851

8. Little Cemetery
Sprigg Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6886340, -83.6489860

9. Quinn Chapel Cemetery
Monroe Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7255592, -83.5494385

10. Bentonville Union Church Cemetery
Bentonville, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7422500, -83.6193700

11. Loughridge Cemetery
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7367830, -83.5649360

12. Shelton Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6741667, -83.5363889

13. Dryden Family Cemetery
Bradysville, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6948600, -83.6703520

14. Pence Cemetery
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7279100, -83.6582900

15. Doyle Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6825000, -83.5286111

16. Ellis Cemetery #1
Manchester, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6746910, -83.6683390

17. Boone Cemetery
Sprigg Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6573400, -83.6631900

18. Little Cemetery #1
Sprigg Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6571510, -83.6631940

19. Hopewell Cemetery
Sprigg Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7432070, -83.6508880

20. Means Cemetery
Covedale, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6532454, -83.5322550

21. Fearis Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6274986, -83.5916977

22. East Fork Cemetery
Fearisville, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6361100, -83.5548400

23. Naylor Cemetery
Monroe Township, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7247009, -83.5188980

24. Hackett Cemetery
Wrightsville, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7073480, -83.5104270