Ruth Snyder - Lorraine Snyder

Lorraine Snyder

Albert and Ruth had one child, a daughter named Lorraine, who was nine at the time of her father's murder. Following the pronouncement of the death sentence on her mother (May 1927), legal disputes arose between the relatives of both Albert and Ruth Snyder regarding the care of Lorraine. Warren Schneider, brother of Albert Snyder, petitioned to be allowed to appoint a legal guardian who was not a member of Ruth Snyder's family. Josephine Brown, mother of Ruth Snyder, also petitioned for custody of the girl. Lorraine had been in the care of Mrs. Brown since the murder. Lorraine was placed in a Catholic Institution by Mrs. Brown, where she was residing at the time of her mother's execution. Ruth requested that Lorraine not be brought to the prison for a final visit.

On September 7, 1927, Josephine Brown was awarded guardianship of the girl. During this time, there were disputes with the insurance company that Ruth had used to insure the life of Albert. Although one policy worth US$30,000 was paid out without contest, they filed suit to void two other policies, worth $45,000 and $5,000. By May 1928, the insurance company made available $4,000 for the maintenance of Lorraine. In November 1928 a ruling in the case was reached, with the court finding that the policies could not be collected on because they had been issued fraudulently. At the time of the judgement, the lawyer acting on behalf of Snyder and Brown asked that the court allow them to appeal without a printed record, on the basis that the family was destitute and unable to sell the house because of the notoriety associated with it. By May 1930 it was finally ruled that the two policies were invalid.

During her time on death row, Ruth Snyder wrote a sealed letter to be given to Lorraine "when she is old enough to understand." One year after the sentence was carried out, Lorraine was apparently aware that her parents were both dead, but not of the manner of their death.