Death of William Snyder/Bernard

On January 11, 1854, 13-year-old William Snyder went to a circus on Stockton st in San Francisco, California. There he would be grabbed by the ankles by Manuel Reyes.  He was swung by his heels by the clown and this would lead to his death. It was said the blood was coming from Williams's mouth. He would be sent to the hospital where he would die a few minutes after He would die from a rupture of the left pulmonary artery. The next day he would be buried.

Manuel was described as being a mentally handicapped clown. He was arrested for murder, but nothing came from it. Williams's cause of death was determined as accidental. Later he would be arrested for assault and battery upon an officer. During the court hearing he “commenced slapping his face as if a swarm of mosquitos were pestering him” and was muttering nonsense. 

In some articles, William's last name was Bernard instead of Snyder. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Horror History

The Dead History

Nevada Journal Jan 20, 1854