Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus./US) a small wall poster, a flyer, usu. political.

1882		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 10 June 2/3: No wonder Heaven begins to become disreputable when a fellow like Barnum can climb the golden stairs [...] pasting circus ‘snipes’ on every step.
1905		‘Hugh McHugh’ You Can Search Me 100: We went out and ordered some more three-sheets and a flock of snipe.

2. (US prison) a newspaper.

1929		A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 42: ‘And give me that snipe,’ he appends. Red hands it over. ‘Yeah. The papers got that much straight.’.
1939		Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.