Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-16
THINK GIRL WAS
 SLAIN IN TROY
Finding of Bag Sets Police
 on New Trail.
MAY HAVE HAD ESCORT.

MAY HAVE HAD ESCORT. Authorities Trying to Learn Who
 Checked Murder Victims Suit Case
 In City-She May Have Been Taken
 to Place of Death In Buggy or Au-
 tonnobile - Smiths Inquiries Arouse
 Miss Drews Whereabouts Arouse
 Suspicious.
 Troy, \. T.. July 16.-What is con sidered the most important point yet developed in the Teal pond murder mystery came into possession of the police when County Detective Kaye found the suit case which Hazel Drew carried the day before she was mur- dered and for which the police have been conducting an exhaustive search. From articles found in the suit case 1t is established. the police say, that Hazel Drew did not intend to go to
 
 dered, and the startling theory is ad- yanced that she was murdered in Troy and taken either by carriage or auto mobile to Teal pond, where the body was cast into the Stagnant waters.
 There is much to bear out this theory, and it appears that the author ities are nearing a solution of the mystery. In the first place, the mur- dered girls black leather handbag. con- taining all of her money except 5 cents, was found in the suit case The fare to Averill Park. which is near Teal pond, is 20 cents. While this find was made in Troy, detectives at Teal pond found glove that had been worn by five cent piece Conductors on all of the trolley cars running to AveIfll have been closely questioned, and not one has been found who remembers seeing Hazel Drew on his car.
 Trying to Trace Her Steps.
 Following up this line of investiga- tion, detectives are endeavoring to trace every step of the murder victim while she was in Troy on July 6. The finding of the suit case establishes be yond doubt that she was ill this city on that date, and several persons have been found who say they saw the girl here. The suit case was checked in the Union Square station at 1: :49 D. m July :, but unfortunately the clerk who was in charge of the checkroom It that time is ill and cannot be ques- tioned. The necessity of having the rlerk describe the person or persons who checked the suit case is so great that an effort will be made to have de iectives admitted to his room so that he can look at picture of Hazel Drew. If it should develop that the girl did not check the case and that man left it at the checkroOm q great step toward the unraveling of the mys- tery will have been taken and equally important would be the discovery that if the girl checked the case she was accompanied hy male companion.
 h tracing the movements of Hazel Drew in Troy on July it has been found that Lawrence Eagan of Third street saw her about noon in Congress street and that Thomas Carey of River street saw her between II and F o'clock that morning. It is also known that she sent to the Westcott Express company office at 1 D. m. to leave an order for the removal of her trunk from the Cary residence. where she had been employed
 Smiths Statements Doubted.
 District Attorney O'Brien believes that if the girl was not murdered in Troy she was lured to Teal pond by some one who took her from Troy in 6 buggy or an automobile and made an attack on the girl at the edge of the lake. There are many jagged rocks bordering the pond near where the body was found. and the district at- torney thinks that the girls head may have struck one of these rocks while she was struggling with her assall- ant and that the blow either stunned or killed her
 District Attorney O'Brien admits that the statements made by Frank Smith. the young man who claims to have met Hazel on the Taberton road at Ts30 o'clock on the night of July :. are unsatisfactory Smith lives on a farm near that of William Taylor. Ha- gels uncle. and he was one of those who assisted in taking the murdered girls body from the water He told the district attorney that he had been passing along the road at ihe time and had been hailed and asked to assist. At that time be made no suggestion that the siri might be Hazel Drew.
 Smith met Hazel Drew last winter when she was stopping with her uncle He knew her well. Smith is said to have told his father on Sunday about finding the body of Hazel Drew in the pond the day before This fact is said 10 have been communicated to the giri-s uncle on sunday After Smith saw Hazei Tuesday night on the road he mentioned the fact to Frank Rich moud. wh0 works the Taylor farm He also told his mother that he saw HazsI Drew. Later he called at the homes of neiEhhOrs and inquired if Haze Drew was there.
 When questioned by the district at- tornev as to why he had mafe sa manT inquiries about the girl The boy said ha wanted to learn where she
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