Evening star., 1918-08-11
|F|NGER-PR|NT CLUE
ION GIRL SUGGESTED
Body of Murdered Eva Roy
May Be Exhumed for
Examination.
HALL FIRM IN DENIAL

Possibility of finger-print identihca-
teen-year-old Fairfax county girl.
found dead and tied to a tree by
strips of her clothing. near her home
at Burke station Tuesday. may lead
to the body being exhumed.
This suggestion was under con-
sideration by Fairfax county authori-
ties last night. following another day
of unsuccessful effort to wiring a con-
fession from Lou Hall. held as sus-
pect in the Jail at Fairfax Court
House, or unearth new clues.
There are no Bertillon experts in
the employ of the county. but the
could be called on for assistance II it
Is decided to exhume the body to
search for finger prints. The question
of whether it would be possible to
obtain finger prints from the body
SO long after burial will be laid before
experts before action is taken.
Doubt About Halls. Guilt.
Opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of Hall was more divided yesterday
than at any time since the discovery
of the crime. When the woodchopper
was arrested. following an investiga-
tion conducted by Sheriff J. r. Allison,
sentiment among his neighbors was
much against him 1t is declared.
Since then. according to the sheriff,
many persons have expressed doubt
as to his guilt and are ready to await
the result of a grand jury investiga-
tion.
Hall sticks to the story he told the
day he was arrested. He has not
dropped a single remark that can be
construed in any way against him,
and brother have visited him at the
jail. but his wife has not seen him
since his arrest.
II didn't kill that child" he said to
the sheriff. e! have a child of my own.
almost as old as Eva, and I know 1
wouldn't want anybody to hurt her."
Lawyer Visits Prisoner.
The prisoner is not very talkative,
but makes respectful responses when
questioned. Walter T. Oliver. member
of the bar of Fairfax county, has con-
versed with him. but 1t has not been
disclosed whether he has been re-
tanned to conduct his defense.
Far from being satisfied that he
has the perpetrator of the crime,
Sheriff Allison and his deputies are
conducting vigorous search for clues.
! realizing that the crime may have
been committed by a stranger in the
neighborhood as well as by one ia
| miliar with that part of the country.
1t is recalled that Hall knew the
/ girl well and probably had seen her
looking after her fathers cows on
| many occasions. He could have at
tackled her long ago had be been pos
+; sessed of such a desire. and the fact
| that he made no attack upon her or
/ any other person is referred to as a
point in his favor. The belief is ex-
| pressed by persons who saw Eva
\ Roy's body that she put up a des-
perate defense of her honor and life.
| and are convinced that she must have
! scratched or otherwise disfigured her
assailant. Hall has no such tell-tale
| marks about him.
Wooster Believed Innocent.
Sheriff Allison says he is fully con-
WINGED that William Wooster, the
youth arrested for an alleged attack
| upon a young girl. had no connection
| with the killing of Eva Roy. He made
| a careful investigation of the bows
| movements the day the girl was muir
| dered. he said, and is positive Wooster
\ was not at the scene of the murder.
| Local police also said they had moth
ing to suggest the possibility that
James T. Robertson, the colored youth
! arrested in this city Friday night
while beating" his way to Philadel-
phia on freight train, had any con-
| nection with the murder. His father
James T. Robertson, ST.. has been told
| that the boy will be turned over I'd
4 a