Evening star., 1918-08-09
NE|GHB0R ISAELD
ON SUSPICION Of
Staying EVA ROY
Lou Hall, Wood Cutter, Ad-
mits He Was Near Scene
of Murder.
HE SENT HIS FAMILY AWAY
ON DAY OF THE TRAGEDY
Denies He Saw Girl-Bloodh
Unable to Aid Sherif's
Efforts.

GuOILS.
Il
Although Lou Hall, thirty-three years
old, a woodchopper, is being. held in
the county Jail at Fairfax, Va, on sus-
picion, authorities are without sub
stantial evidence to show WHO assault
ed and brutally murdered ffteen-year-
old Eva Roy on a deserted farm near
her home at Burke Station, Va, Tues
day.
Hall told Sheriff ]. r. Allison that
he knew Eva was accustomed to look
after her fathers cows in the woods
and he admits he was in the vicinity
of the scene of the murder Tuesday.
but since his arrest Wednesday after
noon he has steadfastly denied that
he saw the girl that day.
Girl Was Strangled.
The coroner's jury, which gathered
Wednesday morning. at the spot
where the body was found, decided
that the girl died from strangulation.
The verdict stated that while the per-
petrator of the crime was not definite.
ly known to them. suspicion rested
upon Lou Hall.
DR.. w. 1. Robey Of Herndon. Va,
presided at the inquest. and the mem
bers Of the jury were 9. ?. Henry, G.
c. White, C. Norman Steward, a. s.
Carter. Paul Marshall and r. 4. Farr.
On the strength of the verdict Jus
tice of the Peace G. P. Hepyy eAfAl
Sheriff J. r. Allison warrane difecss
ing him to take Hall into custody
with this warrant, the sheriff found
Hall at the home Of his brother, Jo-
seph Hall. at Accotink-- 49,
Question Of Holding.
The grand jury will not meet until
September Is, when the county court
convenes, but the question of whether
Hall Is to be held for the grand Jury
ing within few days. At noon to-
day no arrangements had been made
for the hearing. sa. i
Sheriff Allison is desirous of. trac-
ing every clue before arraigning Hall.
"A stranger might have passed
through the woods. committed the
sheriff pointed, out He called atten-
tion to the fact that the evidence
against Hall is purely circunstan-
tiaL
One theory brought to the sherin's
reported to have escaped from Deco
quan a few days ago. might have been
hiding in the woods and committed the
crime Sheriff Allison is working on
the case today. but SO far as could be
learned had not uncovered any addi-
tional information up to noon.
Only the child's, father. Peter Roy;
her sister, Carolyn Jerman, and broth
er-in-law. William Jerman, attended
the simple burial ceremony yesterday
afternoon in the graveyard Of Lee
Chapel. about two miles from the Roy
farm.
had not yet reached Accotink, which Is
twelve miles from Burke, Sheriff Alli-
son said:
Hall. I've got q warrant for you for
a little mixsup at Burke"
Denies He's Slayer. 4
According to the sheriff. Hall showed
little emotion, and did not make much
inquiry about why he was arrested.
When asked at the Jail later II he killed
''the girl" he denied any knowledge Of
the murder.
Hall has only limited education and
earns a living cutting wood In the
woods where Eva was murdered. His
home, where his wife and two little
from the scene Of the murder.
Questioned by the sheriff about his
on the day Of the murder,
Hall said he left his home some time
in the morning-he could not pi
the time-and went into the VIC
a few feet from the path which 1
took from his home to where he cL os
trees for c. Norman Steward. A few
feet opposite. where the girl was
found is spring y
Passed Near Murder. Scene.
Hall admitted he passed the spring
in going through the woods. He had
not been cutting long, he told the
sheriff, when he decided it was too
hot to cut wood" and he started back
home. He admits he again passed the
cording to Sheriff Allison. he could not
the time he returned
home. Others who were chopping
wood Tuesday say 1t was about II
o'clock In the morning when he quit.
Hall said he was not home long when
he decided to go to AccotinIx and try
to get work at Camp Humphreys. Ac-
about I o'clock, he took
his wife and two little chfIdren TO
the farm of his father-in-law. James
p. Taylor, about two miles from
Burke Leaving his wife at q creek
near her fathers home, Hall contin-
ued on his journey to Accotink.
Story Of Eva's Sister.
Back at the little red farmhouse Of
the Roys the pitiful side Of the trag-
edy was being related. Mrs. Carolyn
Jerman. only sister Of the murdered
girl. told the following story: !;
EVA started out with the cows
early that morning. taking q package
Of lunch and bottle of coffee. She
was to come back at noon. and had
intended taking her fathers watch to
tell the time. but she forgot the
watch. When 1 o'clock came and Eva
did not return I grew worried. But
father had gone down to Burke Sta
tion for some feed. and it was late in
the afternoon when he returned.
told him was worried about Eva
and he said he would 60 down and.
help her home with the cows. a
IConf finuod r., 9Arrs1d Pm 4 ----7-