Evening journal., 1922-10-14


cal entanglements or petty disputes
between rival detective forces.
Pfeiffer's request was made in let
ter form and the letter constituted
scorching, almost bitter. arraign-
ment OF the officials. principally
Prosecutors Stricken and Beekman,
who have been conducting the In
quiry. Pfeiffer did not suggest di-
rectly that the Attorney General be
brought ineo the case, though others
have done so. However. Stricken.
replying tonight to Pfeiffer's stric-
lures. expressed his willingness to
have the Attorney General take a
hand. and Beekman had expressed a
similar willingness before the Pfeif-
fer letter was made public.
The letter to Governor Edwards
and the comments thereon were the
outstanding developments OF the day
in the case, though Raymond Schnei-
der. the young chap who accused
clifford Hayes OF the murder and
then retracted, was released as a
material witness and Immediately
was arrested on a charge OF perjury
and an additional charge OF impair
ing the mora's of Pearl Bahmer his
sixteen-year- sweetheart.
Ball was set at $1,000 on the first
count and $4,000 on the second.
Schneider is In the Middlesex coun-
ty jail instead OF the prison In
Somerville, Somerset county.
Arralgnment of Schneider
brought out two interesting points.
the papers in the perjury charge re-
vealing the belief that the officials |
have abandoned the belief that the |
murder was committed after mid |
night on the night OF September IA.
and that they admit they have not
determined whether the killing oc-
ourred where the bodies were found.
The inquiry therefore appears to
have established nothing whatever,
despite the statements OF the pros
ecutors that they are making prog
ress but cannot wisely take any one
into their confidence.
Meanwhile. there is a decided
change in public sentiment here, and
the suggestion that blackmail may
have been the motive Is now TO be
heard wherever the case IS talked
of, and that means everywhere.
There Is also a disposition to show
ieniency toward Hall and TO admit
the possibility that he may have
been maligned. and his relations
with Mrs. Mills not so bad as they
seemed. This is sentiment however.
and the facts TO warrant It are not
Forthcoming.
The old Phillips farmhouse has
been brought into the case again
with the report that the State
troopers are working on the theory
that the house was used as a gam
bling, house. visited at night by par
ties Of men who played for high
stakes. With this goes a wholly un-
confirmed rumor that young Schnei-
der had key to the place and
sometimes cleaned IL up after late
party.
The whole story. which Is not en-
tirely new, is not being taken SER
iously by the state troopers or any
one else.
Letter Sent to Governor.
The Pfeiffer letter. dated yester- c
day and addressed 70 the Governor
at the Capitol, Trenton, reads as fol- {
lows: e
. str; The course OF action pur-
sued by the prosecutors OF Middle
sex and Somerset counties, in the o
OF the murder OF the G
Rev. Edward Hall and Mrs. Flea
nor Mills, IN particular. their course 8
of action during the past week, COM 7
pels me as the representative OF Mrs. 9
Hail. ana her family. to bespeak '
your prompt Intervention.
ss'-what ever the situation may be !,
~ respect TO your legal power TO IN !,
lsrvene. surely the great Office OF 4
Governor of New Jersey is invested
With more power 20 bring about /.
through every means available to /,
sovereign State a thoroughly COM
,rchensive, Intelligent and coherent a
OF this hideous crime. Y
Such an investigation has not yet G
been made and tho methods hitherto n
Employed by the present prosecutors Il
yivo promise that Il never VIII or n
an be made by them.
The net result OF their activities n
ID TO the present time, so far as a h
.Sfution OF the crime or develop c
nent of any clue reasonably looking q
ower6 tts solution is concerned Is q
.bsoiute1y nil But other results OF o
ar reaching character abound. TheI y
atmosphere of New Brunswick Is "
harged with every sort OF rumor
hat political pressure. money and >
ocial prestige have been made use =
+ by Mrs. Hall and her family TO .
inder and delay the administering =
+ Justice in this case. y
Tn the mind OF the public. Mrs !.
Iall Is held responsible for the i'm I.
ossible condition of affairs In -
ruth. It is due 10 the bungiing stu \,
'fdity OF the officials OF the two "
ounties. And now the evidence is
that the authorities
I the other county. with the efforts y
4 the State troopers, standing be-
ween the two. rendered abortivs.
Mrs. Hall and her family cannot n
onger maintain silence. To do so a,
you'd be tactily TO admit the false !.
.ccusations leveled against her and =,
hem. Mrs. Hall, her brothers and
u her relatives are now and have
cen from the beginning desirous of te
ubmitting TO every test of their ~
omplete innocence which a thor q q
ughly comprehensive, intelligent
nd coherent investigation demands "a
tut II the investigation is 10 con 81
nue in the hands OF officials who Ct
ave caused an arrest for murder on pi
he accusation OF an admittedly ir- 81
esponsive person, and then state si
hat they are not interested ini