New-York tribune., 1922-12-08
Banker Denies
Being Witness
OfHaHMurder
J. NJ. Porter Assails Rumor
limiting That He Was at
Farm Night of Crime
and Saw Double Staying
Willie Stevens's Trustee
Had Nothing TO De With
Green Auto, He Declares;
Schneider Trial Opens

NEW BRUNSWICK. n. j., Dec. t.
Joseph N. Porter, trust officer OF the
first National Bank Of this city. de-
MED in a statement to-day that ne ,. nha
u,itnessed the murder Of the Rev. I'd
ward Wheeler Hall and Mrs. Eleanor
r. Mills on the light Of September IA.
Tie issued y statement when u be-
came apparent 70 him that he was be-
ing regarded as the unidentified new
sece witness" Of the murder OF the
rector and the choir singer. A story
70 the eeect that n prominent New
Bruuswick banker was 70 be Questioned
AZ 10 his whereabouts on the night OF
the murder was sent from here 20 the
New York papers to-day By news
association.
Calls Report Ridiculous
Nr. Porter. who Is trustee Of the
proporty left 70 Willie Stevens by DIS
mother. said:
~ vas rot IN De Russys lane on
the night Of the murder Of the key'
Edward ". Hall and Mrs. Eleanor NILS
was not an eye witness TO this crime
II Is ridiculous 90 even hint that was
an eve witness. IL IS an outrage and II
looks 20 me Ike the work Of someone
who wishes TO keep the case alive BY
making loose charges. am sick man
and have been under the care Of DR..
Nafey Of Highland Park since last Au-
Gust. u is true that / went away soon
after the murder, but my plans we're
made several weeks In advance. You
can check this up by going 20 the home
news Office and inQuiring as 20 re-
quest | made that my papers be sent
to Avon, n. j., where ! planned to re-
main for few weeks rest
"On the night Of the murder. which.
I believe. was September IL, | was a.
my home In Highland Park. arrived
home az $3.50 o'clock and didn't leave
the house again. / am not sure whether
Dr.. Nafey called on me that night or
not. but IL IS my recollection that he
did / was 40 ms desE The following
day and remained rather late, as ! was
going away for n short rest the follow
ing day. ] had luncheon with my
family at the Walker Hotel at noon
on Saturday. September rs, but ] was
unaware Of the finding Of the bodies
until the following day at the shore.
my stay az Avon did not help me,
and on the following Tuesday re-
turned 20 my home IN Highland Park,
where again placed myself under the
care Of DR.. Nafey, and he is still treat
ing me-"
Mr Porter also denied that he was
In a green automobile on the night OF
September IL. He added that he never
rode In open automobiles because Of
the condition OF his health.
Schneider Trial Is Begun
The opening day Of Raymond
Schneider's trial for perjury yielded no
surprises. The state closed its case
after calling five witnesses. They
were Anthony Silzcr, the notary who
certified the "eonfesslon' IN which
Schneider accused Clifford Hayes Of
the Staying; Detectives George Totten
and Ferd David. who testified that the
youth made his "eonfession" shortly
after he entered the Jail and that they
spent twenty-four hours trying 10
break it down; William McJorrie and
William X. Sutphin. the Justice Of the
Peace and Clerk before whom Schnei-
der repudinted his confession.
In outlining the defense he will open
tomorrow Walter &. Sedan, counsel
for Schneider. said he ould show that
his client was kept without food or
sleep for twenty-four hours and was
under a nervous STRAIN. Finally sue
cumbing 10 the psychological third de-
gree he was induced 10 make state