The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-10

,: 1.-the woman's statement Is veri- ] fed and proved true, she will apcove | false the murder charge agaEnst 19- year-old Clifford Hayes, who is held as the result of a story toYd the au- thorities by his pal, Raymond Schnei- der.
 Awakened by Screams.
 This woman, whose name is with held for the present, said that on Friday morning, September IS, about half an hour after midnight, while screams and cries. Getting out of bed she went to a window where she saw woman and two men fighting | a man and a woman at the corner of De Russey lane and Laston avenue, both of which pass either through or by the Phillips farm. The strufg- gle, she said, was terrific. Present. ly, the woman said, she heard several shots. This frightened her so much she jumped back into bed and hid her head beneath the covers. It is understood that corroboration of the fight has been obtained from other witnesses.
 Boys Arraigned Today. With two possessed boys in jail facing possible arraignment this af- ternoon, the Somerset and Midd1esex county authorities worked feVerishly today to throw further light upon the mysterious tangle of circumstances surrounding the double murder of the Rev. Dr. Edward Wheeler Hall, wealthy rector of the fashionable pro- testant episcopal church of St. John the Evangelist and Mrs. James Mills, his beautiful choir leader. Youths Sleep All Night.
 The two prisoners, Clifford Hayes, charged with first degree murder and Raymond Schneider held as a ma terfal witness, spent a comfortable night, and if their minds were dis turbed by the lurid account of mid night murder on a lonely farm be- side deserted house. they did not allow 1t to interfere with their slum- bers. Both are held incommunicado so far as reporters are concerned.
 Public feeling is growing here that Schne1der's confession that he and Hayes trailed pr. Hall and Mrs. Mills to the isolated farm on the night of Sept. 14th and that Hayes fired four bullets into Hall and Mrs. Mills in the belief that they were his sweet and her stepfather, must be accepted with doubt.
 Hayes denies that he killed Hall and Mrs. Mills. Thomas s. Hagerty, counsel for the nineteen-year- boy, said he is convinced that young Hayes is telling the truth.
 Many Missing Links.
 There are number of points that have not been cleared up. Accord ing to Schneider the shooting took place after one o'clock Friday morn ing, September fifteenth. According to persons living in the neighborhood screams and shots were heard com ing from the Phillips farm just be- fore midnight instead of after that nour. Other witnesses tell of seeing an automobile, (perhaps two) speed ing down the lonely littlo lane leading from the old Phillips farm.
 Schneider said nothing about that. Nor did he explain how Mrs. Mills throat came to be cut, the head was nearly severed from the trunk nor how it came about that the bodies were carefully arranged with arms folded and torn love letters were scattered around and one of Dr. Halls calling cards happened to be propped up gainst the heel of his shoe so that there would be no mistake about his identity.
 The face and arms of Mrs Mills were scratched as though by human finger nails
 According to Schneider, Hayes drew his pistol and shot at the couple under the tree on the deserted farm without taking careful aim. He shot in the pitch black darkness an hour after midnight and yet examination of the bodies revealed that the shooter had either been an expert shot or else careful aim had been taken at close range. Both were shot nearly in the same spot in the head that death would be certain.
 Was Woman Involved.
 It is understood that the authorities have not yet given up the theory that woman was involved. They arc curious to know how Hayes and
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