Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-14
MRS. HALL ASKS
STATE To HALT
FALSE RUMORS'
Requests Governor to
Put Case in Hands of
Competent Sleuth.
Schneider Faces Two
Charges Involving G
Bonds for $4,000.

New Brunswick, N. j.. Oct. 13.-As-
serting that Mrs. Frances Stevens
Hall and her family no longer can be
silent regarding the flood of false ru-
more centered upon them in the dou-
bic murder of the Rev. Edward Wheel
er Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Reinhardt
Mills, Timothy N. Pfeffer, Mrs. Halls
attorney, Friday night requested Gov
ernor Edwards to place the investiga-
ton exclusively in the hands of COM
petent, fearless officer of the state.
The lawyer made public letter to the
governor severely criticizing the tao
tics of the present county investigat-
ors and the conflict between them.
"The atmosphere of New Bruins
wick is charged with every sort of ru,,
NOR that political pressure, money and
official prestige have been made use
of by Mrs Hall and her family to him
der and delay the administration Of
justice in this case" Pfeffer wrote.
I'm the mind of the public, Mrs. Hall
is held responsible for the present i'm
possible condition of affairs. In truth,
it is due to the bungling stupidity of
the officials of these two counties and
now the evidence is unmistakable that
authorities of one county are at odds
with the authorities of the other coun-
ty, with the efforts of the state troop
ers, standing between the two. rem
dered abortive."
The attorney told the governor that
further silence on the part of the slain
rector's widow and her family possibly
would be construed by many as an ad-
mission of the false accusations lev
elled against them.
Mrs. Hall, her brothers and all her
relatives" the letter said, "are now
and have been from the beginning de-
sirous of submitting to every test of
their complete innocence, which a
thoroughly comprehensive, intelligent
and coherent investigation demands.
But if the investigation is to continue
in the hands of officials who cause an
arrest for murder upon the accusation
of an admittedly irresponsible person
and then state they are not interested
in whether the accusation is or is not
true, then neither Mrs. Hall nor any
one else is free from the menace OF
official hysteria and tyranny"
Mrs. Halls attorney urged the gov
ernor to use his moral power to bring
about a thoroughly comprehensive,
intelligent and coherent investigation
of this hideous crme."
The appeal to governor was given
out after a family conference at the
home of Mrs. Hall, lasting more than
an hour. It followed unofficial re-
ports Friday that the investigating
intended again to question
the rector's widow.
When informed of Pfeiffer's letter
to Governor Edwards, Joseph e.
Stricken, Middlesex county prosecutor,
said:
ANY information Mr.. Pfeiffer can
produce about the case will be well
but at the same time / do not
think it would be wise TO take him or
else into my confidence in the
l personally have not
my mind as to the wisdom of
that course"
A. NJ. Beekman, Somerset county
prosecutor, said that as far as he was
he would be grateful for
help in the case from either the state
attorney general or anybody else.
Raymond Schneider, who accused
Clifford Hayes of the double killing, |
was brought to New Brunswick late |
Friday and was locked in the Middle
sex county Jail on charges of perjury
and impairing the morals of Pearl
He pleaded not guilty to the
charge involving the girl and declined
to enter a plea on the other accusa
ton. County Judge Daily fixed bail on
both charges at $4,000.