Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-14
YOUTH REPUD|ATES
CONFESSION MADE
IN RECTOR Staying

SOMERN1LLE, N. j., Oct. IL
(By The Associated Press.l- -Ray-
mond Schneider this afternoon re-
pudiated the alleged confession in
which he accused Clifford Hayes, 49,,
Of the murder of the Rev. Edward
Wheeler Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Rein
hardt Mills. L was unofficially an
nounced that Hayes probably would
be released before night.
Hayesc was released a few mo-
ments later in custody Of his coun-
sci.
The murder charge against him
was dismissed by Justice Of the
Peace Sutphen.
Schneider, in his reputation, de-
clared that neither he nor Hayes
had anything to do with the muir
ders. He had accused Hayes, he
said, out Of revenge, because he had
been informed that Hayes hal made
statements accusing him of knowing
something about the Sayings.
Schneider wept copiouSly as he
made his statement. He declared
he had not been influenced by the
authorities to accuse Hayes.
A short time before Hayes was
freed Mrs. Joseph w. Banforth, an
officer of the Gold Star Mothers, OF
New Jersey, had announced plans
OF her organization to appeal to the
American Legion convention at New
Oaleans to aid in Hayes defense.
Hayes holds an honorable discharge
from the United States army.
WIDOW OF RECTOR
AGAIN IN LIMELIGHT
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., Oct.
12.-(By the Associated Press. Mrs.
Frances Stevens Hall, widow of the
Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall, was
brought back into the limelight by
investigators of the murder Of her
husband and Mrs. Eleanor Reinhardt
Mills today, when detectives visited
her home and took away scarf and
fawn-colored coat which she had had
dyed by a Philadelphia firm shortly
after the murders were discovered.
The garments were taken to the
offices OF firm of analytical chem
lists with the request that they be
analysed to determine. whether there
was any human blood or the gar
ments.
Mrs. Hall, according to witnesses
wore a coat of similar color early on
the morning Of September Is when
she was entering her home few
hours after the murders are known
to have been committed.
She has told the authorities that
she had been to the church of St.
John the Evangelist, to seek MI
Hall, who failed to come home. Her
brother. Willie Stevens, accompanied
her to and from the church, she
said. Witnesses who saw her enter
declared she returned alone.
The new trial., taken by the al
thorities in examining Mrs. Hal s
clothing, followed a day of reports
that the case against Clifford Hayes,
10, who is under arrest charged with
the murder, was breaking down ana
that new leads had been discovered
pointing in other directions.
After both he and County Prose.
cutor Striker, of Middlesex, had dc
cIared fatty yesterday that stories
homecoming the finding of love letters
written by the slain minister to Mrs,
Wills were 1dlSe, county OeIectlV3
David said today he had several such
letters.
New Jersey officials investigating
the murder sought today to identi-
fly potato knife, found some
distance from the spot where the
slain bodies were discovered, and
turned over to the local police yes
| terday. Detectives considered it pos
sible that the knife was the one used
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