Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-10-10
SILENCE, THE
FUTURE POLICY
IN N|DDLESEX
Prosecutor Stricken Says All
Further Information Must
Come From Somerset
BANNER GIRL TALKS
Pearl Bahmer Tried to Com
nit Suicide Recently--Af-
fair With Schneider

NEW BRUNSWICK, Oct. 10.
Clifford Hayes, twenty-one
years old, arrested yesterday
charged with the first degree
murder of the Rev. Edward
Wheeler Hall and his choir lead
er, Mrs. Eleanor Rhinehart Mills
last month, faced formal arraign-
ment today in Somerset county
With his friend, Raymond
Schneider, twenty-seven years
old, arrested as material wit
ness, Hayes spent the night in
the Somerset county Jail. Hayes
was held incommunicado, while
Schneider was subjected to an.
other long grilling during the
night by detectives in an effort
to obtain further details.
Hayes has steadfastly denied the
allegation made by Schneider. that
the double Staying was case of mis-
taken identity. The intended victims
being 15-year-old Pearl BANNER and
her step-father, Nicholas BANNER.
The only theory so far advanced
by the authorities for Hayes motive
was a desire to right supposed
wrong done a friend. Schneider.
who although married, admitted his
love for the BANNER girl.
1t was Schneider and Pearl Bah
mer, who announced to the police
that they had discovered the bodies
of the minister and Mrs. Mills, un-
der a crabapple tree on the old Phil
lips farm two days after the crime.
was supposed to have been commit
ted.
Prosecuting authorities maintain
ed their retiscence today in supply
ing details of the case. When news
papermen questioned them as to
many alleged discrepancies IN
Schneider's statement. the officials
declined to elaborate on the meagre
details made public yesterday.
Not Mentally Strong
Officials at the local prosecutors s
Office admitted to newspaperment to-
day that Schneider was not men
tally strong"
Nicholas BANNER, stepfather of
Pearl, took exception to the story
told by. the girl yesterday to the eff
feet that he was intoxicated on the
night of the murder. He declared
that he was perfectly sober and was
sitting on his porch when Pearl
came to him and asked him to take
a walk with her. They stopped at
a store, he said, and had ice cream.
During their talk BANNER asserted
Pearl complained to him of Schnei-
der's attentions. He told her he
had bought AS calibre pictol and
that sh eneed not worry as he would
protect her.
Pearl. It was learned. recently
tried to end her life by jumping into
the Raritan canal, but was pulled
out. She told newspapermen that
she was sure Clifford Hayes did not
kill the minister and Mrs. Mills.
Nicholas BANNER is quoted as hav-
ing said: Pearl fell into the canal
six weeks ago and l wish to God she
had drowned" The girl was rescued
from drowning in the canal at the
time, it being a mystery whether she
fell or jumped overheard at the time.
Her intimate acquaintance with
Schneider was limited at by her faith
er as being the cause for her de-
spondency at the time.
Pearl told newspaper men today
that Mrs. Schneider had recently
sent her note which read: Some
day you think your name will be
Schneider. but it never will be-"
Mrs. Schneider is said to have
all arrangements to bring
a suit for divorce against her hus-
band naming Pearl as correspondent.
BANNER had Pearl arrested for in
corrigibiuty two days after the muir
der. but he failed to press the charge.
His change of mind was reported
this morning to have been the re-
suit of fear on his part that Pearl
would tell of his relations with an
other woman.
tContinued on page ~
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