Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-09
Schneider Alleged to Have
Told Entirely New
Story
HAYES IS ACCUSED
New Jersey Murder Mystery Takes
New Turn as Man is Accused of
Shooting by Mistake-StOry is
Weak
lBy United Press.N


New Brunswick, n. j.. Oct. O.
Clifford Hayes, 10, will be charged
with the murder of the Rev. Edwin
Hall and Mrs. James Bell. the choir
leader, according to an. official state
ment issued at noon today by Prose
cutor Stickler.
The statement said Raymond
Schneider, 81, will be held as a ma
terial witness and that the process
against Hayes will be issued in Somer-
set county wherein the bodies lie this
afternoon.
I Prior to the prosecutors statement
Schneider was reported to have signed
statement charging that Hayes sho:
Mrs. Bell and Hall by mistake, think.
ing the woman was Pearl Babhmer,
daughter of saloon keeper with
whom Hayes was in love.
New Brunswick, n. j.. October 8
The Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall and
Mrs. James Mills, choir singer. were
killed by mistake-shot by epman who
believed he was firing at his sweet
heart and her illicit lover, according
to stories said to have been told to
investigators today
Two young men-Raymond Schnel-
der. u. and Clifford Hayes, 10 are
held as material Witnesses; the re-
volver with which the shooting was
done is believed to have been recov-
cred and the celebrated murder mys-
terv appears to be drawing near its
solution.
1t was reported here today that
Schneider he'd signed . statement
alleging that Hayes did the killing.
The prosecutors refused to confirm
this, however.
Schneider IN his statement, accord
ing 70 this report. declared that Hav-
es was Jealous of Pearl BANNER, -
year old daughter Of saloon keeper,
While walking with Schneider the
night Of September II. the night Of
the murder. he saw Pearl with a ma
who appeared TO be intoxicated.
The two young men followed the
pair and watched them disappear in
the shadows under a crab apple tree
on the abandoned Phillips farm. Thew
followed and then, according to the
alleged statement. Hayes drew a re-
volver and ouened fire supposedly az
Pearl and the drunken man. Then
the bows examined the bodies. how
ever, they found it was the clergy
man and the ckoir singer who had
been shot.
This alleged statement however,
fails to explain how Mrs Mills
throat came 10 be cut and how the
bodies were laid out" with an ar
tistic precision under the crab ap0le
tree. and why the ministers no"kets
we're rifled and love notes found there
firm o. denv that Schneider made anv
torn up and scattered on the ground.
Prosecutor Dickman refused 10 con
such statement Prosecutor Strirklar.
while admitting Schneider and Hayes
were held. refused to confirm the re-
mort that a statement had been made.
Officials were equally reticient re-
garding the finding of the revolver.
although it was unofiiciallv stated
that the gun had been recovered and
that the minister's watch-stolen
from his cornse-had come ino pos
session Of police.
Schneider and HAYES were oues-
toned again this morning, after It
few hours sleep.
Pearl Halr'aar has already been
interroqated bv the authorities.
"My God. what q mistake" cried
lanes Mills. the church ianitor and
husband of the slair woman. when he
heard the report of the solution Of
the crime.