Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-12
BL())D-STAINED
knife IS NEW
CLEW IN Case
New Angles in Case Are
Dis Vered
Hourly
BANNER TALKS
&yes Believed to be Innocent by
Community Interviews With
Pearl and Nick Bahmer-Child
Finds Knife Near Scene.
OBy United PreSS.S

Finds Knife Near Scene.
CBy United PreSS.S
New Brunswick, n. j., Oct. r.
Raymond Schneider, who accused his
pal, Clifford Hayes of numbering the
Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall and Mrs.
Eleanor Mills, collapsed in his cell
today.
Schneider broke under the strain OF
constant inquisition and fell over un-
conscious, it was announced at the
Somerville Jail, where he is held as
material witness against Hayes,
who is charged with murder.
Schneider's condition is serious,
physicians stated.
Walter Sedan, attorney for Schneid-
er. stated that he was gciag 10 at
tempt to get his client free on bail.
He complained that he has not been
permitted by authorities to talk with
Schneider alone.
New Brunswick, n. J., Oct. r.
Discovery Of a knife with which Mrs.
Eleanor Mills throat may have bee:.
cut. and severe grilling of Nick
Bahmer. vroprietor of "NiX Place
a dive-marked today's Investigation
of the Hall-Mills murder mystery.
Coupled with these developments
came a strengthening Of the popular
movement to free Clifford Hayes, the
suspect now under arrest. Even au-
thorities responsible for his detention
now doubt he had any culpable par'
in the tragedy at Phillips farm. Char
lotte Mills, deprived of her mother by
the tragedy, declared her complete
faith in Hayes in an interview with
the United Press in which she cried
passionately for the arrest Of the reai
slayer.
\ little child furnished investiga-
tors with their first tangible clew.
John Lycens, s. ran to his mother
one afternoon following discovery OF
crime. carrying a blood stained
potato knife he had picked up 10
feet from the scene of the killing OF
the Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall and
Mrs. Eleanor Mills, choir singer,
"look. mamma. I've got the knife
that killed the lady" he cried.
Mrs. Lyons, according to the story
she told police, did not wish to be
drawn into the affair and at tlrSt
planned to throw the knife away.
Later she decided TO keep it, and las.
night it was placed in the hands OF
the prosecutor. It may serve to iden-
! tify the slayer.
Grilling of BANNER resulted from
statements made by his daughter,
Pearl Rahmer. who is locked up IN
the same iail with him, on a charge
of incorrigibility. RI,
She asserted her father had often
threatened to cut her throat ana tha'
"nobody knows what might have
happened" had he come upon any
couple on the Phillips farm the night
of the murder when he was drunk ana
searching for Raymond Schneider,
whom he accused of going with his
daughter. ,..
! A LAWYER and detective went to the
New Brunswick jail last night and
nut BONNER through a severe inter
rogation. Just previous to TINS
Bahmer talked in his cell with the
United Press correspondent and gave
an entirely new version OF his move
ments on the night of the crime.
He now declares that he does not
know RAYMOND Schneider, OF whom
he was previously quoted as saving
nbe is oliltv." He added that he had
no reason to be jealous of anyone S
! attentions to his daughter Pearl
/ He said that on the night Of Sep
tember Il. when DR.. Hall and Mrs.
Mills were slain, he was at home IN
bed 'long before midnight.
II went for walk with my daugh-
ter and we were followed through the
park by a couple OF men BANNER
said. w
Il couldn't see who they were. We
nicked out a grassy spot and sas
down. They came up back OF US. l
yelled. what DO you want" Ihen the
gal and got up ana walked away.
I've went over toward home, walk
ING kind of slow and got there long
before midnight. | went to bed and
didn't know anything about the shoot
| ing until Saturday.
Bahmer was informed that his son
"HaDpv" BANNER, 17-year-old youth
with Scared face and furtive eyes,
might be called to testify.
"What would he know about it,
Bahmer asked. q haven't seen nm
for q long time
Pearl Bahmer. in an interview in
/ her cell at the other end Of the jail
from where her father Is confined,
! likewise was quizzed.
'I've told all I know. except tha'
! I don't believe Clifford Hayes did it,
she said. u was with my father on
that night (September IA, and we
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