Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-04-19
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE POORLY
/ PAID, maine CONFERENCE TOLD
WEAVING NET
AROUND HOFFMAN
IN Bauer KILLING

New York. April 1S.-An alibi Of
fered by Harry Hoffman, motion pic
ture operator who today was charg-
ed with the murder of Mrs. Maud
Bauer on lonely Staten Island road
last March 25, was attacked to-
night by William Taylor, motion
picture theatre owner.
Taylor told newspaper men that
Hoffman had not been at his thea
tre the afternoon of the murder.
Hoffman's statement to the police
that he had been in the film pro-
lection room with Raymond Parker,
operator in Taylor's show house
from to o'clock Of the afternoon
of the murder, had previously been
corroborated by Parker.
Taylor said tonight that he had
been at his theatre the entire after
noon of the day of the Staying, and
had visited the projection room on
a number of occasions during the
hours Hoffman had told the police
he was there with Parker. At no
time, he added, had he seen Hoff-
man there, although Parker was on
the scene, working. Taylor said he
had not yet been interrogated by
the police as to his knowledge of the
veracity of Hoffman's alibi.
New York. April 1S.-With Harry
Hoffman, a motion picture operator.
charged with homicide for the death
Of Mrs. Maude Bauer in Chelsea.
Staten Island. in March 25, detec-
tives late today said that another
man. perhaps two. would be taken as
material witnesses soon.
Hoffman, who pleaded not guilty,
was arraigned after seven hour
grilling. He was held without bail
for further examination.
Hoffman's arrest. according to the
police. resulted from information
furnished by Russell Van Name, one
Of the two boys who found the body
of Mrs. Bauer by the side of a lone
Iy road. A few minutes before, she
, had accepted q ride with man who
had offered to get help in pulling
her own car out Of a sandbank. She
had been shot with .25 calibre re-
volver.
Hoffman's story, the police said,
was conflicting in many respects.
especially with regard to his owner
ship and disposal Of a revolver. He
at first denied ever owning 20 cali
bre weapon. but later admitted he
had, saying he had sent it to his
brother in the Bronx four days af-
tep the crime. the police asserted. He
admitted destroying the holster. 1t
was declared, fearing that his pos
session of the weapon might cause
suspicion to be directed against
him.
THAT Hoffman resembles the last
male person seen in the company OF
Mrs. Bauer Is undenied," said Dis
trict Attorney Each. THAT he Is one
among few who possessed 20 cali
bre revolver, that 1t had been in his
possession at least two months ana
that he resorted to secret means LOT
the dual purpose of removing the
gun from his physical possession and
at the same time continuing owner
ship of the gun in a near reiative
and this within three days after the
homicide had been committed Is
certainly discriminating.
1--WE have found that for $l4 and
another gun, he, Hoffman. purchased
the .25 calibre automatic more imam
two months preceding the murder.
Tho police said they wished TO
question Hoffman further regarding
recent changes alleged to have been
made In his automobile. his desire
to sell it, his use of eyeglasses OF
two different styles, his admission
fiat citizens had accused him of be-
ing the possible culprit and his IN
ability to advance SATISFACTORY
alibi. ,,t
Hoffman declared he had spent
the afternoon of the murder IN
Stapleton. Staten Island. motion PIC
ture theatre. Raymond Parker. an
other employe of the theatre. corro-
borated this story. saying, HOFFMAN
was with him between ) and . +. NJ.
The police allege. however. that u
Young m woman saw him leaving the
fheatre before four o'clock.
The grand jury investigating 'ne
unrder will convene on Monday TO
near the testimony Of young wom-
nm who alleged that HOFFMAN once
mn made improper advances to her ana and
threatened her with a gum MI
Each said. ,.,a county
deputy sheriff and had RI rish' "
cnrry a gun in that capacity