Evening star., 1940-05-06
Valuable Evidence
Reported Uncovered
In Girls Staying
Pennsylvania Coroner
Confident Killer
Will Be Found
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BELLEFONTE, Pa, May Coon
vinced the same man killed pretty
Fay Gates and coed Rachel Taylor,
Coroner Charles Sheckler disclosed
today police had uncovered valuable
evidence" in the Gates Staying and
expressed belief well get the killer
this time"
District Attorney Musser w. Gettig
also reported police were working
on hot tip" which he described as
the best yet" He said the tip
involves person"
The body of the Gates girl, 25-
year-old match factory employe, was
found yesterday on a muddy lane
about IL miles from the spot where
the Staying Of Miss Taylor, 17-year-
old freshman at the Pennsylvania
State College, occurred five weeks
ago.
Identical Circumstances. E.
Mr.. Sheckler said he thought the
Taylor girl knew the slayer, but
that he was a stranger to Miss
Gates because signs of a struggle
showed she tried to get away from
him.
State Police Commissioner Lynn
G. Adams said the circumstances in
the Staying of the two girls were
identical" but declined to disclose
what evidence police had.
There is no doubt in my mind
that the same man killed both," he
said. "A maniac killer is at large
among us, man who is probably
insane in every respect. No one
can tell where he will strike next." "
Mr.. Adams indicated the tan auto
mobile was the most promising clue
police have. Two girl companions
of Miss Gates said a car of that
color had been following them a
short time before her body was
found along lonely road in "Spook
Hollow" at 2 am. yesterday.
Was Returning Home.
After attending a movie in Belle
fonte Saturday night. Miss Gates
drove the two girl acquaintance
to their homes in her car and was
returning to her own home in the
neighboring village of Mount Eagle
when overtaken by her assailant.
A young man who had been visit
ing Fays sister, Lois, at the Gates
home found the body on his way
home. Miss Gates clothing was
torn and blood-stained and she had
been beaten on the head. An au-
topsy disclosed she was assaulted
and her skull fractured in five
places
Police said the slayer apparently
stopped her car, attacked her in il
and threw her out on the ground
before fleeing in his own auto. In
Miss Gates car they found a bar
such as Is used by house wrecking
crews. That might have been the
death weapon, they said.
No weapon and few worthwhile
clues came to light in the Taylor
case. Miss Taylor, daughter of a
Wildwood, N. j., fish dealer, was
slain March % on returning to COL
lege from an Easter vacation at her
home.
Simllarities in Crimes.
Investigators pointed out the fol-
lowing main amilarities In the
crimes:
Both girls were attacked and
killed in the same manner-their
skulls fractured with a blunt in
strument. The slayer in each case
had an automobile. The legs Of
both girls were run over with a car
Penn State College students, who
helped post a 81 500 reward for cap
ture of the Taylor girls slayer, were
shocked by the Gates case. Many
came here from State College te
follow progress of the investigation
Bellefonte is the scene of Rockviev
Prison. which houses the State:
execution chamber.
Miss Gates is survived by hel
father, William, a mechanic; hel
mother and four sisters. Friend.
said she had wonderful person
ality" and was popular among the
young folk Of her community.