the couple had left the Hajek home at
8.30 on the night of the murder and
arrived at Mineola at 9.45. The trip
should have taken 30 minutes, so where
were they for the extra three-quarters of
an hour?
They left the rink at about 11.45 p.m.
and apparently started for home. Were
they alone? Did they stop somewhere
for sex? If so, why did they drive the
long distance to Hollis Woods through
narrow, winding lanes when there were
other quiet spots much nearer?
Most important of all, what did the
crimson circles mean?
Lewis had an empty wallet in his
hand, so the murderer must have
ordered him to take it out. Ryan knew
that neither victim had much money,
but what little they had was missing.
This suggested that the motive was
robbery. But most robbers only shoot
their victims if they resist and there
were no signs of resistance in this case.
And why would any thief hang around
long enough to draw red circles on the
couple’s foreheads and then plunge a
knife again and again into Frances’s
breast when she was already dead?with her three years ago and wrote
crazy poetry to her.”
“Did your daughter carry any money
in her purse?”
“She only had about a dollar when
she left the house.”
“Sure of that?”
“Yes.”
The parents of Lewis Weiss could
shed little light on the murders.
His father, hunched in
grief, said his
son had no
enemies. He
had gone to
a football
match on
Saturday
afternoon,
returned
home for
dinner at
six, and
left soon
afterwards
Beach. “Only this afternoon he was
saying how lucky it was we were both
bachelors. Frances definitely had a
closer boyfriend than Lewis, a student
at Cornell, I think.”
Detectives questioned dozens of the
couple’s friends and acquaintances only
to learn that they were considered a
popular but fairly serious-minded
pair. No one could suggest any
reason for their deaths.
When Ryan showed the
proprietor of the Mineola
skating rink pictures of Lewis
Weiss and Frances Hajek, he
responded quickly.
“Certainly I remember them.
They come here often.”
“What time
were they here last
night?”
“Hard to say.”
“Do you keep
a record of your
ticket sales?”
“Yes.”
“What was the
last ticket sold?”
“Number 1474.”
Ryan showed
Frances’s 1140 ticket to the man.
“Now can you tell me what time they
were here?”
“Ah! Now I remember,” he said.
“They got here at nine-forty-five. I
remember thinking at the time that it
was pretty late.”
“Why is that?”to collect Frances.
“Did your son have any money with
him?” asked Ryan.
“I don’t think he had much. He’s only
paid twice a month and he gives most
of it to his mom.”
“When was he paid last?”
“This Friday.”
“Do you know how much money he
had left on Saturday night?”
“No, sir.”
Mrs. Weiss was inconsolable and
crushed by the loss of her only child
and could add nothing to her husband’s
statement.
Lewis’s friend, Herbert Beach,
confirmed that they had gone to a
Manhattan College versus Texas A&M
football match that afternoon.
“I bought the tickets to the game,”
said Beach, “but Lewis paid me the
$1.30 for his later. Before the game he
spent thirty cents on lunch and fifteen
cents on cigars.”
“Did Lewis ever discuss his
relationship with Frances?”
“We used to talk about a lot of
things,” said Beach. “But I don’t
remember him mentioning her
particularly. It’s funny, though. I just
read the newspapers and everyone
seems to be saying they were childhood
sweethearts and engaged to be married.
I know that’s not true.”
Ryan was puzzled. All the reports he
had seen said that although the couple
had not been formally engaged, they
were planning to marry soon.
“On the salary he was earning Lewis
could only support himself,” said“On Saturday nights we usually close
at eleven-thirty, so most people come
around eight o’clock.”
“What time did you close this
Saturday?”
“At eleven-forty-five.”
“You’re sure they left here at that
time?”
“I’m positive.”
Weary after 24 hours of continuous
investigation, Ryan returned to his
office, sank into his worn leather chair,
and pored over the mass of reports that
had accumulated on his desk. At this
crucial stage of the inquiry, he knew his
job was to sift priorities and decide how
best to assign his officers over the next
few weeks. The task was familiar. His
reputation stretched back 30 years and
he was well known for getting results.
But this case had a hard edge and Ryan
had a bad feeling about it.
What did he have so far? Only thatAs in all murder cases, publicity
brought the cranks creeping from
the woodwork – among them Millard
Creighton who told Ryan he knew
where the couple had gone after they
left the rink.
“Haven’t I seen you somewhere
before?” snapped Ryan as he was about
to assign his men to the leads Creighton
had given.
“Quite likely,” said Creighton. “I get
around.”
It was then that Ryan remembered
him.
“You’re the idiot who came round
with those so-called hot leads on theClues at the scene were scarce
but included a crumpled cigarette
pack, some butts and an empty
aspirin boxPolice inspect the car parked in
the woods near Hollis, Long IslandThey left the skating
rink at 11.45 p.m. and
started for home. Did
they stop somewhere
for sex? Most
important of all, what
did the crimson circles
mean?