Show TWO ThO RELEASED I HP in IN MURDER Charges Dropped in Cases of Dewey Hackford and Philip Van J Jr f vER VERNAL vERAL AL Nov 4 Dewey Dewey Hack ford and Phillip Van Jr who six weeks ago were returned 1 to Ve nal to to- face charges of first degree murder in connection with the death of Frank Steffen Uinta rancher February 2 at La Point were given freedom today t County Attorney De Moisy noti t I tIed fled T Thomas omas W. W ODonnell O'Donnell of Vernal Vernal Vernal Ver Ver- nal counsel for lor the defense that the murder charge had been Is- Is missed on the grounds of I evidence and ordered that the themen themen themen men be released Hackford has been at liberty on ball bail for or seer several l days but Van bas has been confined to to the county jail The crime alleged to have been committed by Hackford and Van Vail occurred at Steffen ranch house near the Uinta river at La Point After Arter five days days' search sheriffs ol- ol o- o officers found the body of the vie- vie tim Urn under the ice In a shallow p part rb of the stream Sheriff Lafe Richardson Invest gated the murder He claimed that clues pointed to young oung Hackford Ti neighbor of Steffen as the alleged murderer He Va Vain Van in connection with it and on ute the strength of his belief bellef secured extra papers from Gov Governor George H. H Dern and had Hackford returned from Wyoming where lie he I had gone to seek employment nt and an Van from Livingston Mont 4 r Both men when lodged in the county Jail here denied they con com 1 mUted the crime From the da day dat they were arrested six weeks ag ago they stoutly maintained Innocence and obtained Attorney ODonnell O'Donnell as counsel The preliminary relI inary hearing bearing f for r Hackford was first set for f 8 but It was postponed from time tine to time on pleas of counsel for de de- tense I f County Attorney De Moisy and Sheriff Lafe Late Richardson declared declare they had bad no statement to maka make relative to the case The sheriff made no acknowledgement of what his intentions are in seeking to ap apprehend ap 1 the murd murderer r er of Steffen |