Twins or dolls? The ‘Sawdust Babies’ murder trial of 1922 spread confusion in Hammond.

Frank McNally, 55, accused his wife, Hazel McNally, 26, of murdering their twin babies and replacing them with dolls. Hazel McNally contested there were never any children in the first place while on trial in 1922 for their alleged murder. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Emily Hills, mother of Hazel McNally, from left, attorney Samuel Schwartz and Hazel McNally are seen in October 1922 while McNally was on trial for the murder of her twin babies. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Hazel McNally is seen while on trial in 1922 for the murder of her twin babies, who McNally said were just dolls. Her husband, Frank McNally, disagreed. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Frank McNally sits during his wife's trial in October 1922, where he accused Hazel McNally of murdering their twin babies and replacing them with dolls. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Hazel McNally confers with her attorney, Samuel Schwartz, of South Bend, while she was on trial in October 1922, accused of murdering her twin babies that she insisted were never born. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Judge Henry C. Cleveland was the presiding judge in the Indiana "doll baby" case in October 1922, in which Hazel McNally was accused of murdering her twin babies. McNally says she never had the children and used dolls instead. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

Hazel McNally (1), accused by her husband, Frank McNally, (not pictured) of “losing” their two babies, is present during her trial in Hammond on Oct. 20, 1922. Hazel McNally's defense was based on the contention that the twins' birth was a hoax. Attorney Samuel Schwartz (2) pleads her case. Editors note: This historic print shows some handpainting. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Hazel McNally, 26, is seen while on trial in October 1922 for the murder of her twin babies, who she said were just dolls. Her husband, Frank McNally, disagreed. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The Hammond home and yard of Frank McNally, who claimed that his wife, Hazel McNally, killed their twin babies. A search was made on the property for the bodies of the missing twins in 1922. Editors note: This historic print shows handpainting and crop marks. (Underwood & Underwood)

Hazel McNally, left in hat, with her attorney, Samuel Schwartz, and prosecuting attorney Floyd O. Jellison during her murder trial in October 1922. Women packed the courtroom and snickered when they heard how Frank McNally, Hazel McNally's husband, pretended the children were alive by using dolls. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

Hazel McNally, left, shakes the hand of Judge Henry C. Cleveland while thanking him for throwing out her murder case, while her mother, Emily Hills, right, and her attorney, Samuel Schwartz, second from left, watch in a Hammond courtroom on Oct. 20, 1922. Hazel McNally was sitting on a table after fainting from the judge's decision to throw out the case. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)