Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-23
|Rector's Widow Questioned in Murder

intended TO lay tho case before the
Grand Jury at Somcrvilc. plocoGI
on their oath, It IL believed those yIu whu
are so reticent now will tell ali tb"oo h"o
know of the alleged intimacy be,wsnnseyy sney
Hall and Mrs. Mills. '"eeh
The officials have tnken cognizance a,
n story that Mrs. Hall. seventy .eIeht'
year -old mother Of the slain clereyman
gave up her residence with her son tbre.
years ago, after living with him fos
seven years. because of domestic str;f.
in the Hall family. Her sudden chanao
Of residence startled those who knew
Of the great affection that existed bo'
tween the mother and her son. Thev
wondered that he would nllow his opei
parent to go to live among strangers
Frequently tie Clergyman called unon
his mother and was often seen walk.
ing with her. but she had nor heon
ut the Hall home from the day aha
left.
Checking Up on Phone Call,
In checking up calls on the te,e.
phone made from the Hail home. tbo
detectives learned that on Septemhcr
10. the day after the minister and
singer disappeared, n call was made to
the Voorhees, Rubber Manufncturinc
Company in Jersey City.
Mrs. Voohecs is sister Of Mr.. Hall.
and word was sent telling of his dis.
appearance. The same afternoon call
wns made to Newark to Mrs. Poul
Bonner. another sister OF the clergy.
man. advising her. The next day Mrs
voorhees, came to New Brunswick and
ing house. Previously she had refused
10 live with her daughters because.
as she expressed 1t, she wanted to be
near her son."
Detectives nre also investigating gos-
sip said to result from the choir on.
campmcnt at Point Pleasant last July
They have information that Mrs. Hall
motorcd to the camp two or three times
and on one of her visits found her hus.
band and Mrs. Mills missing from camp,
Mrs. Hall, gossip has it, created a
scene when they returned.
a woman member Of the MOONLIGHT
auto ride to Lake Hopatcong, is said
to have refused to tell Prosecutor
Beckman any of the details that she is
said to have related concerning n spat
between Hall and his wife over his at.
tentions to Mrs. Mills on that trip.
The woman will be among those to be
subpoenaed to tell her story to the
Grand Jury.
Willie Used as Messenger
Willie Stevens, It was learned today,
was used as messenger by the minis
ter. A woman closely related to Mrs.
Mills made the statement. She says
| that Willie was intrusted with notes
Of personal nature written by the min.
lister and addressed to Mrs. Mills.
| Willie. it is said, when questioned by
the authorities, admitted that he -an
errands for Mr.. Hall. and had carried
notes and letters to the choir leader
He said he did not know the contents OF
any of the missives.
Detectives are trying to locate some
Of these letters.
Mrs. Barnhardt declared that her
murdered sister was n great admircr
of the spiritual qualities possessed by
Mr.. Hall and always spoke of him az
a wonderful man.
"My sister possessed real qualities,
despite the stories circulated about her
character" said Mrs. Barnhnrdt. "She
aspired to stand out as religious
worker. She was pretty. ] would say.
but not given to vanity.
"Although not rich. she always had
liking for pretty clothes and saved
her money to get them. She wore dainty
garments. but not really expensive ones
| Eleanor seemed to long for n
spiritual understanding rather than
physical contact with life itself. She
made no secret of her admiration for
Mr.. Hall because she believed he
possessed the true Christian spirit.
"Some person jealous of my sister
Is responsible for her murder. That
person knew there could he nothing
wrong IL tho friendship that existed
between my sister and Mr.. Hall. Yet
they werc cnvious of the success she
was attaining in her church work and
decided to kill her. My sister was Il
good woman. Her soul is not stained
with sin.
~ do not believe that any woman
worshipcr In st. Johns Church told
Mr.. Mills that undue friendship cY-
imcd between his wife and the clergy
man. Mr.. Mills knew Of his wif"'s
admiration for Mr.. Hall and ap-
proved OF 1t.
"Elcnnor was inclined to be literary.
She liked to write prose. but | never
heard Of her writing any to Mr.. Hall.
The letters found on the minister am
certain were not written by my sister.
II understand that Miss Peters,
who seems to be doing the talking Tor
Mrs. Hall. is quoted as saying that NY
sister was not on intimate terms with
Mrs. Hall. That is not So Last sum.
mrr, Eleanor and Mrs. Nina Clark,
also of New brunswick. went with tho
minister's wife on n trip up the llud.
son. They were gone several days