Evening journal., 1922-09-20

1r0I from WHICH, JULIUS VI N-AN A.t@.
dered rector. Edward n. Hall, an
his choir singer Mrs. James Mills
were found on Saturday morning
VIII. prove 20 have been the seen
OF the actual staying OF the couple
A more fitting place for such crim'
could hardly be imagined.
Troopers and county detectives TO
davmade thorough examination o.
the house. which is 80 years old. j
IS believed, too. and with reason
that they have posted a guard within
the house, though it is not known
whether this is with the expectation
that the slayer will return 10 the
scene of his crime. as some detec-
tives of fiction have averred.
While they have been saying fol-
two days that they know where the
crime was committed the county
detectives have carefully refrained
from disclosing their exact knowl-
edge. George Totten, of Somerset
county, however. went over the
ground before and around the house
with a tape measure. carefully ascer-
tanning the distance from various
parts Of the structure 10 the spot
where the bodies were found.
Last night two State troopers were
about the place. appearing to be
mere curiosity seekers. In an in
terval of an hour or so the blinds
were in different positions, and a
window that had been slightly open
was closed. There were other evil
dences that some one was inside the
house. though repeated knockings
failed to elicit any response.
On top OF this discovery It was
found that the place is not Phillips
place. II was sold last July TO Joseph
H. Porter, trust officer of the Ma
tional Bank of New Jersey. and also,
perhaps by the merest coincidence,
the trustee Of the estate of Willie
Stevens, the half witted brother Of
Mrs. Hall, wife OF the dead clergy
man.
When It was found that the land
on which the bodies were discovered
and the empty house had been pur-
chased recently by the trustee of the
estate of Willie Stevens. Il was re-
called also that Mr.. Porter had left
town Saturday morning on a two
weeks vacation, either just before
or just after the bodies were discov-
cred.
Although Porter was supposed to
be away inquiry was mado at the
Porter home on Grand avenue, High
land Park. just across the river
from the main portion of the town.
There it appeared that the family
had returned just ten minutes ago"
Mr. Porter being III with asthma.
Mrs Porter answered the door
bell. She was curt. TO say the least.
She insisted that her husband could
lot be seen, no matter how urgent
he matter. She showed much an
loyance that any questions should
be addressed to her.
Porter Sold Old Farm.
Finally Mrs Porter admitted that
her. husband had bought the place.
"But he doesn't own It now" she
aid tartiy
who does?"
you'll have TO find that out from
he records"
"Dld Mr.. Porter buy It for Willie
tevens?"
mo. he didn't. Neither Mr.. Ste
ems nor any other member OF the
tevens family has any interest IN IT," !
That was the substance OF what ;
IRIS. Porter would admit. and even I
hat Information was obtained only I
fter an elderly man had interviewed. I
: developed. too. that the real es- Z
ate agent through whom the prop j
rty was sold left his own home s
ew minutes after the visit OF the
10 the Porter home, i
md drove 10 Highland Park. &
Throughout the last four days. the y
'cene OF the crimes has been re- a
ferred to as the Phillips Farm a
Though officials and others inter ]
ssted IN the case have talked about a
he place from time 10 time Il was =
never disclosed that 1t was not the /
Philips Farm and had not been for a
many months. The Phillips. in fact. Z
lave not lived there since last No t
-embsr. They live more than four c
niles away on the Milestone road be- \
ord the little settlement OF Middle q
ush
As A d. Phillips. head OF the fam
Y. readily told all there was about c
he place. He said:
1T was sold last summer through !
am Levin. a real estate agent. who !
as an Office in the building OF the
'ational Bank OF New Jersey. where =
Z course. Mr.. Porter's Office also is. :
told Levin ] wanted $50 900 for =
There are about 14S1s acres =
ID the place extends along De Russy y
ne for nearly a mile. In Novem- =
n Levin told me he had a pur- a
laser. he thought. and negotiations Z
ere begun with. Porter. who took o.
] option. g
rai for Farm Hangs Fire. :,
Then the thing hung fire for -
onths. just why can't say. In
IL the deal was closed. but I was ~
ked nor 20 say what the price was.
fred Marsh OF the Aflddlesex Guar -
tee Trust Company acted as -coun- e.
: for both parties. Under agree VI
N0TTCTC