The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-09-22
GET NEW LEE[)Ij
DOUBLE MURDER
Members Of Slain Rgctof'S
ID Church Questioned.
MRS. MILLS PREVIOUS PERIL


New brunswick, y. l., Sept. r.
Detectives investigating The murder
of Rev. Edward WheeNr Hall and
Mrs Eleanor Re:nharir Mills We're
working on Il report thai an attempt
had been ntade on Mrs. Mills life SeN-
era: weeks before her body was found
beside that of The rector Oh Ihe de
serted Phillips firm
The report. which fits i'll with the
theory of personal enmitE ON which
the authorities have concentrated most
Of their effort since the discovery III
shp bodies. was to the effect hal short
Is before Mrs. Mills Went 10 :; hospital
Cor an operation She had attended Il
tea party and had p;trlaken of refresh
:uentS. She left II short lime later.
complaining of illness. the report ran,
and when she reached home told her
daughter. Charlotte. thar she believed
she had been poisoned.
The name of the huStrs at The lea
party was withheld hy the authorities.
Charlotte refused % discuss the re
port with neWSpap ernttn. What Sh"
said to detectives. if anything. could
GOT be aSrertitintt
This development. coupled with
news that James Mills. husband Of
HE slain choir singer. had Disappeared
from New Brunswick. furnished the
nigh spots in Il day thar tremed with
new "an@leS'' to the care.
Detective Ferguson. nf the Miudle
,pX county force. il was learned. had
oeen seeking Mills 10 question him
fur.her concerning discrepancies in
The stories told h.; him and by Mrs
fall, the rectOr'S widow. and her et
centric brother. Willie Stevens When
ne visited the Mills home, Ferguson
vas told Mills had gone TO the ceme-
cry to visit his wife'S grave. The
detective failed to find him there.
Later he was Informed tina, MILL.
broken by the nervous strain under
which he has labored since the double
tragedy. had gone away To rest.
Ferguson said he was unable /" learn
where Mills had gone. bur WAS aS>Hr-
ed he would return soon.
stories. Ferguson had desired to ask
Mills To try t refresh his memory IA
10 tie identity of the woman meri-
Der of the Church of 81 John The
Evangelist. who spoke TO him concern
ing gossip about the relations of Mr..
Hall and Mrs Mills
Believing the establishment of the
fact that such gossip was prevalent
would strengthen the theory of an en-
nifty motive for the murdnr--nr the
theory advanced by Detective Ellis
Parker. of Burlington county, that Il
"self-appointed moral censor" mighF
have committed the crime-oiher tie
tectiveS spent the day VI: iting vari-
Gus members Of the congregation IF
st. Johns Church and QuiZzing them
as to their knowledge of the gossip.
Although they were reticent as tn
the results of these Fishing eXpedi-
tons," it was learned that one woman
had been found who spoke definitely
of two occasions on which the clergy.
man and Mrs Mills had been alone
together. They also have testimony
That Mr. Halls car had been parked
near the mystery house" on the Phil
lips farm, which is extensively furn-
ished and bears evidence of recent oc-
cupancy despite the fact that il hal
been closed for year.
1t was learned that friends of Mrs
Hall in nearby city had invited her
to come and stay with them until life
III New Brunswick would be more com
Portable for her. She was quoted as
replying: Il absolutely refuse 10 leave
New Brunswick: | never ran away
from anything"
Mrs. Hall continued to deny herself
to visitors, but she issued Il statement
in which she reaffirmed her faith in
ner husbands fidelity and advanced
the theory that he and Mrs Mills had
i.ann slain hv robbers