The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-21
RUMOR GRAND JURY
HAS TAKEN ACTION
IN JERSEY CRIME
Reported Indictment Found in
Double Murder Mystery
CLAIM EYEWITNESS FOUND
New Brunswick Woman Believ-
ed to Be in Position to Furn-
ish Important Evidence

New Brunswick, N. j., Oct. 2l.--
The investigation of the HallMills
murder mystery was given sensa-
t!onal twist last night, on the heels
Of unconfirmation reports that the
grand jury OF Somerset county had re
turned an indictment. when it was
to the double shooting, woman OF
to the double shooting. woman OF
reputable character at New Bruins.
wick, had been discovered.
The interjection of this new phase
in the already greatly complicated
case was said to have been respon.
sble for the sudden turn In the activ.
ity OF Prosecutor Azariah Beekman.
who appeared before the grand jury
at Somerville
The only handicap now retarding
the prosecutor in bringing the situa.
tion to a climax was said to be the
problem OF positive identification by
the newly-found witness, as more
than one person is said to be in.
volved
Developments have already reached
feverish state OF expectancy based
principally upon unconfirmed reports
that the grand Jury Of Somerset coun
ty had returned an indictment after
Prosecutor Beekman had appeared
before the body.
Neither Beekman nor any other
court officials at Somerville could be
induced to shed the slightest enlight-
onment on the puzzling attitude OF all
concerned In the inquiry.
Responsibility for the next move.
which is expected to be of scnsa.
tional character. was said now to be
squarely up to Prosecutor Beekman
who is moving cautiously in his ap'
parent desire to be sure OF his ground
The home OF Mrs. Frances Stevens
Hail. widow OF the slain rector, Is
guarded by state troopers and all at.
tempts TO communicate with the house
by telephone have been unsuccess-
full.
Prosecutor Beekman. urged even to
intimate If the grand jury had taken
up the murder mystery, refused the
slightest information, asserting that
all grand jury proceedings are secret
and that any reports supposedly com.
ing from his Office were unauthorized.
He said, however, that satisfactory
progress was being made.
For the first time since the bodies
OF the rector and his choir singer
we're discovered, Prosecutor Beekman
and County Detective George Totten
permitted newspapermen to see the
clothing both wore when they were
killed.
Reports that the rector's coat had
been ripped up the back were found
to be false, there being only two
small holes in the back OF the coat
between the shoulders which mas
have been caused possibly by drag
ging the body to the spot where Il
was found lie wore no waistcoat
and had on business mans collar In
stead of his customary clerical collar
white tie and Panama hat. The
collar, tie and shirt were blood
stained.
Mrs. Nils wore a dark blue lawn
dress with rcd polka dots. which was
bloodstained above the waist. and q
blue underskrt
! Prosecutor Stricken OF Middlesey
was reported TO be planning to cal
on Prosecutor Beekman to make an
arrest at once, on threat of with
drawing his cooperation in the in
vestment.
! Stricken who entered the case be
cause of the uncertainty whether
the murders were committed In his
jurisdiction or in Beekman's, was
represented by close friend as
being convinced that he knew WHIT
committed the murders and thai
there was sufficient evidence on hant
to warrant immediate action.
William j. Flynn, former head o.
the bureau OF investigation Of tn,
department Of Justice, came yester
day afternoon and conferred viii
Prosecutor Stricker. There WAS nc
announcement from tho prosecutor
office of what part Flynn might TAX
In the Investigation