Evening journal., 1922-12-19
HALL inquiry
MAY GOFORWARD
Justice Parker Expected to
Charge New Somerset
Panel on Murder
NEW EVIDENCE
BEING SOUGHT

} ~ Grand Jury, which convenes for
the first time this afternoon. II lie
expected that he will dwell at
! length on the Hail. Mills case, he
having gone to Somerville especially
to speak of the case to the last
panel which he dismissed.
At that time the Justice intimat-
ed that he had a great deal more
TO say on the matter. and most Of
this he may tell TO the new jurors.
Against previous indications that
the Somerset Jurors were averse to
any reopening of the case, the senti-
ment is that they are ready to hear
any evidence.
The state troopers are in New
Brunswick working on a secret lead
Of their own They have been here
1 for more than a week, unknown 10
! the public. and have achieved some
! tangible results. None of those men
who were In the investigation be-
/ fore is now on the case. The troop
ers are not registered at any hotel,
\ and are travelling about In different
guises. now as workmen and at
( other times- as statesmen.
Detective James f.. Mason and
Wilbur A. Mott, special prosecutor
have not been here for three weeks
but their work is being carried on
by lieutenants in New Brunswick.
The local interest has Increased
within the last, few days. In last
nights edition OF the local news
paper. editorial comment and let
ters from citizens demand that
something be done to solve the case
and punish the guilty. Resentment
IL expressed toward Mott in the
main editorial. which says;
why the delay? It is to be
hoped that. before Special Deputy
Attorney General Wilbur A. Mott
submits any bill for additional com
pensation covering the time since
the close of the Grand Jury inves-
tigation of the Hall-Mills murder
case he will specify just exactly /
what has been done In that period. /
Neither Mr.. Mott nor Detective /
Mason has given any particular evil
dence OF activity during that time.
Neither has been in New Brunswick
and there is no record OF their hav-
Ing been in Somerville. unless they
came IN a good deal more surrep-
titiously than they did during the
Grand Jury probe.
THE decision Of Attorney General
Thomas F. McCran to continue Mr..
Mott in charge of the investigation
after the Grand Jury refused to re-
turn an Indictment was welcomed I
by the people Of she State because /
II was taken as an indication that .
the case would not be permitted to /
die. but there have been no appar- /
ent results and no activity that could I
be discerned except on the part of
the Middlesex and Somerset datec- /
tives who are working without ex-
ira pay.
IF the case ever is cleared up II /
will probably be through the efforts |
OF these latter, and Il is 20 be hoped /
that they will be given full credit"
Prosecutor Joseph f. Stricken OF /
Middlesex has again taken n leading /
part I'm the case. From the time that 4
he split with Prosecutor Azariah /
Beekman OF Somerset and Mott took
the case Stricken was noticed by his
absence. Since Motifs case collapsed.
however, he has been conducting his .
own line OF investigation and II IL
more than likely that he will ask 10
go before the grand jury In somer-
vile or send some one TO present
whatever evidence he may have ac-
qulred.
officials refused 10 talk about the
case yesterday Attorney-G General
McCran said he did not know
It would be presented to the
December term grand jury.
You will have to get your infor-
nation from Mr.. Mott. He's still in
the case, you know" he said.
II am in no position to say any
thing. Mr.. Mott is in charge Of the
case" said Prosecutor Beekman.
Il don't know whether the case
will be presented now or not" said
Mr.. Mott when reached on the tele-
phone al his home in Orange. 1T
all depends on the way things
break"
do you think the prospect is
hopeful?"
Il am not going to prophecy"
THE case is not insoluble, is it?"
II never said that"
'will Mrs. Hall be permitted to
go TO Europe?'
Il don't care to say anything
about that"
Mr.. Mott said Detective James F.
Mason is not working actively on
he case, but through other agen-
,ies."
Noticeable among the "other
agencies" is new woman investi-
gator for the state. This woman is
supplying the officials with whatever
Information she can CLEAN from
lmong the members of the choir
and congregation OF the Church of st.
IoJhn the Evangelist. She has been
iere for more than week. but none
of the parishioners seem to gnow
her.
While the State troopers the local a..
and the members of prl- !.
'ate investigating squads refuse TO
make any themselves whatever they
nay be undertakings il Is definitely J.
known that within the last two or .
hree weeks the trend Of the case y
las swung in a decidedly new direc- 4
ion, and persons heretofore con- a
iidered out Of the CAGE are being d
Questioned and their action investi-
gated. v
Should certain lines of investiga- v
ion develop startling disclosures n
are bound to follow. The extent of n
he work by the new investigators n
will be more fully judged when It O.
Is known what action is taken by o.