Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-16
PROBE OF MURDER
BLOCKED BY FEUD
OF POLICE FORCES
Double Killing in New Jersey
Remains UnsoIved as
Rivals Quarrel.
TAPPING OF TELEPHONES
REPORTED TO OFFICIALS
Some One Reported Listening In"
on Lines-Company Starts
Inquiry.
BY DAN RING.
Special Dispatch to The Star

opeclal DlspAtcn 10 lHe Stars
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., October
16.-While New Brunswick awaited
hourly news of the decision Of Su-
preme Court Justice Charles w.
Parker on the request for assign
ment Of Attorney General Thomas F.
McCran to the supervision Of investi-
cation In the Hall-Mills murder mys-
terry 1t was learned today that in
vestigating forces here have been
working at cross purposes and with
complete lack Of harmony ever since
they took up the most baffiing mur-
der case in New Jersey annals.
Attorney General McCran yester-
day went to the home of Justice
Parker in Morristown. He conferred
ws aeeved shs 1eraans soq5 bs sas
of the assignment to the murder mys-
terry. The result has not yet been
made public. II he Is put on the
case, however. 1t is believed that the
first move will be the coordination
of all investigating forces under one
general supervision SO that the har-
mony which row seems conspicuous
by Its absence may be restored.
History Of Feud.
The reasons for non-co-operation
cited today by persons in a position
to know are:
Two years ago the chief Of Middle
sex detectives, a man named Pelletier.
died. Local sentiment was in favor
Of John Ferguson, a veteran of the
force here, for the position.
The prosecutor has the appointive
power for this position. but the con-
f1rmation Of the appointment must be
made by the judge Of the court of
quarter sessions. who happens At
present to be Judge Peter T. DAILY.
Prosecutor Stricken hare appointed
Ferd David. formerly of the Newark
police force. to the position of chief
county detective. Sentiment in quar-
ters here seemed to support Fergu-
son for the position. Judge DAILY.
not confirmed the appointment of
David.
Both Ferguson and David are work
ing on this case. 1t Is unerstoed that
neither gives the other any help.
chief defective for Middlesex county.
Two c!iques are behind the two detec-
tives. and the mystery Is unsolved
partly because of the divided efforts
Of the two factions within New
Brunswick and Middlesex county.
arate and distinct from the county
force, but they know the town and
know the people living here. Yet
they have not been called in. they
say. and there seems to be no likeli-
hood Of such action being taken while
changed.
Between Devil and Sea.
The scene Of the crime was just
across the county line. and there
fore. Prosecutor Beekman of adjoin-
ing Somerset county took command.
Under him George Totten. chief de-
tective of that county, is at work.
but Beekman is having a hard time.
SO the reports go, to keep himself
squared with both sides. If he swings
to one clique, the other clique will
ditch him. He Is between the devil
and deep sea.
So Just at the time that cooperation
is most needed and when all potential
forces should be combined In attempt
ing to clear up the greatest criminal
puzzle which has confronted them.
popular proposition afioat. The state
troopers are another element to be
reckoned with. They are working
quietly. Virtually all Of their opera
tions are screened behind veil of
anonymity. 1t is admitted they are
awaiting the appointment Of q man
from the ofice Of the attorney general
to the case.
New Brunswick seems to think that
the appointment Of the attorney gen.
eral to the investigation will mean
Z q
member Of his staff, to active su-
pervision of the case. Lanigan. 1t
is understood, Is young, energetic and
full of initiative and pep. His big
Job, though. 1t Is conceded, is to
weld together the various potential
investigating forces into an undi-
vided whole and run out what scant
clues are left with smoothly work.
ing machine.
Phone Wires Tapped.
Reports Of wire tapping from per-
sons connected with the case today
injected more mystery into the In
vestigation. Shortly after the ar
rival of Prosecutor Stricken at the
courthouse at 10 o'clock 1t was re-
ported by an officer in his ONCE that
moral certainty existed that tele-
phone wires were being tapped by
some unknown parties The next
surprise was the fact that Miss Sallie
Peters at the Hall home made q simi-
lar remark. She told newspaper men
that there were queer clicks and
snaps resounding into the telephone
receiver when being used, and imme-
diately jumped to the conclusion that
wire tappers were at work. Ralph
V. NJ Gorsline. q vestryman at the
Church of st. John the Evangelist
who has been q prominent figure in
the Investigations also made state
ment to the effect that he was NOR
ally certain that his telephone wire
was being listened in on. A report
was Immediately made to the tele-
phone company here and an invests
CATION has been started.
The peculiar angle in the entire
case is that both Mira Halls wire
and the wire In the office OF the ofIi-
cial Of the prosecutor's stan were
being tapped at the same time. From
this 1t is concluded that some one. de-
sires to know progress OF the case from
both angles.
Many Collect ssuyenirs.
At J o'clock this morning It waa
discovered that . bright porch light
Was blasfng on she porch of the home
% Mrs, Hall. Poiice AaA not heard
coatlaped e 10 3 cdldlal %