The New York herald., 1922-10-12
POTATO KNIFE new {
CLEW IN HALL-NnLLS
MYSTERY MURDERS
Boy Discovered Blade Soon
After Killing of Rector
and Choir Singer.
STAINS ARE STUDIED
Analysis Is to Be Made
Widow Goes to Shore
With Willie.
DENY MINISTER WROTE
Officials Contend They Know
Only of Mrs. Mills's Let
tcrs to Him.
STAINS ARE STUDIED
DENY MINISTER WROTE

Special Dispatch to THE NV yosK IIrtArp.
New BRUNSWICK, n. j., t,s.. IA
Potato knife is a new clew in the
mystery enveloping the murder OF
the Rev. Edward W. Hall and Mrs.
Eleanor Mills on the night of Septem-
Der Il.
1t succeeded tonight the bloody
peach basket said to have been picked
up near the spot at which the bodies
were found and which mysterously
disappeared within an hour or so
after its finding.
The potato knife was found by lad
of years on the Sunday after the
bodies were discovered. 1t is in the
hands, not r PROSECUTOR A-aria II.
BeeSman or his colleague Joseph
Stricken but Of the local police, who
heretofore have been out OF the case
entirely. There is a report about New
Brunswick tonight that the police are
to take a hand In solving the murder
and that their entry may be made
within twenty-four hours in a rather
sensational manner.
Mrs Hail. widow of the murdered
rector. is to go to Atlantic City for a
Willie Stevens. her brother, and the
household, including Miss Sallie Peters.
who has been her spokesman. How
long their stay at the sffN Ill be il
undetermined. The shock OF the crime.
her examination by. the Prosecutors
and the publicity have, IL is UNDER
stood, quite unnerved Mrs. Hall.
No Nearer n solution.
Prosecutors Stricker and Beekman, az
well as the detectives who are active on
the case, now assert there arc no letters
in their possession from Hall TO Mrs.
Mills and that they have seen no such
letters. All the letters they have seen.
they assert, were written by Mrs. Mills.
This Is direct contradiction to inforina-
ton obtained by THE NEW YORK HERALD
from as high "A source as the prosecutors
themselves. The information referred 20
was TO the effect that Beekinan and
Stricken had seen and handled two let
ters from Hall to Mrs. Mills.
Drawing herrings across the trail.
which New Brunswick believes resulted
in the arrest of Clifford Hayes, charged
with the murder. has brought into the
case che whole family OF Nicholas Bah
mer, saloonkeeper. But IL has not
brought the mystery one step nearer
solution The belief is growing that
there are influences at work to prevent
the clearing of the case. The local news
paper tonight reprints an editorial from
the Trenton Times, which reads in part
Whatever the motive behind the
strange antics OF the prosecuting Of
ficials in the New Brunswick murder
case. they certainly are bringing the
/ good name OF New Jersey into disreputo
\ all over the country. II will indeed be a.
| sorry day IL the latest arrest is merely
a political gesture.
but Is II all politics? Or social in
| fluence? Or is Il something more sinis-
| ter? II Gov Edwards is honestly in
earnest about clearing up the foul
stencil he might with propriety send tho
Attorney General into Middlcsex county.
"As the matter stands now Il will not
be easy to keep the scandal out OF the
campaign"
The knife the police have is small
affair. There are stains on IL that will
be analyzed II was found not very near
l the place where the bodies lay by John
ME Lyons. who took II TO his mother.
His mother. after looking the knife over.
so she said. threw 1t away. II was re-
trieved. however. and to-day Thomas
Lyons. the father. drove 70 police head
quarters and turned 1t over to Police
Chief Michael o'Connell.
ycstryman owned Car.
According TO tho youngster. he found
the knife about quarter OF mile from
Derussys lane. toward Bound Brook
The police have been looking into tho
case of burned automobile. but have
found nothing 20 connect Il or its owner
with the tragedy. II was the property
OF Ralph V. NJ. Gorsline. vestryman or
Halls Church OF st. John the Evangelist
lie is the man who said Mrs. Mills
tried TO win his affections some years
ago and whose movements on the Thurs
day night Of the murder the prosecutors
| thought II worth while to inquire into.
/ Gorsline was called TO the Court
/ House on Saturday and examined Hi,
automobile was burned the next day.
! II was being driven. he said. by his
chauffeur and the burning occurred
about a mile and n half out OF town.
/ rhe car was an Apperson "Jackrabbit.
I in which he drove about a good deal.
On the evening Of the murder Gorslins
took TO her home Miss Catharins
Rastall. member Of the choir Of st.
John's. according 20 the story he told
Beekman and strlckcr.
! Gorsline's story was that he left tho
Y. NJ c. A. at 1915 o'clock and met
member OF the choir. lie took her home
/ in his car, then went TO his own homo.
In this story he is corroborated tonight
by Miss Rastall. a very pretty girl. She
said she left a moving picture house al
10 O'Clock and that Gorsline saw and
called to her, taking her home. She
arrived at about 1890 O'clock she eaid.
and GorslIne told her he was going risht
| home.
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