The Washington times., 1922-09-21
IS.
0(J|zZEDON
SLA Y|kCS
SimpIe-Minded Brother Of Mrs
Hall Permitted to Return
Home.
BY EARL SHAUB,
Universal Service.

NEW DIX IN . WIN, N. {.
Sept. 21.-Willie Stevens, q SIM
pie wit and town character. was
questioned today by detectives in
vestigating the murders Of his
brother-in-lsw, the Rev. Edward
W. Hall, and Mrs. Eleanor Mills,
choir leader, whose bodies were
found in an orchard Saturday.
He was asked point blank II he
knew who killed the pair. -.@
He was shown the revolver with
which authorities believe the muir
ders were committed.
But nothing Of Importance was
elected from him. After being
grilled for an hour he was per-
mitted to return home.
Willie Is one OF the heirs TO the
Stevens fortune, but because otner
members Of the family would no:
trust him to handle his share OF the
funds, Hall was his guardian.
Willie is known to have told sew
eral persons that he and the Rev
Mr.. Hall quarreled because ne was
not given all the spending money he
wanted.
He is also quoted as telling mem
bers OF the fire department last
Thursday that something terrible
was going to happen" Hall and the
singer were slain Thursday night.
A maid employed In the Hal
household was also questioned to
day, but her name was not revealed
There Is every indication that a
woman OF brains and craft planned
and carried out the murder plot
Prosecutor Joseph f. Strickler. OF
Middlesex county. told newspaper
men today. She had the help OF az
least one other person. The prOecu
tor Is confronted with the difficulty
however, he added, OF being unable
to compel certain persons TO come 10
his office.
Mills Family Absoived.
Earlier In the day Detective Trot
ten announced that the Mills fam
lily is out of II. No suspicion attaches
to James Mills or his family.
Mills is the widower Of the slain
singer.
The prosecutor said there was nc
way Of forcing Mrs. Frances Stevens
Hail, widow Of the slain rector, to &C
to his office. She has been ques
toned once and It has been an
nounced she would be questioned
again.
There Is no way of forcing her tC
come to my office" the prosecutor
said. "She has excellent legal ad
vice. Her attorney, former Stat,
Senator William Z. Florence, Is 9
clever man and a very pleasant gen
tleman."
Several significant facts were II
the possession of the authorities to
day. and these may lead to a solu
ton OF the mystery.
For one thing, they were told tha
Charles Jones, an auto mechani
living near the Phillips farm, wher
the bodies were found, hear,
screams about midnight. These wer
followed by four shots.
While Jones and his wife wer
discussing the commotion, the
heard two automobiles speed dow,
the rough, littls-used lane from tn
farm and dash into the main thoI
oughfare. leading to New Brunswick
Kidnapping Theory.
The evidence given by Jone
| caused detectives TO consider
theory that Hall and Mrs. Mills wer
kidnapped. taken, to the farm in tw
automobiles, and there slain by tn
motorists.
The kidnapping theory does no
contradict the opinion expressed h
the prosecutor that the pair wer
slain where their bodies were foun,
He said he knew the couple met fr,
quently at the Phillips farm.
Another thing the authoritIe
learned is that the Phillips farr
was recently sold. The house wa
unoccupied, but completely furnisl
ed. Persons have been found wh
say they had seen the Rev. Mr.. Ha
and a yelled woman in an autom,
bile at the entrance OF the farm O
former occasions.
It was also discovered that ther