New-York tribune., 1922-09-29
C'onfers With Officials
and Inquiry Speeds Up;
Local Sentiment for
Action Is Developing
County Offers
$1,000 Reward
Widow and Brother Are
Quizzed About Clothing
Willie Sent to Cleaner
BY Boyden Sparkes

NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., Sept. 2s.-
The reaction of the Hall-Mills murders
on New Jersey politics, including the
Forthcoming Senatorial election, be-
came matter of deepest interest here
tonight when it was learned that Cow
ernor Edwards was in conference at
trenton with Prosecutor Joseph Strick-
er, Of Middlesexs County, and Prose
cutor A. M. Beekman, of Somerset
County. They met at the Trenton fair.
The conference was arranged, it was
believed here, after the Governor had
read the letter from Charlotte Mills,
sixteen-year-old daughter Of the MUIR
dered choir singer, beseeching him to
help her find her mothers slayer and
expressing the view that the investiga-
tion did not seem to be bringing
results.
1t is not considered likely that Gov
ernor Edwards will interfere with the
direction Of the case, but publication
Of Charlotte;s pathetic message seemed
to have the effect of stimulating the
local officials. Their activity to-day IN
cluded lengthy Interrogation of Mrs
Frances Hall. widow of the slain rector,
and then of her brother, Willie Stew
ems, who has been adjudged incompe-
tent to handle his inherited estate.
$1,000 Reward Offered
The Board Of Freeholders of Middle
sex County, acting upon a recommends
tion from Prosecutor Stricken, voted
late this afternoon to offer a $1,000
reward for any information resulting
in the detection, apprehension and con-
viction of the person or persons guilty
of the Hall-Mills murders.
Payment Of the reward is made con-
ditional upon the establishment of the
fact that the crime was committed
within the confines Of Middlesex Coun-
ty. The freeholders recommended to
their contemporaries Of Somerset Coun-
ty that they offer a similar reward.
More powerful than the offer Of q
reward, however, is the development
liof public sentiment here such as was
expressed this afternoon in an edi-
torial in large type on the first page of
the local newspaper, "The Daily Home
News" This implied that some citi-
town rather than surrender informa-
ton about the crime. The editorial
follows: ~
1t Is Your Duty
! ''The precipitate fight of persons7who
may know something of the Hall-Mills
case is a disgrace to New Brunswick
They are slaokers just as truly as
those escaping war service. Public
opinion should take hand. These
persons may not be amenable to law,
| but their neighbors can show where
| they stand.
at is time, also, for people to talk
out. There is a good deal Of informa-
ton in New Brunswick bearing on the
case Those who knowingly withhold it
are willfully aiding and abetting crime
The first thought of every decent cits-
zen should be to give every assistance
to the authorities.
Society will not be safe while the
murderer is at large. Immunity in one
such affair may induce another. 1t is
time for the people Of the city to
give more careful thought to the gen
eral safety than to their own conven-
ience.
Prosecutor Joseph E. Stricken has
issued a public appeal for information
He has promised immunity from pub.
licity. Protection will be accorded all
those who come forward. There is nc
reason for hesitancy and every reason
for action.
"Middlesex County cannot afford tt
leave this crime unsolved. The safety
of our people would be threatened
Every decent citizen should be revoltec
at such crime and try to help solve
it. There may be some distasteful pre-
liminaries, but somebody must sacri
| flee. Any information of value should
be turned in at once"
Nothing could be learned as to the
identity of the persons referred to il
the editorial.
% Mrs. Hall Secluded
Mrs. Hall was smuggled into the
courthouse through a side entrance
that leads to the coal bins. 1t is un.
derstood that the questions, propound
ed to her dealt with her statement that
she was accompanied on her post mid
night trip to the church in search Of
her husband by her brother Willie
Samuel Phillips, watchman at the
New Jersey State College for Women
adjacent to the Hall home, revealed or
the day the bodies were found that he
had seen woman entering the side
gate of the Hall home about 2:3(
o'clock in the morning. Mrs. Hall later
admitted that she was the woman, and
said Willie was with her. Phillips in.
(Contnued on page nina