The Washington herald., 1922-12-01
Acrimonious Debate in Senate
Inspires Husband of Slain
Singer to Ask U. S. Action
MAY GO TO WHITE HOUSE
Eats CoIorIess Thanksgiving
Dinner, While Mrs. Hall Dimes
With Friends in Elegance
BY International News Service.

Nov. 30.-Chagrined and dlsap-
pointed at the recent failure of
the Somerset county grand jury to
| return an indictment as the re-
suit of its deliberations on the
Hall-Mills murder case, James
! Mills, husband of Mrs. Eleanor
Z. Mills, the choir singer found
slain with her pastor, Rev. Ed
ward Wheeler Hall, today ap-
pealed to United States Senator
Walter E. Edge to use his in
fluence to have the investigation
continued with renewed vigor.
APPEAL Is PATHETIC.
Mills pathetically worded appeal
for official aid was laboriously
| penned in the dining-room at his
humble home where Mills and his
ten-year-old son. Danny. had just
finished their colOrless Thanksgiving
| dinner. In making public their copy
of the letter he had just written.
Mills said that similar missive has
been mailed to County Prosecutor
Azariah NJ. Beekman. the latter hav-
ing been solicited also to keep in
motion the solution of the tragedy.
The letter sent to Senator Edge
|
40 Carman ST..
New Brunswick, y. j..
Nov. 80. 1922.
Hon. Walter E. Edge,
L. s. Senate.
Ny dear Senator: As saw in
the papers the discussion on the
Senate floor about the crime. will
you please continue the investiga-
ton of the Hall-Mflls murder case?
There was no indictment and the
public at large think that this
case should be looked into.
Mr.. Edge. it has been a lone
some Thanksgiving Day for me
and my children. II might have
been a brighter holiday for the
fDunily IL the grand Jury had
brought the guilty ones to justice.
The townsfolk tell me it is a
shame to let things drop.
Sorrowfully yours.
(SigneD JAMES MILLS.
INSPIRED BY DEBATE.
Edge was inspired. the writer said,
by the recent acrimonious debate
on the floor of the upper house
while the Dyer anti-lynching meas
ne was under consideration.
In his attack upon the measure
Senator McKellar. Democrat from
Tennessee. took occasion to "razz"
5the Senator from New Jersey be-
cause the latter State was in the
throes of a notorious murder in
vestigation. MCKellar said that
'nine-tenths of the residents Of
New Jersey are certain of the
identity of the murderers. and can
put their hands on them if they
wish
The Thanksgiving dinner at the
Mills home was in sharp contrast
ito the stately ceremonial which
marked the day at the home of the
slain pastor. Mrs. Frances Noel
yStevens Hall. widow of the man
found shot to death under the crab
apple tree on the Philips farm on
lSeptember IA. dined in company
with her brother. Willie" Stevens,
and her companion and friend, Miss
Sally Peters. Inquiries revealed
the fact that Mrs. Hall had vetoed
the suggested plan that the day be
marked by joyous dinner at
tended by a large number of rela-
tives and friends.
MILLS COOKS OWN DINNER.
Mills cooked his own Thanksgiving
BQlnneT. DtSeTlcu even DJ his udubH-
ter, Charlotte. who was spending the
day with relatives. Mills and his son.
Danny, ate their chicken dinner in
moody silence. The advent Of the
holiday had seemingly embittered
Mills and he was not hesitant in
giving vent to his expressions of dis
appointment at the outcome of the
Investigation. He said:
When the grand jury failed to do
anything effective. 1 determined
to carry my appeal to the United
States. Therefore l wrote this
letter to Senator Edge. l cannot
write easily-my hands are more
accustomed to gripping a coal
shovel than to handling a pen.
This investigation is not going to
be allowed to die even if / have
to appeal to President Harding.
Little Danny Mills missed his
mama today more than ever before.
He said IT was the first holiday that
he could remember without her. He
said:
wish / had a hundred thousand
dollars-Id hire some real detec-
tives the first thing and find out
who killed my mama.