The New York herald., 1922-09-20
CHURCH MURDER NET
DRAWS TIGHTER, BUT
ARREST IS DELAYED
Old Phillips Homestead,
Where Couple Likely Met,
May Yield Clew.
POLICE GET A REVOLVER
Prosecutor Says Letters Found
in Rectory Will Aid Him
Considerably.
POLICE GET A REVOLVER

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New BRUNSWICK, N. j.. Sept. 49,
With a clear disagreement between
the officials, more or less activity in in
vestigating the murder of the Rev.
Edward Wheeler Hall of the Church
of st. John the Evangelist, and his
choir singer. Mrs. James Mills, the
authorities of Middlesex and Somerset
counties had made no arrest in the
case .p to a late hour tonight, and,
though the jailer at Somerville kept
the place open under instructions, 1t
appeared improbable in New Bruins
wick that any one would be taken
into custody before morning.
John e. Toolean, Assistant Prosecu-
tor of Middlesex, made the fiat state
ment earlier, There will likely be an
arrest to-day, and it may have already
taken place."
Within an hour Prosecutor Beck
man OF Somerset county declared that
'the man who made such a statement
didn't know what he was talking
about
Contradictions Are Numerous.
Then Toolean disappeared from the
vicinity of the Court House here and
the county detectives continued MAX
ing contradictory statements.
The obviously slow progress being
made was clearly shown early In the
day when Mills, the sexton, husband OF
the dead woman, was examined, but
nothing in the nature OF an examination
Of the Hall servants took place. Despite
their own predictions. the officials were
not able to make substantial progress
during the day. though the reason.
unless 1t was disagreement between
those interested, did not appear.
County Detective David brought to
the Court House this evening a re-
volver. but where he got 1t and what
connection. il any. it had with the crime,
he refused to say. The most reliable in
formation obtainabie was that 1t had
not been found possible to connect the
weapon with the crime. In some quar-
ters 1t is believed to be the gun that
Willie Stevens. brother of Mrs. Hall,
boasted of having possessed.
Murders Probably on Farm.
1t is firmly believed now that the old
Phillips farmhouse, about 900 feet from
which bodies of the murdered rector
Edward n. w. Hall, and his choir singer.
Mrs. James Mills, were found on Satur-
day morning. will prove to have been
the scene of the actual Staying of the
couple. more fitting place for such
a crime could hardly be imagined.
Troopers and county detectives to-day
made a thorough examination of the
house. which is ninety years old. 1t Is
believed, too, and with reason. that they
have posted a guard within the house.
with the expectation that the slayer viii
return to the scene of his crime, as some
detectives of fiction have averred.
While they have been saying for two
days that they know where the crime
was committed the county detectives
have carefully refrained from disclosing
their exact knowledge. George Totten
of Somerset county, however, went over
the ground before and around the house
yesterday with tape measure, care
fully ascertaining the distance from
various parts of the structure to the
spot where the bodies were found.
1O-nlEnt TWO SldNe tTpOpsIS were
about the place. appearing to be mere
curiosity seekers. In an interval OF an
hour or SO the blinds were In different
positions, and a window that had been
slightly open was closed. There were
other evidences that some one was in
side the house. though repeated knock
ings failed TO elicit any response.
Old Farm Sold In July.
on top OF this discovery II was found
that the place Is not Phillips's place. II
was sold last July to Joseph III. Porter.
trust officer OF the National Bank OF
New Jersey. and also. perhaps by the
merest coincidence, tho trustee Of tho
estate or Willie stevens. the half witted
brother Of Mrs Hall. wife OF the dead
clergyman.
When Il was found that the land on
which the bodies were discovered and
the empty house had been purchased
recently by the trustee OF the estate OF
Willie stevens, IL was recalled also that
Mr. Porter had left town Saturday
Continued on Page Three.
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