New-York tribune., 1922-10-16
Justice Parker Expected
to Place Inquiry i'm Hands
Of Jersey Attorney Gen.
eral to End Bungling
Fear of Heavy Bill
Alarms Taxpayers
Freehold ldersR Recau$6, 500
Bill State Sent Morris
County in Kluxen Case
By Boyden Sparkes

/ and Prosecutor Azariah Beekman OF
Somerset County removed from control
| Of Che investigation Of the murder Of
Edward F. Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills
1.-THE hunt for the murderer Is expected
l to- receive q fresh impetus tomorrow
with the appointment of a special AS.
sistant Attorney General to direct the
work of sitting the evidence.
Supreme Court Justice Parker, al
Jersey City, is expected to issue ar
order directing Attorney General Nc.
Gran to take charge of the inquiry
He was requested to do this yester.
day by Prosecutors Stricken and Beck.
man after counsel for Mrs. Frances
Hall, widow Of the murdered rector
had written to Governor Edwards de-
nouncing the "bungling stupidity" OF
the investigators in control and URGING
that they be superseded by fearless
state officer vested with complete au-
thority in the case.
! Will Make Fresh Start
~ feel that it would not be ethical
for me to discuss the case at this
time" Attorney General McCran said
in reply to request for his opinion
of the situation. "If / am directed to
itake part in the case then shall be at
liberty to speak. If do enter I will
begin without preconceived notions as
to the identity Of the perpetrator or az
to the motive.
1T is impossible for me to say now
whether will continue to work with
Prosecutors Beekman and Stricken and
their staff of detectives"
Mr.. McCran agreed that he would
have authority to bring County Detec-
tive Ellis Parker from Burlington
County If Justice Parker orders him to
intervene.
But do not know Mr.. Parker"
added Mr.. McCran, sand therefore can
not say whether should employ him"
There was a report here tonight
that Joseph Lanigan, an able assistant
in Mr. McCransb office, might be sent
here by the Attorney General.
Charged $500 in Kluxen Case
A few months ago in response to
public clamor against the failure of
the Morris County authorities to find
the murderer of little Janet Lawrence
Mr.. McCran was directed to take con-
troll Of the investigation. A half
witted youth had been tried and ac-
Quilted before Mr.. McCran entered the
case. When he went into it young
Francis Kluxen, whose uncle was a
detective in the Office Of the prose-
cutor, was arrested and brought to
trial. He, too, was acquitted. Mr..
McCran's bill to the Morris County
Freeholders was s6,500. The roars of
protest are still family audible in
neighboring counties. The bill was
paid after Justice Parker had approved
The Freeholders Of Somerset Coun-
ty, who will have to foot any such bill
in this CASE, unless 1t is established
that the, crime was committed in Mid
dlesex County, are not likely to wait
to make their protest until after a bill
has been submitted. Already some of
them have expressed complete faith in
the ability Of Azariah Beekman, re-
gardless Of the failure Of the prose-
cutor to see that ,autopsies were per-
formed and thats photographs were
made Of the bodies before they were
disturbed.
The failure to take photographs is
one Of the most puzzling features Of
the investigation.
It has. been customary to make
photographs Of the scene and the
bodies in other murders committed
hereahouts. 80
Many Points Overlooked
Equally surprising was the failure
TO guard the spot on the farm where
the bodies were found from an inva-
sion Of morbidly curious persons from
New Brunswick. They swarmed at will
all over the place soon after the bodies
were found. The feet Of these curious
persons trampled out the faint tracks
Of automobiles that are believed to
have borne the killer to the scene.
Criminologists regard carefully made
photographs Of the treads- Of automo-
biles almost with as much Importance
as finger prints. There never was
thorough search Of the farm for a
weapon or other clews until after the
appeal Of Charlotte Mills to Governor
Edwards resulted in the state troopers
being sent here.