The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-09-19
DETECTIVES MAKE
MINUTE PROBE OF
MURDER MYSTERY
Unable to Determine Definitely
Exact Scene of the Shooting.
Baffled.
INVESTIGATE REMARKS OF
BROTHER RECTOR'S WIFE
Authorities Compare Case to
That of UnsOlved Murder of
Joseph Ewell.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., Sept. 49,
The unsuccessful search among many
clues and conflicting details was made
today by the detectives staffs of two
counties, the local police and seven state
police to establish definitely the scene OF
the shooting to death last Thursday night
of the Rev. Edward Hall, rector of the
Protestant Episcopal church, of st. John
the Evangelist and Mrs. James Mills,
wife of the sexton and a choir leader in
the church.
The bodies of the two bearing bullet
wounds were found side by side Satur-
day in an old orchard in Somerset coun-
ty. Authorities Of Somerset have ex-
pressed the belief that the two had been
shot elsewhere and the bodies to the or
chard and laid out under the apple tree
in an effort to draw closer the veil of
mystery which is over the double shoot
ing.
The discovery today, however, of four
witnesses residing in the vicinity of the
field, who reported hearing screams and
gunshots on Thursday night, has
strengthened the belief that the two shoot
ings occurred in the rustic setting where
the bodies were found.
With this new testimony fixing to a
certain extent the scene of the crime at
tention was drawn to a vacant house
which stands on the Phillips farm, a tract
of land adjoining the orchard. This house
has been known for some time as the
mystery house" 1t is said to be rented,
Is fully furnished and yet is untenanted.
All efforts to trace through real estate
agents those renting the house are said
to have failed. A superficial examina-
ton is said to reveal that the house may
have been recently occupied, though no
one has been known to have made his
residence there for some time.
No new figures were brought into the
Investigation today of the double shoot
ing. which authorities describe as another
Elwen case, the still unsolved murder in
New York two years ago of Joseph Elwell.
club man. whist expert and race track fol-
lower.
Detectives assigned to investigating
certain remarks Of William Stevens, a
brother Of the rector's widow, learned
that his rendezvous was the station
house OF the local fire department and
hat he always went to all the fires"
Stevens has admitted. according to the
police. that he remarked few days be-
fore the shooting Of his brother-in-law
that something big is going to happen
soon"
1--WE had trouble up at the house, and
II I seem irritated don't pay any atten-
ton to me-" fire Captain Michael Regan
said Stevens declared to him Saturday
morning. Pressed for an explanation,
Regain sail Stevens replied you'll find
put soon enough" A thorough search
was made by detectives today of the
Mills home. When they arrived they
found written on the front door in a
round hand, which the police said. might
nave been done by woman" the quota
lion. blessed are the departed" number
.81.
The inscription was not on the door on
Saturday said the Investigators, who ex-
pressed the belief that it refers to hymn
and may have some bearing on the case
The Right Rev. Albion w. Knight, Pro-
.estant Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey,
aided by more than a score of clergymen,
conducted the funeral service for Mr.
Hall in the church which he served as
rector. vested choir assisted in the
regular Episcopal service. There was no
eulogy. The body was taken to New
York for burial. Services will be held to-
morrow for Mrs. Mills.