Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-19
DOUBLE MURDER
IN NE " JERSEY
BATTLES POLICE
Staying of the Rev. Edward
Hall and Wife of the Sex
ton and Choir Leader
Still UnsoIved.

New Brunswick, N. J., Sept. is
(by the Associated press) I'm
successful search among many
clues and conflicting details was
made today by the detective STATS
of two counties, the local police
and seven state police to establish
definitely the scene of the shoot
ing 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 SEX
ton and a choir leader In the
church.
The bodies of the two, bearing
bullet wounds, were found side by
side on Saturday, in an old or
chard in Somerset county. Au-
thorities of Somerset have ex-
pressed the belief that the two
had been shot elsewhere, and the
bodies brought to the orchard and
laid out under the apple tree in
an effort to draw closer the veil
of mystery which nantes the
| double shooting.
The discovery today. however,
of four witnesses, residing in the
vicinity of the field, who reported
hearing screams and gun shots on
Thursday night, has strengthened
the belief that the two shootings
occurred in the rustic setting
where the bodies were found.
Awakened by Screams
Henry McCabe, a bridge tender,
told the police that on Thursday
night shortly before midnight, he
was awakened by screams. He
said that he called his wife and
that they listened together until
the screams grew fainter and
fainter.
The next morning they asked
Mrs. Henry Waters, a neighbor,
if she had heard the screams.
Mrs. Waters said she had not, but
had been awakened by reports of
four gunshots.
Mrs. Mills was shot once be-
tween the eyes. The rector's
body bore four bullet wounds.
"Mystery House"
With this new testimony fixing
to a certain extent the scene of
the crime, attention was drawn to
a vacant house which stands on
the Phillips farm, 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. A super
fetal examination is said to re-
veal 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 shooting, which au-
thorities describe as another Ell
we'll case" the still unsolved muir
der in New York two years ago
of Joseph Elwell, club man, whist
expert and race track follower.
Willie "a Character
Detectives assigned to investi-
gate certain remarks of William
Stevens, brother of the rector's
widow, learned that his rendez-
local fire department and that he
always went to all the fires"
At the station house. it was said
that willie was known as a
. character"
Stevens has admitted, according
to the police, that he remarked a
few days before the shooting of
his brother-in-l law that "some-
. thing big is going to happen
! soon"
1t became known today that
Mr.. Hall acted in unofficial ca
pacity as trustee of the fund Gre
: ated, it is said, at Stevens re-
: quest, from the sum which he in
, herited from his mothers estate
, James H. Porter, trustee officer
of the National Bank of New
: Jersey, administered the fund, but
/ the money was paid to Stevens
) by the rector.
, stevens frequently complained
: to me" Captain Regain said, that
, Hall did not give him enough
: money"
Mills Home Searched
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 po-
lice said might have been done
by woman" the quotation
v BLESSED are the Departed No
1S1.
: The inscription was not on the
/, door on Saturday, said the inves-
, tigators, who expressed the belief
tknt IL t.c.EaI.a