The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-11-02
MILLS TAKES
ISSUE WITH !.
!: RECTOR WIFE.
Disputes Some of Statements
Made by Mrs. Hall to
Press
SAYS JEALOUSY MOTIVE
Husband of Slain Woman
Gives Version of Crime
In Interview
(By the Associated Prsss)

Ae" IL oiuHo"lCh, ~. a., NOV. g.
Looking up from work in coal bin
in the basement of the school house
where he is janitor, James Mills,
whose wife, Eleanor, was murdered
with the Rev. Edward w. Hall on
Sept. IA, today took issue with some
of the statements made yesterday
by the clergyman's widow in an in
terview. ~
Mills said that he met Mrs. Hal,
at the church at $3.50 on the. morn
ing of Sept. Is. Mrs. Hall yesterday
said that she was at the church at 7
o'clock. ~
81 know it could not have been
earlier than $780," said Mills, "be-
cause my children had already gone
to school.
"The first thing Mrs. Hall asked
: me was: Was anybody SICK at your
house last night? We then COM
mented on the fact that both my
wife and her husband were missing,
and said: Maybe they have eloped.
"No,' was Mrs. Halls reply. 4
think something has happened to
them..'
AT noon when Mrs. Hall came to
my house, I told her had not heard
anything and she said she had not
either. Then she went away.
"She is incorrect in her statements,
that she did not come to my house
again at $3.50 o'clock. I remember
that l had just returned with some
ice and put it into the refrigerator.
She stayed only minute.
~ saw Mrs. Hall again at o'clock
in her home. went there to ask
her if she had ony news. stayed
on the porch to talk. She did not
seem to take it as hard as I did.
had an idea that DR.. Hall and my
wife had been together but I did not
think there was anything wrong.
81 don't know why l ever suggest
ed an elopement."
Mills said that when he saw Mrs.
Hall at the church at. $3.50 in the
morning she had assured him that
should would notify the police. Mrs.
Hall stated yesterday, she was not
certain whether she called the police
before or after she met Mills.
Commenting on Mrs. Halls state
ment that she was not indicative
and that she did not care to see any
one punished for the murders, Mills
said:
II am not vindictive either but !
want to see the murderer punished.
l believe it was woman's deed. All
these theories about black mail and
robbery and things are rot. It was
jealousy and think her throat was
cut in spite because of her beautiful
singing"
II never heard any gossip about
my wife and Dr.. Hall. If l had l
would not have stood for it for sin
gle minute. I am man enough not
to have kept that job at the church
if I thought there was anything
wrong between the minister and my
wife. l live right and l want others
to do the same. would have gone
to Mr.. Hall and if he would not listen
l would have gone to the bishop and
to the vestry."
Mills said he had never heard of
his wife having trouble with anybody
and said he knew of no enemies that
DR.. Hall might have had.
"There was plenty of gossip about
members of the choir, though" he
added. ...
The authorities are closely study.
ing Mrs. Halls replies to newspaper
man yesterday in which the rector's
widow voiced her faith in DR.. Hall;
maintained that she had no theories
as to the >murderers; said she did
not seek revenge, and denied the ac-
cusations made against her by Mrs.
Jane Gibson.
Officials conducting the inquiry
into the murder on Sept. IA of the
Rev. Edward W. Hall and his choir
leader, Mrs. Eleanor R. Mills, de-
clined to. comment this morning on
the interview given yesterday by
Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall to twenty
newspaper men.
Detective James J. Mason said two
witnesses had stated that Mrs. Hall
entered her home at 2:10 a. m. On.
the morning after the murders, in
stead of $3.50 a. m. as she told the
newspapermen. He said also that
these two witnesses said she was
alone. Mrs. Hall said her brother,
Willie Stevens was with her.