The Washington herald., 1922-10-15
STATE TAKES HAND
In JERSEY PROBE
OF DOUBLE MURDER
Supreme Court Justice
And New Brunswick
Attorneys Confer.

NEW BRUNSWICK, n. J.. Oct. IL.
The fifth week Of the investlga-
ton of the murder OF Rev. Edward
Wheeler Hall, rector Of the Church
of st. John the Evangelist of New
Brunswick, and Mrs. Eleanor Mills.
choir singer, started today with a
conference of Supreme Court Justice
Parker and Prosecutors Stricken and
Beekman in the Essex Club in New
ark Prosecutor Bigelow, Of Essex
County, was with them.
The conferees refused to tell the
details of the meeting. but Justice
Parker hinted that he will order At
torney General McGran to take
charge of the investigation.
The prosecutors of Somerset and
MiddIesex counties make no secret
of their desire to have the attor-
ney general hold the bag"
The conference followed a letter
from Mrs. Hall to Gov. Edwards, in
which the minister's widow asked
that a competent official be put
in charge OF the investigation.
County Detective Angered.
Mrs. Halls letter aroused the an
ger Of County Detective Totten. OF
Somerville, who asserted Mrs. Hall,
of course, is suspected of knowing
more than she has told.
Totten said he had information
indicating the murder was commit
ted between $50 and 1918 o'clock
on the night of September IA, He
further made the statement that he
knew the shooting was done by
some one deeply interested In Dr.
Hall and Mrs. Mills.
Regulations have been stained. ar
rests have been made. prisoners
have been released. yet the murderer
is uncaught and no promise OF his
apprehension has been made. Poll
tics has entered the tale without
excuse for its presence.
Florence North. who offered her
services as attorney to Charlotte
Mills. again stated today she had
proof that Mrs Hall had known for
some time Of the relations between
her husband and Mrs. Hall.
Timothy y. Pfeiffer, Mrs. Halls
attorney. denied that this was true.
Totten AssaiIs Mrs. Hall.
Mrs Halls motive in securing the
services Of an attorney before the
bodies were discovered was queS-
toned by Detective Totten. Mrs
Hall first engaged William E. Flor
ence and later Attorney Pfeiffer.
Raymond Schneider. held on
charge of perjury growing out of
his statement that Clifford Hayes
committed the murder and also on
the charge of corrupting the
morals of a minor, was taken TO
the Middlesex Hospital today suf-
fering from. blood poisoning, caused
from a cut on his finger.
Hayes Justice Fund" tags were
sold on the streets in the town of
New brunswick today and thou7
sands of dollars were netted to
pay Hayes legal expenses and the
remainder will go to charity.
influential members OF the Church
of St. John the Evangelist were
quizzed.
Vestrymnn Is Quizzed.
One vestryman. whose name is
withheld. openly admitted he had
been riding with the prettiest girl
of the church choir the night Mrs.
Mills and the Rev. Hall were slain.
This church officer, married
stated he met the girl at the Y. NJ.
c. A. and drove her home in his
automobile
He denied he had been any
where near the Phillips farm and
protested vehemently he was with
holding facts from the authorities.
ties.
The other vestryman. an Older
| man, was quizzed to determine
whether DR.. Halls flock knew OF
the alleged infatuation between
him and the wife of the church
sexton, James Mills.