New-York tribune., 1922-11-14
Time Set to Coincide With
Return of Judge Parker;
Widow Writes Foreman
Begging To Be Witness
Church Conspiracy
Of Silence Menaced
Henry Carpenter, Vestry-
man, Cousin of Rector's
Wife, Goes to Hospital
BY Boyden Sparkes

NEW BRUNSWICK, Nov. 1S.-Spe-
cial Attorney General Wilbur A. Mott
arranged to-day for the Somerset
County Grand Jury to convene next
Monday his coming Thursday, as
announce, witnesses in the
Hall-Mills muroe4 case. About the
same time Mr.. n Il was making these
preparations with Prosecutor Azariah
Beekman, Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall,
widow OF rector, was
writing to 4 I, foreman of the
grand jury, q in which she re-
iterated her declaration of innocence,
requested permission to appear before
the grand jury and expressed will
ingness to waive immunity.
As far as newspaper reporters have
been able to discover, Prosecutor
Motifs case against Mrs. Hall is weak
although it is stronger against her
than any one else, considering the
statement of Mrs. Jane Gibson that she
saw Mrs. Hall at the Phillips farm on
the night she witnessed the murders
the known evidence it was believed by
some of the unofficial investigators to-
night that the strategy of the state
embraces plan to employ the vast in
quisitorial powers of the grand jury
to extract valuable information from
the stubbornly silent members of the
congregation of the church of St. John
the Evangelist.
Clad Savs pfeiHar
"I'm very glad that the matter is to
be presented to the grand jury at last"
said Timothy Newell Pfeiffer, lawyer
for Mrs. Hall and her influential and
wealthy family, when he learned of Mr..
pressed satisfaction there can be no
doubt that some Of Mrs. Halls kim
folks regard tne grand jury proceedings
as real ordeal.
Quite aside from the question. Of who
killed Edward W. Hall and Eleanor
Mills, they are not likely to relish
having to talk about the scandal that
has saddened their homes and all but
wrecked their church The congrega-
tion, including the vestrymen and the
choir, some of whom certainly know
more than they have told about the
love affair of the rector and the choir
nance upon various persons attending
services there, has been spared thus
| far any severe strain upon what has
seemed to be a conspiracy of silence.
Murder Two Months Old
Two months ago tomorrow the mur-
ders were committed. Withing a few
hours of the discovery of the bodies
| Assistant Prosecutor John Toolan OF
Middlesex County announced to news
paper reporters that every member of
the church was to be questioned. Since
that time Mr.. Toolan has not been per-
| mitted to make any more statements
about the case. The congregation has
not been interrogated. Now, it seems,
this vital work is to be done before the
grand jurors of Somerset County. Mr..
Motifs decision to go to Somerville to-
| day and arrange for the convening Of
the grand jury was made last night
after Attorney Pfeiffer had turned over
to him an affidavit signed by Nellie Lo
Russell, a negro, who declared Mrs.
Jane Gibson was engaged in conversa-
tion with her at the time the woman
the murders on the Phillips Farm. I'm
til Mr.. Mott received that momentarily
disconcerting document he had
planned to pass to-day in New Bruins
wick talking with witnesses, something
he has not yet done unless he has worn
disguise while doing it. The excep-
ton with whom he has talked is Mrs.
Gibson.
Holds Hours Conference
Whether the attempt to discredit
Mrs. Gibson's story was responsible
for Mr.. Motifs change of plan could
not be learned. He would not discuss
it and no one else was in position 70
explain.
Mr.. Mott reached Somerville in the
afternoon and went to the Office of
Prosecutor Beekman, who was super
seded as head Of the investigation by
Mr.. Mott. They were in conference for
more than an hour, after which the spe-
tcontlnusd or page sssen)