Evening star., 1922-10-24
WOMAN ON MULE
SAW RECTOR AND
SINGER MURDERED
Two Couples in Tragedy Un-
der Crab Apple Tree,
She Tells Probers.
STARTLING FACTS GIVEN
by MRS. JANE GIBSON
Authorities in Conference as Eye
witness Story Enters
Investigation.
BY DAN RING.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

StdH Correspondent VI IhC ''ai-
NEW BRUNSWICK, y. J.. october
c4.-Mrs. Jane Gibson, who lives on
Hamilton road, 100 yards from De
Brussy lane, near which Rev. Ed
ward W. Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills
were slain September IA, saw party
of two women and two men on Phil
lips farm that night. She heard loud
talking. saw one man raise his arm
and shoot, saw the other man fall.
heard a woman call man by his first
name and scream.
Her story is in the hands of the
investigators. She lives on the far
end of the lane. During the last five
months many thefts have been COM
mitted. She has lost pigs and chick
ems from her stock. Some of her
dogs were shot. On Wednesday night.
September IS, the day preceding the
murder, some corn was stolen from
her field. Thursday night she started
out at about 8 o'clock to see if she
could find any evidence of this corn
on the Phillips farm.
Rides Mule Over Farm.
Because of the narrowness of paths
and byways in that neighborhood.
she did not take blackboard, but
mounted a mule.
The moon was shining and it sill
houetted figures on the landscape.
The caretaker on the Phillips farm
has a COW. 1t was her purpose to
see if any of the corn had been taken
there. Down that dark lane she rode.
Her elevated perch made it possible
10 overlook various points. Suddenly
she stopped. Loud talking was heard
in the vicinity of the very crab apple
Tree under which the bodies were
found. Two women were there and
TWO men. Suddenly one man raised
his hand and the sound of shot
broke forth a woman screamed. She
called one of the men by name. Mrs.
Gibson turned the mule and galloped
home. 1t is known for some time
last week attempts have bSen made
on every side TO cf1tain- corrsytyoratfve-
witnesses for the story told the pros
ecutors. Following the discovery of
what was termed big news" last
week, Mrs. Hall. widow of the slain
rector, was confronted by strange
woman in the courtroom when she
was quizzed week ago today.
Whether this woman identified her or
whether this was the purpose of the
enactment of this scene it is not
known. Publicly the woman main
tanned silence. That woman was
wi .. oioSoA'
Denies "Apy knowledge"
When Mrs. Gibson was interviewed
by newspaper men she SMILED and de-
MED knowing about anything. That
smile stuck to every denial. She has
the appearance of woman who
knows a great deal more than she
tells.
OF all the rumors and stories that
have cropped up in this investigation
this new one has all the earmarks of
accuracy. 1t promises far better of
verification, it can be stated safely
than any other story thus far un-
earthed.
Conference Under Way.
Conferences of prosecutors and
state and local police officials were
scheduled today, while Deputy State
Attorney General Wilbur A. Mott and
his aide, Detective Lieut.. James F.
Mason. proceeded to pick up what
tangible threads of evidence had pre-
sented themselves.
Whether Ellis Parker. Burlington
county detective. will come into the
case is undecided. Parker's name is
by word in New Jersey criminal de-
lection circles. He is known as one
of the most astute detectives of the
state, and Deputy Attorney General
Mott yesterday declared definitely
that he would be called.
Motifs reputation dates back eight
teen years. 1t was only ten years
ago, however. that the bathtub mur-
der mystery of Newark brought him
into the public spotlight. This was
the case in which Mrs. Martin plead
ed guilty to a charge of killing Osie
Snead. 1t attracted comment from
all sections of the country and high
tribute was paid Mott for the methods
by which he handled the case.
Prosecutor AZariah Beekman of
Somerset county and Prosecutor
Joseph Stricken of Middlesex county
will not be thrust into the discard by
the investigators who Supercede
them. They will continue to work
on the case, and only their authority
will be set down the waySide
while the responsibility passes to
other shoulders.
Both Mott and Mason appreciate
what this responsibility means. Both
are republicans. The prosecutors are
democrats. They have more than one
reason to bring the case to a success
ful conclusion, for New Jersey has
her eyes on her workers.
THUGS ARE SUSPECTED.