The New York herald., 1922-10-24
STATE TAKES over
|. HALL MURDER CASE
FOR A FRESH START
Wilbur A. Mott Of Newark
Directs Inquiry as Special
Attorney-General.
FIRST STEPS TODAY
Investigation at Standstill
Until He Can Learn What
Has Been Done.
SOLUTION MORE UNLIKELY
Somerset Grand Jury Gets No
Chance to Act on Evidence
Gathered by Beekman.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New BRUNSWICK, Oct. 23.-With the
announcement to-day that Wilbur A.
Mott, acting as a Special Deputy At
torney- General, is to take charge of
the investigation of the murder of the
Rev. Edward w. Hall and Mrs. Flea
nor Mills, the authorities of Middlesex
and Somerset counties have acknowl-
edged that their work SO far has been
in vain.
Mr.. Mott with James Mason, now
assigned from the Newark police as a
county detective in Essex, will go to
Somerville tomorrow to begin work,
and may be Joined there soon by Ellis
Parker, Burlington county detective
with n reputation in murder cases.
The people of New Brunswick have
been eager to see Parker on the case.
1t will be days before Mr.. Mott and
his assistants will be sufficiently ac-
quainted with the case to begin con-
structive work. He has a mass of
testimony to read, many exhibits to
examine, innumerable people to ques-
tion before he reaches the point at
which the other investigators arrived
weeks ago. Only when he has done
these things will he be able to proceed
constructively. He inferred to-day in
the statement that he will take moth
ing for granted.
Solution Now Far Away.
This means that the murder inquiry
is to start all over and that tho solu-
tion--thought within the last few days {,
be near--is as far off as ever and that
the possibility is greater that the muir
derer or murderers never will be cap
tured, or, IL caught. will never be con-
victed.
1t is now easily possible that no soIu-
tion ever will be found to this remark
able case. which has aiiracted attention
all over the country and which, has ele-
ments which have not been present In
any similar case i'm many decades.
developments soon. Prosecutor Strick-
er for days has been urging action
the making Of an arrest. Beekman has
refused. After Mott has talked with
Beekman in Somerville Tomorrow he
viii come here and talk with Stricken.
II may be that the latter will induce
him to make an arrest on the theory
that il will open mouths and get in
formation that is sadly needed. There
is chance of this. but no certainty.
The appointment of Mott by Attorney
General McCran has, however, occa-
stoned general satisfaction. Prosecuto,.
Stricken of Middlesex is pleased, and s.,
is Timothy N. Pfeiffer, counsel for Mrs
Hall. the rector.s widow
No Case for Grand Jury.
The case Is at standstill. BeeIxman
did not put the matter before the
Somerset Grand Jury to-day as had
been foretold. The reasons were the
appointment of Mott. in the face of
which a representation to the Jury
would have been discourteous. and the
more important fact that Beekman did
not have evidence to make out a prima
facie case. The jury In short session
found thirty-three indictments. none
having anything to do with the Hall
case.
Stricker has admitted for days that
he has been out of the case. His
assistant. John II. Toolan. who did some
admirable work in the early stages, has
not had opportunity to give the case
thought for week or more. Now the
interposition of Mott displaces Beck
man. The entrance OF Mason and pos
sibly Parker will depose George Tot
ten, Somerset detective. and Ferd David
and John Ferguson. Middlesex detec-
tives.
Mr.. Mott has been with the Prosecu-
tors office in Essex county for more than
eighteen years. He has been a Prosecu-
tor. Assistant Prosecutor and police
judge in Newark He Is member of
Mott Bernheim. lawyers. of Newark,
and retired last May as Assistant Prose-
cutor to j. Henry Harrison. He is a Re-
publican while the other investigators
Of the case are Democrats. He has been
active in every big murder case in Essex
country for many years and has also had
considerable detective experience.
i II was announced at his Offices In
Continued on Page Eight.