The New York herald., 1922-09-21
KIDNAP THEORY HELD
Detective Thinks Pair Were
Carried by Motor to
Death Spot.
WOMAN SAW TWO CARS
Both Raced Past House After
Shooting and Screams
Were Heard.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YosK HERALD.
NEW BRUNSWICK, n. j., Sept. 90
Two divergent theories are being fol-
lowed by the authorities of Middlesex
and Somerset counties in their efforts
to find out who killed the Rev. Edward
w. Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills last
Thursday night and left their bodies
beneath an apple tree near the isolated
and uninhabited Phillips farmhouse
The latest theory is that Hall and Mrs
Mills were kidnapped, and. either dead
or alive, taken to the place at which
the bodies were found. The other
theory is that the pair were accus-
toned to meet at the spot. and that
the actual killing took place there and
not in the farmhouse or elsewhere.
In support of the kidnapping theory
is new story developed to-day that
Mrs. Estelle Jones. who lives on George
street, near Landing lane, and hence
near the house of McCabe, the bridge
keeper, not only heard the shots and
the screams last Thursday night, but
Immediately afterward heard two
motor cars racing down the road be-
fore her place, coming from the di-
rection of Landing lane. at such a
pace that she was unable to tell how
many occupants there Were or even
guess at the make or type of car.
The authorities know more about the
two cars than they are telling and, are
Impressed with the story. notwithstand.
ing the fast moving cars are no rarity
In the neighborhood, as the road leads ia
several road houses.
Met There "FrequentIy."
The theory OF the killing elsewhere
than on the Phillips farm is held by
County Detective George Totten OF SOM
erset. The other is the theory of Prose-
cutor Joseph Il. Stricken OF Middlesex,
who asserted tonight: This office has
very well defined suspicion as to who
committed this crime. We have infor-
nation to the effect that Mr.. Hall and
Mrs. Mills had met before and fire.
uuently In the vicinity of the place where
the bodies were found. I believe they
We're killed there. That belief Is based
upon my own investigation"
Acknowledging the possession of the
gun referred to previously Stricken said
tonight that its caliber was different
from that with which the crime was
committed, as indicated by the bullet
wounds. He refused to say whether the
gun was taken from the Hall home.
~ L..
ported by evidence obtained to-day
Louis Ruck. taxicab driver, Is positive
that as long ago as Sunday, August 81
he saw Halls motor car parked beside
the road in Easton avenue. close to De
Russy lane, the dirt road off which the
road along which the bodies were found
leads
Puck says he passed the Hall cal
empty as he was driving fare TO .
point beyond. Returning few minutes
later he found the car gone but he over
took IL on the way into New Brunswick
Hall was driving and there was 2
woman in the car but Ruck did not
recognize her. The story shows thai
the dead minister was no stranger 70
the vicinity OF De Russy lane and the
Phillips farm.
The movements of the minister after
he left his home for the last time have
not bccnl traced. Stricken asserts. how
ever. that some OF Mrs. Mills's move
mcnts on the night in question have
been traced.
The idea Is now firmly fixed In the
minds OF many that more than one
other person was present when Iiall and
Mrs. Mills were killed. The suggestion
Is even advanced that Hall had gone
to the meeting place, not with the choir
one else. that an alteration led to y
fight and the double murder resulted
DR.. William II. Long. Coroner's physi-
clan OF Somerset County. determined
that there was but one bullet wound
IN each body, the shots penetrating the
skull in each case. This sets at rest the
reiterated story that Mrs. Mills had
been shot four times. lie found also
that Mrs. Millss right arm had beer
deeply scratched from the wrist to the
shoulder.
Go over Old Ground.
To-day was marked with minor de-
velopments and notable chiefly for the
apparent increase OF activity on the part
OF the two county prosecutors who arc
working on the case In such time rs
they can spare from their other duties.
Prosecutor Beekman OF Somerset
county, ~ engaged before tho Grand
Jury, and Prosecutor Strickler Is man
aging the Silzer Gubernatorial boom.
Willie Stcvena, Mrs. HIPS half witted
brother. was examined by Strickler and
some OF his county detectives, but the
examination failed 70 develop anything
of importance. nor did the brothers tale
as TO the dolngs in the Hsll house last
Thursday night differ from that told
BY Mrs. Hall. despite reports to the con-
trary current about the Court House
after the examination.
Mrs Hall was also examined briefly
by Detectives Fitzpatrick and Totten
with Assistant Prosecutor Toolan OF tho
Hall home. a little late, in view OF
the fact that the murder was com
mittcd nearly week go. the detectives