Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-19
RECTOR AND WIFE
Of SEXTON SLAIN

NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., Sept.
ia double murder which bids fair
to take rank with the mysteries OF
Edgar Allan Poe was revealed here
this afternoon when children play
ing in a grove found the corpses of
the Rev. Edward W. Hall, forty
eight years old, prominent Episcopal
divine, and Mrs. James Mills, TWEEN
ty.eight years Of age.
The bodies lay side by side. The
man, rector of the Church OF st.
John, was on his back, with straw
hat over his face-a bullet hole in
his forehead. The woman, wife OF
st. Johns sexton, and a member Oh
the church choir, was beside him
ber face shrouded by veil, four
bullet holes in her head and a gash
four inches long in her throat.
Police are investigating the theory
that the pair might have been slain
:. elsewhere and carried to the place
r,a where they were found, cereIulS
c laid ont. under a tree. No pistol OF
knife was found near the scene An
80, cartridge was found under
- the minister's body.
Left Home Thursday
The minister left his rectorS'
whore he resided with his vile anu
+hrea children, on THURSDAY eve
s = ming. He had not been seen since,
$50 far as police can ascertain ano
IS !. 20 not known whether his dlsap-
,aarance was reported to the au-
tnor,ties when he failed to return
nxrs Mills was seen last by con-
ductor on an Easton' line trolieS'
who says she rode on his car iaS'
Thursday night.
Police say the couple had oeeh
Had approximately forty-four hours
which would fix the time Oh Inc
killing as Thursday nlgnt-tne
same night the clergyman lett hoiii0
ora the woman was seen riding on
the trolley.
claws 70 the identity of the slayer
may be found in scraps OF le''eiS
which were found Uttered over lhe
ground around the corpses' Iheso
onneared to be Mr.. Halls letters. IL
was evident that his clothing hao
been ransacked. The torn bits Oh
paper, which were takein IN charge
nv notice, were covered with pencli
scribblings, but bore no SIGNATURES
They were addressed TO Mr. I1alt,
datactives said. One read in part:
"Please do not laugh at this. 1
know I am a crazy cat, but can
he different. Charlotte talks theA
Don asks questions, then he annoys
so how can I Wr1te!
reflective C. D. Totten, Of Somer-
set county, took immediate charge
of the investigation, as the bodies
were found outside the city limits
of New Brunswick. He Is assisted
by police and deputy sheri1ts.
Scrap of Letter
Another letter found rear the
bodies read:
.fYou are q true priest. You sea
in me only your physical Inspiration:
Won. a priest! Was. Pan religious
God meant people to enjoy all things
deeply"
The police are working on thres
theories:
/. The couple were slain in ven
Reance after they had gone tCgeth'
err to Phillips farm, the place Where
the bodies were found.
2. They were killed for robbery
as no money or jewelry were 1ound;
8. They were slain elsewhere anu
taken to the field in an automobile.
James Mills, husband Of the muir
dered woman, declared he and his
wife were on the best of terms. Mr..
Hall, he described as ga perfect
friend" his best in time of trouble.
He said he had known the preacher
for ten years. The Mills have two
children, while the Halls are child
less.
Mr., Mills said his wife left home
at 1870 Thursday night with a joking
answer to his query as to where she
was going.
Mrs. Hall, wife of the nSnSd=- Cd
preacher, said her husbad left their
house at about 1880 Thursday eve
ming. She did not ask where he was
going, for he was accustomed to go
ing out alone. He walked, although
9wealthy and possessing an ANTONIO
@bile.
8 The murder, reconstructed tonight
by the authorities, was brutal one.
Died Fighting
Mr.. Hall died fighting for his life
and that of his companion, the po-
Slice believe. Knife slashes on his
hand similar to those on Mrs. Mills
throat, tell of the attack by a muir
derer armed besides with pistol
and a heavy blunt weapon, with |
: which the woman's head was crush |
: ed.
The family life Of the Halls was
described by Mr.. Mills as %sweet as
sugar"
County Physician Long, after a
further examination of Mr.. Halls |
body, announced he found the |
clergyman had been struck on the |
back of the head during his struggle. |
SOld-Tiime Fiddlers