Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-10-20
Hall Probers on Wrong Track,
Says Famous Quaker Sleuth
BY BOB DORMAN
NEA servles STAR wrltsr.


TOMS RIVER, N. J.. Oct. 30
They're wrong-all wrongl
They're following blind trials in
the Hall-Mills murder mystery.
when this church crime is
solved. 1 believe there will be SO
luton upsetting every theory so far
advanced"
Detective Ellis Parker 10 speak
ing.
The famous Quaker detective,
who has solved and secured convio-
lions in 90 out of 90 murder cases
with three cases still untried-gavs
NBA Service his views on the New
Brunswick mystery in which
church rector and choir singer were
slain more than five weeks ago.
Parker. 81 years old and 2S years
detective. has had many appeals
to enter the Hall-Mills case. Even
though the end has come to his
latest successful case, in which Mrs,
Ivy Giberson was convicted Of the
murder of her husband. Parker has
been loathe to discuss the famous
church mystery.
IT don't like TO talk about a case
on which others are working" he
said. "And I want It understood
that I will only go TO work on It
by order OF my superior officers
and with the full consent OF all those
now engaged on the case.
SHOULD I be assigned to the case,
I would follow my usual procedure.
ct would want all the facts and
theories thus far obtained by the
authorities now working on the case.
Getting a Lead.
~ would want every newspaper
man 60 give mo all his data and
theories.
1T would question each person
sven remotely connected with tho
case, including the church members. !
"All statements would be made a
matter Of stenographio record.
mo man can fully carry In his |
mind the exact statements made TO /
him. A careful comparison OF all |
these statements would probably |
show discrepancies. They always do.
ironing out these discrepancies
would probably furnish a lead.
Motives are no safe guide IN
murder case. How can we know
what another person is thinking? A
motive for murder may be born in
IN instant.
'Thinly yelled insinuations have
,een made against Mrs. Hall.
"But-isn't It a natural thing for
! God-fearing woman whose hus-
,and a minister Of the gospel, has (
nysteriously disappeared, TO hire a
awyer to conduct an investigation?
isn't It natural that such a wo-
nan would be unwilling to expose
Ter religious faith to the ever-ready ,
neers of hypocrites who gloat over
he downfall of a leader in any
hurch? ,
could not the murder have been
he product Of the twisted brain Of
ONE fanatic who considered himself
ppointed by Heaven to avenge the
INSULT he fancied a minister Of the
iospel had offered to his God2
let Facts First.
1T is only by reasoning examina- 1
Ion and coordination Of all the {
acts in a case, with plenty OF hard r
york thrown In, that we can arrive
Z the TRUTH
STORY book detectives are good, r
ut they start with a theory and @
hen make the facts prove the the @
~. The detective in real life must t
AXE his facts as he finds them, and
uild them into a theory that will Y
.and the test OF court" I
Parker is short and bulky, with a
AIDED blue eyes. bald head and a
hort choppy mustache. and an in
eterate pipe-smoker. As Quaker
q testifles on the witness stand by Il
mrming instead of by oath a
Probably the most difficult case he b
as solved was the murder OF Ser III
cant Michael Gregor at Camp Dix. st
Yhen the skeleton. identified by le
ays lying nearby. was found Dec. 3. pt
'21. Parker was called in-and he te
cSed the murderer out OF IT'S men la