New-York tribune., 1922-10-05
Hall Counsel
Barred From
Mills Autopsy
Widow of Slain Rector Not
10 BE Represented To-
day When Body of Wona-
am Victim Is Examined
More Love Letters Barred
New Witness Says He Saw
Two Men and Woman in
Auto Near Death Farm
BY Boyden Sparkes

NEW BRUNSWICK, n. j., Oct. A.
The two lawyers who are eounseling
Mrs. Frances Hall, widow of the muir
cered rector of the Church of ST John
the evangelist, have been unsuccessful
IN their efforts to persuade the author
l.ies to allow Mfs. Hall to be repre-
seneed at the autopsy to be performed
to-n1orrow on the body Of her husband.
IL was learned definitely tonight
that permission had been denied and
that only persons disposed to testify
%hich the body would figure as the
corpus delicti would be present in
the morgue or Kings County Hospital
Tomorrow afternoon when the beiated
post morten is made.
Among those who viii be present are
prosecutors Stricker and Beekman, Dr..
r. |. Cronk, health officer Of New
brunswick, and probably, DR.. William
Long, coroner's physician of Somerset
County. These two doctors will attend
as rival observers, for it was DR..
Cronk's comment, made after an unof-
hclal examination, that revealed Dr.
Longs failure to perform autopsies
when the bodies were turned over to
him for that purpose.
Examined Slain Woman
III ln1s connection 1t was learned
to-day that DIR. Cronk examined the
BODY OF Mrs. Mills on behalf of Mrs.
Hall, or at least on behalf of former
State Senator William Florance. Mrs.
Halls lawyer. DR.. Cronk said that
Coroner Hubbard, in whose undertake
Ing establishment the bodies were pre-
pared for burial, had asked him to
make the examination at the request
OF Mr.. fiorance. lie was directed to
learn, Dr. Cronk said to-day, whether
Mrs. Mills was in a delicate condition.
One of the tasks that the state
troopers have set for themselves in the
learn why Attorney Florance sought
this information. His client, Mrs. Hall.
has sent word time and again to the
newspaper men, who are not allowed to
see her. that her faith in her husband
sis boundless and mistaken" When
attempts have been made to go behind
TINS, the persons speaking for Mrs.
Hall have insisted that she never dur
ing their life together entertained anv
doubts about the faithfulness Of Dy.
Hall either as a husband or as q min
lister.
Mrs. Mills Note Found
The authorities are possessed Of
letter or note from Mrs. Mills to the
rector which is presumed to have been
the last communication that passed be-
tween them. 1t contains a line that
refers to an incident on the motor trio
TO Lake Hopateong. Dr.. Hall tore his
trousers on a barbwire fence or some
briars, and Mrs. Hall repaired the dam
aged garment.
"Oh, for the time when can do
your mendlng,' wrote Mrs. Mills in this
misslYe, which was one of those found
with the bodies. In view of the other
knowledge in the possession of inves-
tlgators 1T is now believed that Mrs.
Mills was referring to plan they are
believed to have developed of eloping
to the Orient:
From various sources the authorities
nave slfted out an imposing arrav of
evidence to support their belief the
munster mn ,, was considering an elopement
mrs. Mills was indiscreet about their
affection for each other. and at times
seemed anxious to fiaunt their love in
the face of the entire congregation.
Time and time again, it has been
learned, she slipped her written
thoughts into the hand of the clergy
man before the eyes of others. Some
times the notes were laid between the
covers of hymnal, at others, inside
of prayer book. DIR. Hall himself
grew careless, they say, bat never to
the point of replying in writing.
Through every service, choir prac-
tice and other church gatherings over
a long reriod there was woven this
thread Of romance.
The Investigators believe that some
one who was vitality interested in one
or the other of these lovers determined
to stop their affair at no matter what
cost. The Investigators also believe
now that it was entirely probable that
the murders were committed by a soli-
tary person.
An expert examination of the shoes