The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-10-27
MORE LIGHT ON
MURDER MYSTERY

- -
New Brunswick, Oct. 27.-wilbur
A. Mott, special deputy to the attor-
ney general, IL expected to interview
. prominent church man In an effort
70 corroborate the statement of Mrs.
Jane Gibson, an eye witness to the
Hall-Aills staying. Mrs. Gibson said
the church mans car was parked near
the scene, the cars headlight enabling
her 10 Gee the fatal battle.
Attorney Pfelffer for Mrs. Hall de-
MED that she or her brother, Henry
Stevens, were present when the cou-
pie were sdain.
Attorney Mott called on Mrs. Glib
son 10 cover details Of the story. It
became known that Mott ordered the
seizure Of the antique auto which Mrs.
Gibson said stood near the scene Of
the double killing.
New Brunnswick, N. J., Oct. 26 (By
the Associated Press). Mrs. Frances
Stevens Hall, widow Of the slain rec
tor of the Protestant Episcopal
church Of st. John, the Evangelist,
and her brother, Henry Stevens, are
the man ana woman named in the
sworn statement Of Mrs. Jane Glib
son, self styled eyewitness of the dou-
BILE slsying of the Rev. Edward Hall
and Mrs. Eleanor Reinhardt Mills on
the night of September II, last.
This announcement was not made
by the authorities but became known
tonight through the issuance Of a
statement by Mrs. Halls attorney,
Timohy N. Pfeiffer, denying the
facts Of Mrs. Gibson's account and de-
claring that neither the rector's
widow nor her brother were on the
Phillips farm on the night Of the
double staying.
"3rs. Gibson's statements are con-
trary to the facts" Mr.. Pfeiffer said.
"Mrs. Hall was in her home all even
ing. Barbara Tough, one of the
maids, was out that night and Louisa
Goist, the other maid, was on the
back step. There was no one else but
little seven year old niece in the
house with Mrs. Hall. But there may
have been one visitor.
2 Henry Stevens Identification as
one OF the quartet seen on the farm
is Also contrary to fact. Henry was
!; at Lavallstts. N. J., all that night"
lsxsss Sa1sPnk S@hsr. etssasns & q
: Ils1Sd, CeSi of6el Z tl31tt she Kxd1Seef
four persons on the night Of the MUIR
ders under the crab apple tree where
two days later the bodies of the rec
tor and the choir singer were found.
Mrs. Gibson also said in her state
ment that she heard the man whom
she alleges she saw fire series of
shots at the rector and the choir
singer addressed by his companion.
The cries Of Mrs. Mills, which Mrs.
Gibbons declared "still ring in my
ears at night" had hardly echoed, the
woman farmer said, when the second
woman In the quartet screamed in a
terrified tone: "Oh, Henry"
The dramatic story Of a woman
farmef-that she had witnessed the
Mills-Hall murder and had identified
both the slayer and woman who ac-
companisd him-today electrified
New Brunswick.
About six weeks ago the bodies Of
the Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall and
Mrs. Eleanor r. Mills, singer In his
choir, were found under a crab apple
tree on the Phillips farm.
Since then conflicting authorities
have wrestled with theories, counter
theories, arrested world war vet
eran and turned him loose; indicated
that further arrests would be made;
denied II the next. And all the time
one Of the intricate murder mysteries
that has engaged the interest Of the
country in years has gone unsolved.
Now, with full story made public
Of the woman farmer-Mrs. Jane Glib
son-the feeling was strong in New
Brunswick tonight that the denune-
nnent was approaching fast.
No hint Of whom the climax, culmi-
mating in arrests might be expected
were given by Special Deputy At
torney General Wilbur A. Mott,
placed In charge Of the case by the
atate, when the county authorities had
thrown up their hands.
Admitting the Importance of the
story told by Mrs. Gibson, he pro-
fessed to have other information on
which he could act independent Of her
afiidavits.
Mr.. Motifs last words tonight, be-
fore leaving for his home in Newark,
were: ::sThe time 10 not quite ripe
for an arrest in my Judgment"
He admitted that Mrs. Gibson's
idsntiAcation, generally speaking,
would afford SUFFICIENT ground for an
arrest but said that under the present
circumstances 1t would be well to
have cosroboratins evidence.
'sf