Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-29
Is Held Without Bail on Basis
of New Evidence in Four
Year-0Id Case.
ARREST is RIDICULOUS"
is HER ONLY STATEMENT
Murder Probe Renewed When For
mer Maids Husband Sues for
Annulment of Marriage.
BY the Associated Press.

SOMERVILLE, n. j., July %
Mrs. Edward Wheeler Hall. widow of
The slain rector of st. Johns Episco-
pal Church in New Brunswick, was in
the county Jail today. held without
bail. accused of the murder four years
ago of her husband and Mrs. Eleanor
Mills, wife of the church sexton and
singer In the choir.
Mrs. Hall was arrested late last
night at her home. She spent most
Of the night in a reception room on
he first floor in the rear Of the jail.
Mrs. Edward Carpenter, her cousin,
and Russell E. watson. attorney,
were with her. Mrs. Hall sgt quietly,
but Mrs. Carpenter paced the jail
corridor nervously most of the night.
Mrs. Hall branded her arrest as
ridiculous, but would say nothing
more. Hercousin an attorney refused
TO talk. Nothing was forthcoming
from the authorities to explain what
new evidence in the mystery had
brought about the arrest.
Attorney Is Notified.
Immediately after the arrest Tim.
othy y. Pfeifer. New York attorney,
who represented Mrs. Hall during in.
vestigations, was notified. Shortly be-
fore dawn a man not Mr.. Pfeifer ar.
rived at the Jail in a New York taxi
cab and was taken into the reception
room. Mr. Watson and jail attend
ants refused to give his name.
Two warrants charging separately
the murder Of Mr.. Hall and his pretty
young woman companion were sworn
out Yesterday Investigation of the
case. abandoned nearly four years
ago, was renewed several weeks age
because OF an annulment suit filed
by Arthur S. Riehl.
Riehl charged that his wife, for
merry Louise Gest, who had been a
maid in the Hall household had de
ceived him as to her past relationships
with Mr.. Hall before he married her
in 1924. In an unsworn statemen nj
Riefl said his wife had received $4,000
for silence in connection with the
murder.
THE bodies of MFR. Hall and Mrs
Mills were found September Is, 1922
in SIN abandoned orchard near New
Brunswick. They had been shot with
a pistol and their clothes were neatly
arranged as they lay side by side.
Shot While In Embrace.
A nearby vacant house was found
to be completely furnished and show
ed signs of recent use. Love letters
of the dead pair were found and pub
lished. Acquaintances declared that
Mr.. Hall and Mrs. Mills contemplated
eioping to Japan. Indications were
they had been in embrace when shot
Authorities investigated one theory
they had been killed by jealous WON
an.
This theory was strengthened upon
exhumation of the bodies when it was
found that Mrs. Mills throat had been
cut, she had been shot three times in
contrast with one shot for the clergy.
man, and her face had been scratched
It was recalled that his eyes had been
closed while those of Mrs. Mills had
not.
Attention was diverted by the arrest
of Clifford Hayes 19. who was ac.
cused by Raymond Schneider of hav.
ing shot them in mistake for Pearl
BANNER. 16, and her stepfather. A
fund was raised for the defense OF
HAYES, a war veteran.
Schneider later retracted his
charge, and In December, 1922. was
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