| Show or f r t t t t t t Did Not Commit Double Murder Says Mr Hall Hal Widow of Slain Slab Pastor F Declares She Was Not N Near ear Scene of Killing R vj 4 r I J of J MRS MRS- FRANCES STEVENS HALL Defendant in Mills Hall-Mills Case Expresses Belief Husband Was Vas True to Her Before Death Home Life and Church Activities of Ii Rev Reverend rend Hall Han Described COURTHOUSE Somerville N. N J J. J Nov 27 AP AP- AP Mrs Frances Stevens Hall told a jury trying her and her brothers here today that she did not kill her husband the Rev Edward Wheeler Hall and Mrs Eleanor R. R Mills She had added that she played no part pad in the tragedy and was not in inthe inthe inthe the neighborhood of the crabapple tree De Russey's lane or orthe orthe orthe the Phillips farm on the night of September 14 The bodies of oC the slain coupler couple were found under a crabapple tree on the Phillips PIllip farm aria anil the states state's star witness Mrs Jane Gibson testified testified tes tea that she saw Mrs Hall InDe in inDe De Dc lane iane and later at the spot where the bodies were found MM 1111 Han Hall going on the witness stand in her own behalf at 2 o'clock this afternoon had testified that she thou thought ht her husband true to her and knew of no affair or correspondence correspondence cor cor- between n the minister and choir singer SOMERVILLE SO N. N J. J Nov 27 27 CAP IlaS AP Mrs Frances Stevens Hall Hail went to the witness stand in in- ler Ier own behalf In the Mills Hall murder trial today to say that at the time her husband was slain she believed him Im faithful to his marriage vows Mrs Urs Hall Hail said that the Rev Edward Lidward Ed Lid ward V Hall Hail was a devoted Iu- Iu band her reply to a question as aa to his devotion beng being one emphatic word Absolutely She declared that she never heard of letters read In court from her husband to Mrs Eleanor U. U Mills 1 killed with him no noi- noi those of Mrs 1 Mills l to Mr 11 Hall Hail Sh She did not not know she said that her husband kept a diary The diary in evidence in inthe inthe inthe the trial was vas filled with affectionate affection affection- ate a te expressions directed to Mrs l Mills A prompt negative was her an answer answer answer an- an to a question as to whether she he knew of oC a clandestine correspondence correspondence correspondence corre corre- between the rector and choir singer Mrs her testimony at 2 o'clock with former orner Attorney General Robert nobert l H. H McCarter l Cart r conducting conducting conducting con con- ducting the examination She walked briskly to the stand and In Ina Ina ina a low b hut but t firm voice took the oath with I do cio as her response Soon after she had started testifying she called the attention of oC Justice Charles W. W Parker presidIng presiding presiding ing to a man with a camera sitting near the the front of the courtroom Justice Parker ordered the man re removed removed removed re- re moved and the camera confiscated The Court issued orders excluding Continued on pa page e 5 5 5 o Mrs Hall Takes Stand in Defense Continued from page 1 1 photographers from the court court- room Where here were you born asked Robert H. H McCarter of defense counsel as the first question in the examination S In South Carolina in 1874 answered an answered answered an an- Mrs Hall She spoke in a low C calm lm voice as am the direct examination was start start- ed Spectators Spectator in the tIle courtroom leaned eagerly eal forward to catch every word she said Was your husband a a. devoted husband Absolutely Up to the time of his death did you notice the tue slightest change in his hlll demeanor and conduct No Did you enter Into the tIle work worl of your our parish In every way I could I taught Sunday school class lass and helped In every way I could Did you become acquainted with the women tomen of or your parish 7 Yes Did you ou know Eleanor Mills s 1 I saw her In connection with the tile work worSt of or the church For a time ape Ine was a 1 member of ot my Sunday school class Do you know of anyone who WIlD manifested great Ireat zeal l el I think Mrs Clark was as ac ac- ac- ac tive Do Po you ou remember going to the home for tor the aged at Bound Brook flY Yes S. S Was it cUl customary for members of pf your chur church churell h to visit various In Institutions Institutions institutions In- In n nearby narb arb Mr l McCarter asked Yes Did Willie ha have hae e a pistol Yes Did you remember your husband doing anything to that t pistol About three years before his death my husband filed the firing tiring pin I Where did lId he keep It In his room toom I never told Willie Willie Wil VII lie It had been filed Describe the daily life fe of or your our hu husband band He lie was wai verv erv apt to stay i In the house during the mornin morning Usually Usual Usual- ly iy he made the calls in the after after- noon We Ve always had bad supper to tog together to- to g gether ther and he be was often otten out at church eh meetings in the tile evening |
