Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-11-13
NEGRESS REFUTES
MRS. G|BSON'S STORY
OF DOUBLE MURDER
Continued FROM page I.

VI IlOl ne tOuSlueTeu MtS. ItuSScii
affidavit seriously attacked the crod-
Utility Of Mrs. Gibson. He was then
reminded he had previously said that
he believed in the credibility OF Mrs,
Gibson and considered that her
story stood up under the closest
scrutiny.
II have been quoted in the news
papers for n lot Of things / never
said" was his answer.
Mrs. Russell's denial Of the Gibson
story came as n result not of any
official investigation but through her
own volition. She made it so late
she told Mr.. Pfeiffer. because she
had not believed the Prosecution
really intended to take Mrs. Gibson's
story seriously. AS soon as 1t was
evident Mrs. Gibson's story might
become the basis of Grand Jury nc
ton. she said. she wrote to Mrs
Hall. as follows, under date of Nov. Z:
Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall:
Dear Madam:
In regards to Sept Il, Mrs Jane
Gibson was not at the Phillips Farm
at ten o'clock. as ! live back of her
and she came over at 10 or little
before to tell me that she had took
my dog from man on Hamilton.
'She sat on the steps at my little
shanty a while and l gave her n
dollar for keeping my dog. Then
went with her home and got the dog.
We talked awhile and came home
about IL o'clock. She told me that
she waited till all had gone TO he'd
before she came. She has told me
things that was not so. l don't
think she can help 1t.
sincerely yours,
Mrs. Nellie L. Russell,
New Brunswick. y. J., General
Delivery"
According 10 Mrs. Russell, she did
not consider the conversation she had
with Mrs. Gibson of any Importance
except insofar as II brought about the
return of her dog. When the Gibson
the advice of John Sylvester and his
wife, white American farmers. The
Sylvesters advised her Ia toll what
| she knew. She then wrote TO Mrs
Hail."
Mrs. Anna IIanlon confirmed yes
| terday the published story quoting
her as giving a new version of the
Hall Mills murders when she was
seen at her home in Qweens Village
Long Island.
81 did tell about four people carry
ing away Mr.. Hall and the woman
/ had supposed 10 he Mrs. Hall, up 70
/ the time I saw her picture in the
/ paper, from the house on the Phillips
/ farm near New Brunswick the night
/ of Sept. IA. but l didn't put 1t il
writing and ! didn't sign anything,
she said last night.
! This she said with n toss Of the
/ head as IL rather proud of the fact
she had not disclosed anything that
could not subsequently be denied
| Mrs Hanlon admitted she CoulC
neither read nor write English. Blu
she is in no way lacking in intelli
gence and speaks German fiuently.
How do you account for the de
lay of two months in telling what yol
know of the seizure of Mr.. Hall an'
Mrs. Mills" she was asked.
Il didn't want 10 get mixed UP II
any murder" she replied. Until
became convinced that the real Mrs
Hall was in danger of being PLACED
on trial I kept my mouth shut-ex
cept to my husband, for ] did no
want the publicity and inconvenience
of being drawn into the case. BIT
when l thought of that poor woman
whom | knew TO be innocent. bein
in danger, my scruples We're over
come, and l determined to tell wha
l knew. And what l have told is III
absolute truth. But 1 didn't writ
anything or sign anything she re
peated.
Were you paid anything for you
! statement" she was asked.
She registered indignation at once
mo. What do you take me for?
she replied. Il was offered $500, tina
was laid right on the table. for
. signed statement, but I am an homes
woman and a Christian. and | hande
the money right back 10 the man VIII
offered il"
She asserted with earnestness IN
, murders were not committed eithe
| IN the mousse VI OiA Ni4f s9iSt1''Ns7' 4N4 -
pistol shots were fired within ht
hearing, she said. Nor did she hea
any outcry after the minister an
Mrs. Mills. carefully bound with rope
and presumably gagged, were carrie
from the house in which she was hiC
7 ing and placed in large automobi
: that stood by the crabapple tree.
: Mrs. Mills. whom l had alway
called Mrs. Hail. started crying q
soon as she was grabbed by the me
: after they had bound Mr.. Hall, sal
| Mrs. Hanlon. Blu she did TX
scream. had heard the young Amei
: lean man tell Mr.. Hall that 1t woul
{ be all over with him that night befoE
5 they carried him TO the car, and e>
pected to hear of some tragedy u
I next day. When the pictures or III
= murdered man and woman WEI
0 printed in the papers / recognize
them at once as the Mrs. Hall WI
3 had employed me. and the man ma
! supposed was her husband