The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-28
MOTT SAYS HALL CASE IS NOT A MYSTERY

u ~ n - 4 - - -
few days will not bring an arrest imme-
diately.
When in your Judgment the time
comes for decisive action. will you orde,
an arrest or take the case TO the Grand
Jury first?"
II don't know. but unless there should
be some extraordinary developments
should be inclined 10 take the case to
the Grand Jury
with an eye witness statement which
You have characterized as credible.
what confederation do you regard as
necessary"
None is legally necessary. but still
il is open to a question of persuasion
Isn't it a fact that you have been
informed there was another eyewitness
out there?'
Only One Eyewitness.
mo" was the emphatic answer.
when you find that an alibi in this
case stands up. will you make state
ment to that effect?'
Now that raises a hypothetical ques-
ton depending on contingency ana
don't want 10 answer II"
I'm your judgment does an unsup-
ported statement by a person most IN
constitute an alibi?"
THAT is a question entirely for sub
mission 10 a jury on facts. An abb. as
/ understand it is the production OF IN
disputable evidence that person was
at a specific place at a spectre time TO
prove beyond doubt that he was not at
another place at the time"
This is most <eRlightening answer
for the reason Nat only Henry Ste
vens has other witnesses TO prove his
whereabouts on the night Of Thursday,
SEPTEMBER IA. of all these who have been
mentioned in connection with the case,
as far as is known.
Have you any corroboratine state
inent as to the whereabouts OF James
Mills on the night of September 14?'
1--WE are not so much Interested in
statements as in the cred
ibility Of the witnesses we produce.
said Mr.. Mott. Then ne went on to
say that in New Jersey the system is
different and simpler than in New York
Re hazarded the opinion that Il is SIM
Iler 10 try sucn a case as this In New
Jersey than In New York.
He was then asked: Have you any
statement as to the where
abouts Of Mrs. Hall between n. NJ.
and 2 a. NJ. on the night cf September
/ 4 and 1872"
Mrs. Halls Movements.
Mott hesitated quite a long time. per-
haps significantly. and then replied
'I have evidence detailing Mrs. Halls
for co.;sidera BILE period
of time before A. NJ. 1t seemed that
IL was this answer that Mr.. Mott con-
sidered of the first Importance. In con-
Guiding this interview he said he did
not think that Mrs. Gibson had any
thought Of reward when she came for
ward to make her statement.
He has talked with Mrs. Gibson, heard
her story and if he treated her as he
treats every one else ne questions he
asked Why more t'.an score times.
He takes. in examining witnesses. the
position of the attorney for the other
side and tries to break down his wit
ness to find every loophole there is.
That he felt as strongly ABBOTT the case
as he evidently did this evening, after
seeing Mrs. Gibson. indicates that he
means what he says when he declares
the mystery is solved. though the case
complex.
Mrs. Gibson Wasn't "ShOoed."
After the completion OF the question
ing of Mrs. Jane Gibson. Detective James
F. Mason called the newspaper men to-
gether and tod them that Mrs. Gibson
wished to deny that the authorities
here had disregarded her statements
and had "shooed her away" from the
court house when she sought to give
them evience. Mrs. Gibson herself.
calm and sure of her words. told the re-
porters that this report was not true.
Mrs. Gibson said:
II was never shooed away from the
court house by any one connected with
the prosecution. Exactly what happened
was this: j had already talked to De-
tective Totem and I was here making j
second or third visit TO see him. I came
to the door of the court house and
asked TO see either Mr.. Stricken or
Detective Totten. Prosecutor Beck
man came TO the door and said that
both were busy ana asked me II my
visit was In relation 10 the murder. case.
Having talked to Detective Totten
and Mr.. Stricken l did not want 10
divulge any of my business or confer
with any one but those two. Possibly
I was excited at the time and said to
Mr.. Beekman. No. 1t Is not about thai
case. It Is something else. / will come
back again.
Mr.. Beekman sail that If / would
come around later / would be able to
see Mr. Stricken or Mr.. Totten. The
authorities here have never disregarded
any OF the testimony have given them,
and they have always treated me most
courteously."
Mrs. Gibson then went from the court
house, escorted by two detectives and
returned to her farm near Hamilton
road. She had been examined from
Il o'clock until nooi.
Mott Makes Four Points.
Mott answered volley OF question,
from reporters for more than an hour
this morning. sidestepping on some di.
rect questions and humorously answer.
ing others. The salient points OF his
talk were:
That the story OF Mrs. Jane Gibson
alleged eyewitness. is well substantiated
and corroborated by more than one
other witness.
That an arrest could be made at once
or The case placed before grand jury
but that this Is not the desire Just now
of Mr.. Mott and is against his present
Judgment.
That the Hall-Mills murder il not a
mystery. 1t is a complex case. but by
no means a mystery.
That the automobiles in DeRussy's
lane on the night Of the murder have
been traced
The foregoing four points were
brought out after long questioning and
many other details of the case had been
made known. Every sort OF query was
fred at the prosecutor as he paced up
and down the Offices in the court house
AT one point Mr.. Mott became particu-