New-York tribune., 1922-11-29


kana ard Mrs. Miils were sornd ~
dor the crab apple tree On the Phillip
farm.
sssT appearance at che county court
house this morning was bold and un
pYecedentsd stroke. She had asked th
grand Jury to hear her and her reques
sepestedlY thas he did not wish her &
testify. Bus she knew that Mrs. Glib
son was Go take the stand to-day. Sh
kgew, too, that the state was ssaksn,
sts cass on Mrs. Eibson's story. Per
haps she reekoned on the phychofogiea
effect OF appearances. AT any rate, shs
WAS there at 10 osefock with Mr.. Pfeig
fer and Miss Peters, and there shl
stayed all day except Tor the luncheon
hour.
She drove 20 Bound Brook 10 NEE
Mr. Pfesfer coming out from New
York, and was ovextaken and reeog
nized by photographers and reporters
also on their way TO SomerviIle from
New Brunswick. Pulling down the cur
tasns OF Der car, she managed TO pro
sect herself from scrutiny until they
alI arrived at the courthouse Thert
she made no attempt to conceal hcI
identity. She would not pose TO,
photographs, but was snapped as shs
walked to the courthouse steps.
She appeared to be In splendid snirik.
at first. A smile was never far from
her lips and at times she laughed out
right as Sallie Peters Of Mr.. preifyei
talked TO her. There was q vivacity
about her that was totally absent or
the day she gave her on'y inteYyiaw
But the cold, hard look Impressed IL.
self when her face was IN reposa ant
her eyes flashed at the gallery crowd,
ard took them In eontemptuously. New,
OF her appearance in court soon spread
and people came in to gaze at her. she
was not in the least disconnected by
their scrutiny. She seemed TO be nm.
raoved oy what Was going on, although
aer eyes strayed eagerly to the fury
room door every time it opened. Final.
" Mr.. Reekman came out and Mr.. PSeif.
Ter approached him.
Beckman Refuses 60 Hear Her
May ! speak to VOC for a moment f'
ne said tnterrogatively.
Mr. Beekman checked himself In his
swift stride, appeared to take NO notice
Ehen turned and said, "You can't epeak
70 rns--fo." FN'%~ .
Up to that moment Mrs. Ball had
snoaght that her presence would over.
siae a.! objections to her appearance
DeioTe the grand jury and that she
ss Wouid oe gwen an equal chance with
hlrs. G,bson to tell her story. She ar.
eepted the rebuff through her LAWYER
Without the slightest hint of emotion
There were other things that had
brought her there besides heY desire
TO tell her story.
she wantcu to face Mrs. Gibson. ana
had no intention Of leaving withomt
doing this. The air seemed CHARGED
with electric currents when the en-
counter came. Neither woman snc-
eumbed to the moral force of the other.
Ihey stared each other out--those two
hard-faced, strong-minded women who
have figured against each other In this
case like open cornbatants.
Mrs. Gibson was closely guarded all
morning. She was kept In the prose
cusors office instead of in the lobby
With the other witnesses. When she
left two state troopers and n sheriff
accompanied her SIZE wound wisns Of
fulie around her face to avoid being
photographed. She was on the stand
Tor an hour and fifty minutes, and
came out looking rather wilted.
Contrast Is Striking
There was the strongest contrast be-
tween the opulency Of Mrs. Hall and
the shabiiness IF Mrs. Gibson. The
pig womans looks better in her rough
farm things than in her conventional
clothes. Her rubber boots and farm
togs are much more suitable to her
weather-beaten tyne.
Mrs. Gibson told the story that she
swHre TO soon after the murder--ths
story that implicated Mrs. Hall and
one OF her relatives. She described
neT alleged ride near the scene OF she
crime on Jenny, her mule. She told Of
seeing the woman In gray and Che
bushy-haired man and Of the same
woman weeping over the dead body Of
the rector some time later. Mrs. Glib
son Is understood TO have been thor
oughly questioned by the jurors.
As she came out she was slightly
confused and turned to her right in
stead OF her left, in this way breaking
the full force OF her contact with Mrs.
Hall. 1t was an exciting moment,
nevertheless. Mrs. Halls spine visiblY
stiHened as she surveyed the III
raiiored woman from head to foot. She
did not trouble TO turn her head, but
her eyes cleaned in her mask-iike face.
They turned and turned as Mrs. Gibson
crossed the lobby, taking her in until
ShAV NibAppCatSa ciRUI. MTS. I'D
son passed within hands breadth OF
Mrs. Hall. She looked down at her
hard, lingeringly. The look was re.
turned in full measure. Neither woman
yielded an inch of ground to the other
Miss Peters was plainly nervous
while Mrs. Gibson was in the jury
room. The light chatter Of the three
figures in the lobby ceased for the time
being. Mrs. Hal was grave, but seem.
ingly not concerned.
When the jurors filed out for lunch.
son there was a touch of stage u,ay
go that eli Of them could have a good
look at the rector's widow. Mrs. Hall
was half way to the door when it be.
came apparent that only one-half OF
She jury had passed out and seen her
Miss Peters and MIR. Pfeiffer drew her
back by the arm and she stood there
calmly, facing the door out of which
they we're coming, SO that all might
have chance to see her. None of
them overlooked the opportunity.
Returns in Good Spirits
She had luncheon at the home az
the Rev. Charles Thatcher pfeiffer. a
Methodist Episcopal cierovnan ~