The Washington herald., 1922-10-26
Affidavit of Mrs. Jane Glib
son Is in Hands of
Prosecutor. =.
WOMAN DOES NOT
MAKE ANY CHARGE
Attorney Does Not See
Way Clear to Ask for
Indictment.

NEW BRUNSWICK. n J. Oct.
25.-Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall wit
messed the murder OF her husband.
the Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall, rec
tor Of the Church Of ST. John the
Evangelist, Of New Brunswick. n.
J.. and Mrs. Eleanor r. Mills. the
woman who had been given the love
denied the ministers wife
Mrs. Jane Gibson. eyewitness 20
the crime which startled the nation
and which has baffled the trained
minds of noted sleuths for nearly
six weeks, is authority for the state
mems.
swears to ststem>nt.
In her statement. whic his now
in the possession Of the prosecuting
authorities. Mrs. Gibson has sworn
identified Mrs. Hall as the woman
she saw the night OF September lf.
standing with a man In the field
of De Russey's lane.
Mrs. Gibson. becaues Of her farm
life and training. is possibly better
equipped than most people TO make
out forms and figures and Identify
them In semi-darkness.
1t is not a matter which a Jury
could be asked to indict or convict
upon though, TO the prosecutor. il
is OF certain Importance in making
the affidavit Itself document
worth great consideration in the
further prosecution Of the murder
investigation. Mrs. Gibson d oes not
make any charge. She merely
states the facts as she saw them.
VIII Examine Witnesses.
Mrs. Gibson Will be examined
with a SCORE Of others BY Mott to-
morrow. Several witnesses win -
asked TO identity a man ard woman
who entered the murder lane" ir
an automobile shortly before the
staying and left hrTriedly after the
shots had bsen fred Their sta.p-
nents. dovetG lied with Mrs Glib
sons affidavit and with the circum-
stantial stories OF existing jealousy
and the letters of the slain couple.
will be used as the foundation for
future Steps in solvir-. the mystery.
Nj Mott also VIII call tomorrow
morning: Mrs. Frances Stevens
Han. her brothers Henry and
Willie Stevens: Edwin r. and
Charles Carpenter. cousins Of Mrs.
Hall: Mrs. Minnie Clark. who ac-
companied the Halls and Mrs
Mills on n trip 10 Lake Hopatcong
the day before the murder: Ralph
Y. NJ Gorsline. a vestryman OF
Halls church. James and Char
lotte Mills. husband and daughter
OF the murdered woman, and
Louise Geist and Parhara Tough.
servants in the Hall home.
Mrs. Gibson on the night OF the
murder. according to her state
ment, was trailing q corn thief.
She was riding q mule.
when We came near the spot
where the murder was committed
Nrs. Gibson said. "a terrible quar-
rel was going on and apparently
the people engaged in n were so
intent on what they were saying
that they paid no attention 20 the
mule.
"If only had called out might
have prevented the murder she
heroared
"Oh. I wish had sh-Iclled or
rnada some sound. hut il all came
so suddenly. ana was stunned.
could do nothing.
All four Of the persons were
fighting and arguing In loud tones.
1t did not all happen in a minute.
When ! first was attracted by the
angry voices : thought some girl
was being attacked. and I did not
know what to do.
Heard Four shots.
Then came the shots-four Of
them-and the mule was fright
ened and ran away. l was glad to
get away and 7 did not want 10
think of IL aERin. But I could not
forget II and when I learned the
following Sunday that the bodies
had been found. knew what
crime ! had witnessed"
Mrs. Gibson refused to give tie
name of the man who committed
the murder. having been cautioned
by the authorities to withhold
such Information until an arrest 10
made in the case.
She was positive. however. she
could identify. the persons under
the crab apple tree. though there
was no moon on the fatal night
and the light from the stars was
dim.
Hidden away IN her home and
denying herself to all visitors.
Mrs. Rail is undergoing changes
IN appearance as the strain of
grief and worry weigh heavily
upon her. Il was learned TODAY
Hair that a few weeks ago was
only slightly tinged with gray is
becoming whittier. il was saId by a