Evening journal., 1923-01-01
new EVIDENCE
SPARES WIDOW
Tale of Automobile Head
lights Falls When Man
Tells of His Lantern
WOMAN FARMERS
STORY WEAKENS

D
1.-The new evidence collected in
the Hall-Mills murder in the last
two weeks Will probably turn the
case in an entirely different direc-
ton when it is finally presented to
the Somerset Grand Jury This was
learned Saturday through a source
close TO the officials working on the
matter, and is supported by some
evidence that has been known for
many weeks, but in the previous
presentation was considered of lit
tie importance. In the new case
little dependence is placed on any
OF the several stories told by Mrs.
Jane Gibson.
1t became known also how the
Gibson story was finally reduced 10
such an uncertain status as TO cause
the last Grand Jury to refuse ia
indict certain persons because Of IT.
The main witness who disproved
Mrs Gibson's story was George 81
pei. a farmer Of Middlebush, who
knew Mrs Gibson well. The dis
covsry OF Sipel was due to the vigil
lance OF a local traffic policeman.
who had seen Sipel driving his Ford
car through New Brunswick with
only a small farm lantern hung on
his radiator instead of the regular
lights.
The policeman reported this to
Michael !. O'Conner. Chief of Po-
lice. who handed it to the other au-
thorities. This minor detail proved
important, for Mrs. Gibson contend
ed that certain things and persons
could be seen by the lights from
his two Ford headlights.
She saw Sipel at the latter's farm,
just before the case was to go before
the last Grand Jury, and asked him
IL he could not state he had seen
certain things This he declined to
do and then went TO the proper
authorities with his story, and told
them OF Mrs. Gibson's visit. He
subsequently told this IN detail 10
the G-and Jury in Somerville. In
the light. OF the new evidence. which
almost places the hour OF the murder
at 9.15 or $50, Mrs. Gibson's stories
are weakened further, as she had
fixed the time later than 10 o'clock
and possibly as late as eleven.
with the time OF the killing placed
at $50 or earlier Mrs. Halls account
of her movements on the night OF
the murder is strengthened Grant
ing the murders were committed by
$50. she was at that time still in her
home. and engaged in putting her
-.
by several persons in the Hall home !
after she had put the little girl TO
bed. and was reading in her room. /
Her account OF her actions that night /
are verified by witnesses until just /
before 10 o'clock
The investigators have found AZ /
least three reputable persons who ,
fix the time OF the four shots at be-
tween 9 and $50. Two have been /
able to place the time as being with
in fifteen minutes by clocks or
watches.
None OF these persons were called ,
before the Grand Jury when the
case was last presented. They will /
be permitted 10 testify when the
Grand Jury takes up the case, as
will several other persons who ap-
peared before the last jury
Despite the fact that Mrs. Hall in
tends to start for Europe on January
20 her chauffeur, accompanied by
Willie Stevens. went to the local
bureau Of licenses and renewed the .
automobile license for another year.
1t was enormously stated yester-
day that Special Deputy Attorney
Mott has said,that the new evidence
would eliminate Mrs. Hall and give
her and her brother. Willie Stevens.
a clear alibi. Mr.. Mott in an in
terview on Friday refused to dis
cuss the case except TO say that he I
was still working and that progress
had been made. The information
regarding the new evidence and the .
fact that the time Of the murder had ,
been almost definitely established .
came from investigators working
within New Brunswick