New Britain herald., 1926-11-15
Defense Again Appears to Be Pointing Finger of Suspicion at Widower- Woman Also Cared for Clergyman.
REALLY WAS RIVAL '
 OF MURDER VICTIM

Court House, Someryille. N. T.. Nov. IS LP-Mrs. Elsie Barnhardt- sister of Mrs. Eleanor R. Mills, slain with the Rev. Edward w. Hall, said on the witness stand today that her sister told her that she loved MT. Halls little finger more than her husbands whole body. Testifyinr as states witness at the trial of Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall and her brothers, Henry and Willie Stevens. charged with Mrs. Mills murder. Mrs. Barnhardt said that Mrs. Mills mad taken her into her con- f1dence in telling of her love for the rector of the church where Mrs. Mills was member of the choir.
 Told of Her Love
 Eleanor told me she loved MT. Halls little finger more than Jim'a whole body" the witness said. Jim" is James Mills, husband of the slain woman.
 Later Mrs. Barnhardt added that her sister repeated the statement in the presence of Mills, and their two children, Charlotte and Daniel.
 She said it several times" Mrs. Barnhardt testified.
 Didn't Care Who Knew It
 Mrs. Barnhardt said her sister met her warning that Mrs Mills friend- snip with the minister was unwise with the reply T don't care who knows l love MT. Hall"
 Mrs, Barnhardt was calm as she spoke of her sisters confessed love for the minister but she spoke in q low voice and the jurors leaned for ward as though they were having difficulty in hearing her testimony.
 Mrs. Barnhardt told of 'the last bench in Buccleugh park" as a place her sister told of meeting Rev. Hall and helping him with his sermons' there.
 Somewhere in Aston avenue" was another meeting place, she said, and another in New York"
 Opens With Clash.
 The tenth day of the trial opened today to the accompaniment of an- other verbal clash between state and defense counsel such as has fre- quently enlivened the trial.
 The state had called to the stand. as its first witness Of the day. James A. Mckeever, a stenographer of Hudson county, who took down a statement made by former Sheriff Bogart T. Conklin of Somerset coun- ty to officials who last summer were investigating the staying. Mckeeyer was called by Alexan. der Simpson. special state prosecu. tor, in an attempt to bring out al. legged discrepancies between the tes. tlmony given by Conklin on the witt ness stand Saturday and the state- ment which he made before the trial. The first question asked the witness by Simpson was objected to by Clarence E. Case, for defense counsel, resulting in the clash, dur ing which Simpson stated that the defense had intimated that he was manufacturing evidence' Case re- piled that he made no such intima- tion, but that the point which he had made was that Simpson had pretended surprise at Conklin's tes- timony whereas the prosecutor ''knew perfectly we'll" what the witt ness testimony would be.
 Big Crowd On Hand.
 Crowds besieged the courtroom doors for entry this morning as on all n+I {r;a IJay1 and her brothers entered the court room several minutes before trial resumed. sitting quietly and occa- sionally speaking a few words to their lawyers as preparations were made for another day in court.
 Saw Carpenter Leave.
 Alfred Butler, New Brunswick taxicab driver, testified that on tn. morning of the day the bodies were found. he saw Henry Carpenter come from the Hall house with a bundle under one arm and three or four boxes under the other. He said he thought the boxes contained business papers, and that Carpenter 1 placed them in a large green car and drove away.
 Senator Case on cross examination drew from the witness the admis- | sion that he made only very | casuar' inspection of what was talk l ing place. The taxi driver said he was busy making change for a pas 1 senger whom he delivered at the house. He could not describe the car other than to say 1t was large green machine and admitted that he was so busy with his passenger that he did not see 1t drive away.
 Defense Hammers Police.
 The defense began hammerine early today at activities of the Jersey City police in the investigation which led to the indictment of MrA