Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-24
HALL-MILLS TRIAL
Continued from Page one)

which, according to state experts,
bears the imprint of the left index
finger of Willie Stevens.
A trio of defense fingerprint eX-
perts testified that the imprint on
the card is not that of the defend
ant
With enlarged photographs OF the
print in evidence, and Willie Ste
vens' onw fingerprint, J. w. Taylor
or the Navy department. Frederick
Sandberg of the Washington police
and Gerhardt Kuhne of the New
York police, pointed out to the jury
discrepancies in the two prints as
they have found them. John r.
Phillips, an Asbury Park lawyer,
and James Mason, a detective, also
discussed the card. Phillips told of
a conversation about it with Edward
Schwartz, state fingerprint witness,
and Mason related his initiating the
original card.
Willie Stevens walked to the wit
ness seat as If he could not see very
well, and early in his testimony said
that he had worn eyeglasses since
he was boy as he could not see
without them.
He quickly denied that he was in
or near North Plaintield on the night
of the Staying of his brother-in-law
and Mrs. Mills, as was testified be-
fore two state witnesses, and then
said that he had never Worn a der
by hat, had never suffered from
epilepsy and did not wear gold
watch, characteristics of the man
described in the testimony linking
Il Iofn H., !, lri, oil
He said h, knew Mrs. Mills very
slightly and that his relations with
Mr.. Hall were very cordial"
He was questioned by Clarence r.
Case of defense counsel as to a re-
volver and said he owned such
weapon of the hammerless type and
in 1922 had possessed it for 10 or ~
years. 1t had not been used for
years, he said.
In 1872, however, he said, 1t was
loaded with cartridges.
Stevens said he had observed moth
ing unusual in the relations between
his sister and her husband. He told
of retiring to his room in early evening
of September IA, 1922, and remaining
there until aroused by Mrs. Hall about
$50 o'clock in the morning with the
news that Mr.. Hall had not returned
home and a request that he join her
in visit to the church to look for him.
No lights were found at the church,
he said, and the pair continued to the
Mills home, as the minister, on ieaV-
ing the house in the early evening, had
said that he was going to see about
the Mills bill" referring to hospital
bill. No lights were observed at the
Mills home, he said. and with his sis
ter he returned home.
Alexander Simpson. special prose-
cutor, opened his eros examination by
speaking in almost a conversational
tone, in contrast to the near shouts
he has used to phrase his questions
directed at some defense witnesses.
The defendant seemed very much at
ease and as the cross examination he
leaned forward in his chair with his
chin resting on his hand and gazing
intently at the prosecutor. Several
times he politely corrected the states
lawyer.
The defendant declared that there
has been no trouble" in the Hall
home. He could not recall any CONVEX
sation with firemen about trouble, but
when asked If fire house was his
club said it might be so considered.
Asked if he had run errands for the
firemen, he said that he had. A..
Answering questions as to whether
he had been at or near the scene Of the
crime, he replied: Positively, l was
not there" He also denied that he
had ever seen a calling card OF his
brother-in-law and was emphatic when
he said he did not put one at his body.
The prosecutor stressed the fact
that when the defendant Went with his
sister to the Mills home and found it
dark, they did not knock. and asked
the witness:
Don't you think that sounds
fishy?"
IL do not think il sounds at all
fishy." was the reply given with some
spirit.
Late in his testimony. Simpson re-
verted again TO the description of the
early morning walk, and when the de-
Tense objected, said his purpose was TO
determine if the defendant had learned
the story by rote.
There was a fare of indignation
from the witness.
"All have to say is | was never
taught by any one, as you insinuate,"
he said.
Just before adjournment Stevens
said he vas never confronted with
Mrs. Jane Gibson and she did not
pick him out in the Middlesex
county prosecutors Office.
Willie Stevens will complete his
testimony early tomorrow and, il was
expected that witnesses would follow
to deny statements of state witnesses
that there was a scratch on , e face
of Mrs. Hall, when she attended the
funeral of her husband.
The defense will also make an ex-
tended attack on the testimony of
Mrs. Jane Gibson. but ii was under
stood tonight that it had not been de-
termined at what stage of the pro-
ceedings this testimony would be in
troduced.
1t seemed unlikely tonight that
Mrs. Hall would be called to testify
before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Willie Stevens was asked by Simp-
son about a lawyer accompanying
him to the Jail when he was arrested
and asked If his lawyer had told him
what to say. This the witness de-
MED.
did you hear your sister say:
Explain those letters in De Russey's
Lane?"
Positively not"
did you ever see one of Mr.. Halls
calling cards?'
mo. Sir"
"Ydu lived in the house with him
for IL years and did not see one of
his calling cards.
Il did not see one.'
"You did not put one of these call
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