Evening star., 1926-08-19
CARPENDER IS HELD
WITH STEVENS FOR
GRAND Jury ACTION
Mrs. Halls Cousin and Broth
er Formally Accused of
Double Murder.
REVOCATION OF BAIL
OF WIDOW is SOUGHT
Fifty Witnesses Testify in 5-Day
Hearing Over Murder of
}ector and Singer.
B. the Associated Press.

SOMERNTLLE. y. J.. August 10
Henry de la Bruyere carpenter and
Willie Stevens We're held for the
grand jury today on charges OF hay
Ing murdered Rev Edward Wheeler
Hall and Mrs Eleanor r. Mills
County Judge Cleary. before whom
the hearing began last Friday. said
the State had established a prima
facie case and one that warranted the
attention of the grand jury.
Carpenter and Stevens we're re-
manded 10 Jail State Senator Simp-
son, special prosecutor. who ordered
their arrest. said he planned to call
special grand jury and present to it
as soon as possible the evidence on
which the two were held.
The regular grand Jury is in per
mannnt session. and can he called III
n few days. But the special prose
cutor said he would not present his
case TO this grand jury because the
members have talked too much about
tho case
Will Move Against Mrs. Hall.
senator Simpson also announced
that he would move to have revoked
the Sl5. 900 bail on which Mrs. Francis
Stevens Hall. widow of the slain rec
tor. was released after her arrest on
the murder charge. Mrs. Hall is a
cousin Of the wealthy broker. Car
render and sister Of the eccentric
Willie stevens.
Judge Cleary in announcing his de
cision said 1t by no means follows
that | consider carpenter and stevens
guilty because held them for the
grand jury. The hearing was the
usual preliminary hearing. magnified
hv the notoriousnesS of the Hall Mills
case. The hearing was unique only
In respect to its length and the pub
licity given Il.
1t was an eA-parte affair | heard
only one side of the evidence. But
defendants were identified in open
court. and no Judge could ignore that.
did not feel that | should usurp the
powers vested in % grand jurors and
| preferred 10 pass the case to them
for investigation and consideration.
Il is not the intent of the law that
/ should pass upon the credihility of
Witnesses
80 Witnesses Testify.
Nearly 40 witnesses testified q the
nearing. which occupied five days.
chief among these was Mrs. Jane Glib
son, Woman pig raiser. who resides
near the supposed scene of the crime
She told Of having seen. While riding
ner mule seeking corn thieves. two
mon and a woman and heard a quarrel
about letters. One of the men held
"something that glittered.' one held
an eIectrI" torch. by which she saw all
three faces. The woman cried. oh
Henry" she said
She pointed out Carpenter and
stevens rs the men and named Mrs.
Hall as the woman.
Later, hunting = lost moccasin. Mrs.
Gibson said she returned to the spot
and observed the woman knee!inc
above What she thought then were
shadows Of trees. but which she now
believes were the bodies Of the rector
and his choir leader. The woman. she
said was weeping.
The State produced Witnesses, who
testified u seeing Mrs. Gibson near
the scene. y man testified that he
knew Mrs. Gibson. and that while he
MAS in an automobile with a Girl com.
panion shortly before the time the
State has fixed aS the murder hour
she reered into hi. car while i Vas
parked in the lane, near the Phillips
Farm. near NeW Brunswick
Found Two Days Later.
The bodies of the rector and rh0r
lister were found two DAYS after the
MURDERS lying. as if prepared for
burial. beneath a enarled slabarp}e
tree The rector had been shot once
and Mrs Mills thrn" times II the
head Her throat also was slasEed
The judge decision cam" \ few
minutes after The session is"nod.
Senator simpson, Whp l4ld hc"n eN-
ported 10 call three NOR" witness eS.
suddenly arose and announced that
the state rested.
Judge C!ear>- then explained he al
decided that ,he defense would not
be permitted u call witnesses. He
said his refusal was based on a de-
sire - he lair and 1ust With the ic.
ferdan;s Who might tnd the grand
jurors pre- gudlc"l ny the fact Thar
Carpende~ and stevens had been held
hy a Judge who heard their defense.
He would not permit Carpender ana
stevens 10 testify under cath. but ed
Nsed counsel thoy could answer the
CHARGES lin-Nn,n This defense COun.