Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-16
SINGERS LETTERS
TO PASTOR PLACED
IN COURT EVIDENCE

; SOMERVILLE, N. j., Nov. 15.-R)-
An issue of veracity between Two state
witnesses appearing out of clear sky
in the Halls-Mills case today pre-
empted for time the place in the
spotlight occupied by the love affair
of the Rev. Edward W. Hall and Mrs.
Il. r. Mills, slain with him four years
ago
Between testimony of a sister of
Mrs. Mills, that the slain choir singer
was not ashamed of her love for the
rector Of the New Brunswick church,
and the reading to the jury of letters
from Mrs. Mills to Hall, the state in
troduced evidence 20 neutralize the
testimony of another state witness.
Elijah K. Soper of Highland Park, a.
New Brunswick suburb, was the witt
ness whose testimony was attacked.
He had testified that although he saw
an automobile of the touring car type,
occupied by two men and woman,
parked near De Russey's land about
midnight on the date of the double
Staying, he could not identify the oc-
cupante. The state then produced Ira
3. Nixon, owner of an oil company inI
New York, who lives in Newark, toI
say that Soper, four years ago, told
him that he had recognized the occp-
pants of the automobile as Mrs Hall
and her two brothers.
The state was able to get this testi-
mony before the jury on the ground
that it was surprised by Soper's testi-
mony and wished to neutralize it with
that of Nixon's. In effect the issue
was placed before the jury for consid-
Grafton as to whether Nixon's state
ment should be accepted as wiping
out the failure of Soper to identify the
defendants.
Reading of letters from Mrs. Mills TO
Hail. found near the bodies, was noti
accompanied by the tension in court
developed when letters from the minis
ter to the choir singer We're read Sat
urday. The woman's letters were mo-
lss ardent than those of the man, but
there was much more repetition of
favOrite phrases.
The three defendants were calm
throughout the reading, which was
done by Francis Bergen, Somerset
county prosecutor. He read rapidly,
Win no ~SlIeSStLS VI lHG dllSClIOHdiGI
words. Mrs. Hall was attentive, but
between letters, when there was some
confusion as to order and the pile of
manuscripts had to be arranged, she
spoke few words to Mrs. Sydney Car
pender, her cousin, who has sat each
day just behind her. James Mills, hus-
band of the slain woman, leaned for
ward in his chair with an expression
less face. Charlotte Mills, the daugh-
ter, was out of the court room. Dear
est, dearest boy" was the salutation of
the first Letter, and all abounded in
such terms as my darling" honey
and Sweet, adorable babykins. FIRE.
quent references We're made to antici-
pated love nest" and one expression
was, Darling, could rave for
hours" That "love is the m vital
power" was a declaration. mo house
is big enough for me-" she wrote. IT
need the great outdoors. There isn't
another man who can make me smile,
she said, referring to her love for Hall
and his for her. which she described as
''noblemans great eternal love-" II
am his forever" she added Two of
the letters were almost entirely occu-
pied with discussion of n book in which
The writer compared the character to
herself and the rector Once, when she
had described the pain she was suffer-
ing, she wrote: Hold me close. Moth
ing will cure me but that"
How friendly our Easton avenue
roads look" she said, after writing
II set a new message of love every
time you take off your hat"
"Babykins" was Il word appearing
again and again as the reading went
Continued On rage EghD