Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-04
FREED IN Staying
Continued from Page One)

tears of joy and her voice checked
as she acknowledged their hand
shakes.
Lieutenant Commander Arthur N.
carpenter, her cousin, placed his
arms about Mrs. Hall, when the jury
filed in and kept her in a close en-
brace until she arose to leave. ..
Henry Stevens smiled as the last
verdict was read after looking
/ stolidly ahead through the first two
announcements. Willie, as usual
grinned broadly throughout.
AS he followed Henry to the tunnel
leading from courtroom to Jail, Willie
shook hands warmly with Judge Frank
l.. Clearly of common pleas, who has
sat with Justice Charles w. Parker of
the supreme court throughout the
trial.
a tense courtroom heard the end of
the trial, one month to the day after
it began. The jury went out at 1.44
and came back at SAG. ,.
Before the jury entered. Justice Par
ker issued a sharp warning to the
crowd not to make demonstration
of either approval or disapproval. His
injunction was followed to the letter,
hut there was some cheering in the ro-
tunda, outside the room, almost the
minute the first not guilty was ut
tered
A newspaper reporter tried to get
through the doors, ordered closed by
the court, and was dragged by three
bailiffs before the bench for repri-
mand.
Mrs. Hall. through her lawyer and
kinsman. Robert II. Heilson, said in a
statement to the newspapers that she
and her brothers were glad to have
opportunity after four years of gossip
and false accusation to come into
court and personally go on the witness,
stand to obtain vindication.
The statement added that the de-
PENDANTS believe the verdict will have
full approval throughout not only
New Jersey, but the United States"
THAT is ALL" said Mr.. Nelson as
he handed the typewriter statement
of less than $50 words to the reporters.
Mrs. Hall is through being a public
character"
Few people here tonight believed
that any of the defendants would be
tried on the second Indictment or that
Henry de da Bruyere Carpenter, their
cousin, would ever go to trial.
Counsel for Mrs Hall and her broth
ers began an effort, Immediately after
the acquittal, to get an order from
Justice Parker releasing Henry and
Willie Stevens and Henry Carpenter
on hail
The matter was discussed with JUS
tice Parker and Judge Cleary in
chambers and tomorrow morning at
10 O'Clock was fixed for hearing the
application.
Mrs. Hall is at liberty under bail
and it was not certain tonight wheth-
er another bond would have to be
signed for her.
Willie Stevens and Henry Carpen-
der have been in Jail since August
II and Henry Stevens since Septem-
Der Is.
The case went to. the jury after
Justice Parker completed charge of
As minutes, explaining the law. The
morning session was devoted to sum-
ming up TO the state, this requiring
approximately two hours. The spe-
cial prosecutor scored Mrs. Hall as
cold, cruel and heartless". AS soon
as the case was given into the jury s.
hands Simpson left for his home in
jersey City and was not in court to
hear the verdict.
No word came from the jury dur
ing the five. hours the case remained
in acute suspense as to the progress
of the deliberations. A request was
sent for a magnifying glass and an
other summons sent bailiff with a
ruler. The jury was alone with more
than 200 exhibits.
AS the hours passed there was a
spirit of restlessness in the court
room. The Stevens brothers had re-
turned to Jail to await the summons
to hear the verdict and Mrs. Hall
gent with them The cousins Of the
defendants and Mrs. Henry Stevens
remained in the courtroom, chatting
with the defense lawyers who SEEM
ed to grow impatient az the jury ne
elected to send notice of agreement
reached.
Finally the court sent the expected
word and the defendants came back
to the courtroom. Mrs. Halls face
revealed a confident smile as she took
her seat. Harry Stevens, too, was
smiling, and Willie's smile was I'M
mistakably a grin.
The jurors marched in and lined
up in a semicircle before the bench
and in front of the defendants.
Gentlemen, have you agreed
upon a verdict?" Justice Parker ask
ed
1--WE have" chorus&d the twelve.
"Who will you have give your ver-
dict?
1.-THE foreman"
Foreman Frank Dumster then re-
piled to the three questions pro-
pounded by Walter Crater, acting
clerk of the court.
Justice Parker thanked the jury
for its service, saying:
"You have dealt patiently with a
very long case" as he excused the
members for the term.
After adjournment Of the court,
Justice Parker said that the court
was very strongly impressed by the
extremely able argument of counsel
on both sides"
Charlotte Mills, daughter of the
slain woman, and Mrs. Elsie Barn
hardt. Mrs. Mills sister, were in the
courtroom when the verdicts were
returned. James Mills, the husband,
was not present.
The jurors kept their own coun-
sci when they disbanded after their
long and close association. No ex-