Imperial Valley press., 1926-11-05
MARIA TE s
TALK WITH.
MRS. HALL
Thought Wife Might Have
Eloped With Pastor Of
Church.
DID NOT SEE BODIES
Wife of Slain Minister
Listens Intently During
Testimony.
By PAUL w. WHITE
United Press Staff Correspondent

OlllteC TIeSS SCal1 COrr HSpONQent
COURT ROOM. SomcrvilIe. y. j..
Nov, }. - James Mills. widower of
Mrs Eleanor Mills. who for four
wears has waited to see someone
brought 20 trial for the murder of
his wife and the Rev. Edward W.
Hall, had his hour in court today
when he was called as the DAYS
chief witness in the Hall Mills muir
der trial.
Mills appearance and the contin-
ued illness of Mrs. Jane Gibson "thc
pig woman, preventing her appear.
ancr in court and threatening 10
ciiminat her AL important tesii
monv were the rwo outstanding
events of the third day of the trin
in which Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall
Henry and Willie Stevens are ac
cused of murder.
Mills told how he and his wife
had lived for years with their tw5
children somewhat separated
existence. she spending much time
with her work as soprano soloiSt in
thc choir vi s.. john, the Evanges
list : church and he earning some
times as much as S5S n week as jan
itor of the church where she sang.
Finally be told how his wife had
left the house on the night of the
murder how he had awaited her
return. had visited the church and
how the morning following she still
was absent.
II went to the church last at
a. m. " hc said, ''but | did not find
her.
I'm the morning got up and pre-
pared my children breakfast be
fore. they went to school.
He hcSitated n moment and then
with a bit of pride, he added:
My wife usually cot the break
fast.
Met Mrs. Hall
Mills testified as though he had
learned his story by heart yet with
evident interest in what he was
saying.
After breakfast he again went to~
the church. There, he said. he met =
Mrs Hall.
"Mrs. Hall said to me was there
any sickness in your home last
uight,' | said there wasn't, and
then she said her husband hadn t
come home Mills recounted
II told her my wife WASH home
either. Then said Maybe they We
cloped. =
- No. they must be dead or F.
they Il come home, Mrs, Hall Sa" p
to me.
Mills was asked about his wif''s
burial.
She was buried, he said, without
his having secu the body, h'
didn't know her throat had been eni
and authorized the burial without an
Suddenly the heads in the court
room were seen 10 veer from Mills
TO the left side of the courtroom.
Ewes were turned on Mrs. Hall.
From the moment Mills had be.
gun to speak Mrs. Hall had listened
TO him intcntlY.
At last she lowered her head ana
was seen to shuddcr, She kept her
ewes aVerted until she realized that
she was being closely watched ana
then managed a faint smile, leaned
over to Mrs. Henry Carpenter, wite
of cousin and made a low voiced
remark. Simpson completed ms d.
rect examination Of Mills with an
inquiry as to whether the witn'"
had identified the body of Mrs,
Mills when it recently was exhumed
for autopsy. .v
Mills lip, formed the words ." Yes
| did. - -
supreme Court Justice Jarkcr then
ordered a luncheon recess until l;3o
r. m
Other witnesses OF thc morning
had given testimony designed large.
" TO build Il background. Mneh
time had been spent going over pho
tographs Of the scene Of The MURDER
Mills appearance had enlivened
what had threatened to be drab
session.