New Britain herald., 1926-12-01
Judge Parker Makes No Comment As He Announces Decision McCarter Speaks First For Defense.
Case Will Sum Up Evidence and Will Be Followed by Special Prosecutor Who Will Close for the State Makes Plea to Jury.

Court House, Somerville, ". J., Dec. PSJustice Charles W. Park CT, presiding. this afternoon denied a motion by the state for . mistrial in the HallMills case.
 Judge Parker made no comment beyond saying that he had studied the affidavits and that he had de- cided to deny the motion for a mis- trial. Neither state nor defense counsel commented.
 The jury. which had been taken from the courtroom, was brought back in and preparations were started for the defense's summation.
 Former Attorney General Robert H. McCarter spoke first for the de- fense. He will occupy the entire afternoon session and will be fol- lowed by Clarence E. Case. tomor- row. Alexander Simpson, special prosecutor, will close for the state.
 Praises Jurymcn
 The motion for mistrial having been denied. former Attorney Gen. eral Robert McCarter, chief of counsel for the defense began sum- ming up.
 There is no discharge of a high CT duty than yours" he told the jury. Patiently and 50 far as can tell, intelligently. you have been dischargtng your duties day after day for a month. 2
 T know speak for all members Of defense counsel when I say the state of New Jersey Is under ever- lasting obligation to you"
 Points To Defendants.
 Pointing out that the defendants were charged with having "deliber- ately, with malice aforethought, naliciously, indignantly and hor- ribly slaughtered" Mrs. Mills. Mc- Carter asked. Are they thuas? Are they people who go out to achieve their ends with guns?" They were "church-going Christians" he said, and outlined in detail how church work threw Mrs. Hall, her husband and Mrs. Mills together.
 Then the defense attorney went on to picture what he called the domestic scene" of the family life of the different defendants saying that Henry Stevens was living a quiet life at Lavallette, Mrs Hall lived in a happy home. devoted to her husband. and that Willie Stevens lived in pleasant surround ings, happy to run to fires, as are many boys" His sister was Willie's idol, McCarter said. After or:lining the "domestice scene" the attorney asked: You wouldn't expect to find in that environment brutal cruelty, would you?"
 Mrs Mills was pictured as wo- man who lived drab home life, seeking an outlet for her spirit in church work. McCarter emphasized that Mrs. Hall had carried Mrs. Mills to hospital in February 1922. had visited her there and had help ed to pay the hospital bill. all of which, he said was proof of devo- tion.
 Early in his address, McCarter emphasized his contention that James Mills, husband of the mur- dered woman, had much better opportunity of knowing about the love relations between the Rev. Mfr. Hall and Mrs. Mills than did Mrs. Hall. He pointed out that while the Halls were spending their vacation in Maine, Mrs. Mills wrote letters to the minister at the place where Mrs. Hall was, but these letters were formal on the subject of church work. while love letters by Mrs. Mills were being addressed to Seal Harbor, which was . ten or fifteen minute motor boat ride from the camp where the Halls were staying. and which was visited by the minister alone to get the letters and to mail letters to Mrs. Mills.
 On the other hand. McCarter said the minister's letters were sent di- rectly to the Mills home. where James Mills would have had the chance to learn of them. Tho at torney also pointed out that Mills had slept in the Hall home alone during the summer that the Rev. Mir. Hall and Mrs. Hall were in Maine.
 In his recounting of events on the day of the crime. McCarter again pointed finger at James Mills. over the objection of Senator Simpson.
 Emphasizing that MT. Hall had stopped at the church for . moment on his way home to supper. Me- Carter pointed out that James Mills. husband of the murdered woman was there.
 Then the attorney quoted the test imony of Louise E. Geist. | maid in the Hall home to . telephone talk which the minister had with Mrs. Hall that evening.
 Quotes Phone TaK The minister's part of the tsle- phone talk was:
 "Yes." .~