Evening star., 1926-11-24
WILLIE Wins OUT
IN HALL CR|LL|NC
Widows Brother Smiles at
Simpsons Attempts to
Shake Story.
BY DOROTHY DIX.
Special Dispatch 70 The Star

Special Dispatch 70 The Star.
COURTHOUSE. SOMERVILLE, n.
j., November e4.-Baff1ed and de:
feated temporarily, at least, Senator
Simpson, his thin little face looking
suddenly tired and old. and with the
pep gone out Of him. knocked off work
at the closing. Of court yesterday
afternoon with a sigh Of relief and
called it a day. He wanted time in
which to think up new catches for wit
nesses and to devise fresh trips for
their unwary feet.
For over an hour he had used ali
Of his cIeverness in crOss-examining
Willie Stevens. trying to trip him up
verbally, and to lead him into making
some damaging admission about his
knowledge Of the Hall-Mills murder.
And Willie had come through the
ordeal without even a scratch.
He is an almost cryptic figure, this
man OF whom we hear 80 much and
really know so little. His family and
friends say that he is subnorn1al men.
tally
The courts appointed guardian n
for him because he was not considered
capable Of handling his own money.
vet he uses beautiful and well-chosen
English; twice during the examination
he corrected Senator Simpsons pro
nunciation Of the word "Bayard," and
he answered every question put to him
not only with intelligence, but adroit-
ness.
Picture Willie Stevens, then, on the
witness stand. A big, heavy man.
with heavy iowls, with thick. heavy,
curly black hair cut very short, that
is Just beginning TO turn gray, with
a hat oh
teeth. and a receding chin that melts
into the folds of fat around his neck
with big. hOrn-rimmed glasses that
Rocentuate the rather owl-like look
of his face.
Willie Calm on Stand.
1t is a dull face. but kindly one
II beams with good nature, and It's
habitual expression is a pathetic and
Wistful one. For it looks as If he
were always trying to understan nd
something that just escapes his grasp
When he was called to the witness
stand he jumped up with alacrity,
his countenance wreathed in smiles
all through the examination. He
grinned delightedly whenever he
thought he had made a point, and he
leaned over, childishly intent, in his
u.
And he was childishly deferential to
the lawyers. and said, Yes, sir" and
''No sir" and IT don't remember. SIR
to their questions.
He was calm and collected and
good-natured even through Senator
simpsons severest attacks, and the
only time that he showed any emotion
was when he told how the police, who
had tricked him away from home to
put him through the third degree.
cursed at him and swore at him and
almost struck him. And at that. he
seemed more hurt than angered.
Senator Simpson accused him of
having been coached about what he
should say until he could repeat his
lessons like a parrot. 1t is possible
that such Is the case. And 1t is also
possible that the reason he could
not be tripped up in his testimony is
because he was just telling the simple
truth. And he was telling it like a
child who only knows the one thing
that has made an impression upon
MIN, and whose mind is not diverted
from the main issue by other thoughts
and speculations.
Knew Mrs. Mills Slightly.
In telling his story William Stevens
said that he was "a wears old and that
ever since he was wears old he had
HNed IN the house in New. Brunswick
Which he and his sister still occuuv
lie said that he loved his sister dearly
and was very fond of his hrother-in.
law. Mr.. Hall. who, he carefully ex.
plalned. was not doctor. but iust ..
simple clergyman. and that he knew
MRS. Mills only very slightly. as he
was member of Christ Church and
not OF st. John the Evangelist Hence
was not thrown with hey.
he said that on the night of Sep
.emper IA, l922, he and Alr. Hall and
Mrs. Hall had supper together. and
everything was very pleasant and
agreeable, as was usual. in the house.
, ho!d. After supper he went up TO his
room To smoke and shut the door 10
Keep out the evil smell of his pine. to
winch the whole household ohicrted
Everybody hated it," Willie explained
with grin. But before he went ia
his room he had heard DIR. Hall saw
70 MS wife: Il don't have To go ont
Out am going to see about that pay
neht on the bill for Mrs. Mills opera.
ton"
Earlier Willie had heard ths te,e.
phone ring ana had called to Mr.. Han,
who was in the bathroom, '"Tele,
phone. as he often did.
But | didn't think il was anv of nv
business. so | didn't listen" he added
SO he had no idea Of what the tele.
pnone conversation was about
Sister Called Him.
At $50 o'clock that night he went
downstairs 10 say good night to his
sister and then went back to his room
and to bed and to sleep
At 2:30 O'Clock Mrs. Hail knocked
on his door and said: Il want YOU ia
come with me. Edward hasn't come
home and / am very much worried
think perhaps he has fallen asleep
In the church.
So Willie dressed. and together they
went down to the church. which they
found dark. Then Mrs. Hall. knowing
her husband had intended to see Mrs
Mills. said; Let us go down to the
Mills. Perhaps somebody is sick
there" But there was no light in the
Mills house. either. SO they went back
home.
Willie had no definite recollection OF
what happened on F'riday-nothing
out of the ordinary, SO far as he could
remember. But on Saturday at L.
O'Clock, as he sat in the library, he
heard his aunt. Mrs. Charles j. Car
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