Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-17
New State Witness
Continued from Page One)

Frank L. Cleary for the purpose OF
deciding whether Carpenter and
Stevens should be held for the grand
jury on the murder charges on which
they were arrested last week.
The witness who gave partial cor
roboration to Mrs. Gibson's testi-
mony was Robert Erling, New
Brunswick millwright. He said he
had driven into De Russey's Lane
about S O'Clock the night of the muir
der" In the automobile with him
was a girl companion, whose name
he would not reveal. He said he
knew Mrs. Gibson and that as he
was driving along the lane slowly,
Mrs. Gibson peered into his car. He
could not tell what she wore or
whether she carried a light. He
fixed the time he saw her as between
8 and 10 o'clock. From the testi-
mony of persons who heard shots
fired, the state has fixed the time
of the murder at 1870 o'clock.
Asked why he had waited four
years to tell his story. Erling replied
he had desired to shield his COM
panion. He heard no shots fired, he
said. although he was within two or
three thousand feet of the crab ap-
pie tree, until about 1910 o'clock.
Ferd A. David. one of the detec-
tives who Investigated the mystery
in 1922, testified that the coat of Mrs.
Hall sent to a Philadelphia dyer aft
err the bodies of her husband and
the chorister were found, had not
been stained by blood. David, called
as state witness. gave this testi-
mony under cross examination.
A night Waterman had testified he
saw a woman wearing light coat
enter the Hall home the night of
dyed was a light tan. Mrs. Gibson
said the woman she saw at the crab
apple tree wore a light tan coat.
Testimony regarding three unrec-
ognized persons who slid down a
small bank at the point where Dc
Russey's Lane connects with Easton
avenue, was given by Charles AL
paugh. The witness said he was driv-
from New Brunswick to Somerville
on the night of the murder and pass
ed the spot about the time the MUIR
ders are imposed to have been COM
mitted. He could not distinguish
whether the persons were men or
women. But he noticed that they
were sliding toward a sedan parked
along the road. Another car. he said,
was parked nearby.
James Mills, husband Of the slain
choir leader, told Of events Just
prior to the disappearance of his wife
during the two days Of her absence
and Immediately after the discovery
of intimacy between Mrs. Mills and
Mr.. Hall. he said. But before she left
the house to tryst with DR.. Hail.
Mills said he noticed some letters in
her coat pocket. The coat was on a
rack in the hallway, he said, and he
lust glanced" at the letters. Mrs.
Mills. he said, wore this coat when
she was slain.
DR.. Hall and Mrs. Mills were absent
Thursday. On Friday, Mills said, he
met Mrs. Hall. She told him that her
husband was absent. Mills then told
her his wife. too, had been away since
Thursday evening. Mrs. Mills then
remarked, Mills testified, "They must
be dead" Asked if he knew what
made Mrs. Hall say this at time
when the bodies had not been discov-
cred, Mills offered no conclusion.
Mills gave his testimony while
chewing gum and with a placid eX-
preston on his face. AS he describ-
ed his anxiety over his wife's alb
sence he made a grimace. but con-
tinued without visible emotion to re-
late his conversation with Mrs. Hall.
Later he sat in the crowded court
room and listened to frank testimony
upon the condition of his wife's body
when found and details of the au-
topsy when her head was dissected
and the slash on her throat exam
ined,