Evening star., 1926-11-27
MRS. HALL TAKES
STAND; CALM AS
SHE FACES Jury
CompoSure All Through Trial
Is Unshaken as Ordeal
Begins.
DESCRIBES CHILDHOOD
AND HER CHURCH WORK
Declares She Has No Recollection
of Halloween Party Stressed
by State.
Nv the Associated P"es-

COURTtlOI SEs, SOAi f-t,N lI4l-f-. y
j., November 27.--Mrs. Frances
Stevens Hall took the witness stand
in the Halls-.,1ills trial a o'clock
This afternoon.
Dressed in black rs she mas been
since the trial began. Mrs. Hail walked
10 the witness stand III TIE same calm
manner that has marked her conuuct
in the courtroom sine, the trial began
almost four weeks asC. Her teStl
rnonv was expected to bring the de
fenSe'S case to close. Mrs. Han was
the last of the three defendants to
testify.
Where were YOU born" asked
Defense Counsel McCarter. as the
first question in the direct examina'
ton.
I'm South Carolina in 1874" an.
swered Mrs. Hall.
She spoke in a low, calm voice as
the direct examination was started.
Spectators in the courtroom leaned
eagerly forward to catch every word
she said.
Mr.. McCarter showed her the fam
ily Bible containing the birth records
of Mrs. Hall and her brothers, Henry
and Willie Stevens. The records of
the sisters and brothers baptisms
mother, Mrs. Hall said. These records
had been introduced earlier.
Tells of Childhood.
Mrs. Hall said she moved to New
Brunswick when she was a girl and
had lived there ever since,
I'm your early childhood, where
did you attend church?' asked NC
Garter.
cat Christ's Church." answered
Mrs. Hall.
Prior to your marriage and while
YOU were a. communicant of Christ S
Church. did you have any connection
with your husbands church. the
Church of st. John the Evangelist
Yes: l taught Sunday school,
there
"It was there you became acquaint-
cd with Mr.. Hall?''
eyes"
when were you married.?
"In July. 1911"
was your husband older than you
or younger
"He was younger.
How much younger?
Seven years"
Mrs. Hall related that after her
marriage she and her husband nVeu
in New Brunswick with her mother
and Willie Stevens.
"When did your brother Henry move
from New Brunswiok?
About 1900"
Did he come to see you less olteh
after your mother died?
II think he came more often curing
my mothers life"
@At the time of your husbands s
death. how many cars did you have?''
nrora Only One Far
"A Dodge Sedan and Case.
Did you drive both cars?"
q drove only the Dodge.
Did Willie drive?"
"No."
Was your husband a devoted hus'
band?"
Absolutely
up to the time of his death, did
YOU notice the slightest change in his
demeanor and conduct"
mo"
did Willie have a pistol
YES"
did you remember your husband
doing anything to that pistol!
about three years before his death
my husband filed the firing pin"
''NVhere did he keep it,
I'm his room. | never told Willie it
had been filed"
"Describe the daily life of your hus-
band"
''He was very apt to stay in the
house during the morning. Usually
he made the calls in the afternoon.
We always had supper Sgsther and
he was often out at church meetings
in the evening.
Describes Parish Work.
Ibid vou enter into the work Of
your parish
I'm every way could, taught a
Sunday school class and helped i'll
every way could.
Did YOU become acquainted with
the women of your parish
Yes"
Ibid YOU know Eleanor Mills?
''I saw her in connection with work
Of the church For time she was a
member of my Sunday school class
''Do you know OF any one who mani
tested great zeal?"
II think Mrs. Clark was as active y
do you remember going to the
Home for the Aged at Boundbrook:
Yes
Here Mrs. Hall interrupted proceed
,ngs to state that a photographer, IL
violation of court orders, was at
tempting to focus camera on her.
Justice Parker ordered the camera
seized and the photographer left the
room.
"Was il customary for members OF
vour church to visit various instltu-
aons nearby" McCarter asked. ana
do YOU remember visit TO the Home
for the Aged at Boundbrook?
Yes"
A free -for-an argument between at
torneys occurred this morning whlie
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