The Washington times., 1926-08-05

take the pen OF q LIE MaupdSs
Edward Hall. consecrated to
spiritual leadership, who violated
his vows. and Eleanor Mills, choir
singer, who dragged her sacred title
Of mother III the mire for love of
him, have lain iii their dlshOnorad
and well-nigh forgotten graves for
four years.
Frances Hail. widow Of the dead
rector. highly bred, cultured, poised
patrician, steadfastIy holding her
role OF Sphinx for the same period
of time. has been arrested within
the week for the murder Of her hJis-
band and his pretty paramour. ana
though released on BAH. must an.
sWer to the shameful charge before
d jury OF her peers.
lis she guilty, and because Of her
great wealth and her powrful social
political connections, has she thus
far escaped Justice by the enforced
laxity Of public officials?
n she innocent, with the ignoniny
or arrest an additional horror lald
upon her patient shoulders already
bent under anguish and humilia-
ton almost inconceivable?
Believes Her Innocent
j. for one, believe Frances Hal
to be innocent Of the awful charge
against her.
Whether. after the crime was
committed. she learned Of II, ana
from motives OF loyalty and protect
inr chivalry which have been ac-
counted creditable to the human
heart since time began, she since
has guarded her secret as did ner
prototype, the Sphinx ali! that -
another question. and one upon
which I do not wish to venture g
public opinion.
But that Frances Han deliberately
could raise her hand against the
life Of any one. or stand py anu
see others slay at her bidding, OF
fiendishly mutilate the dead pody
OF her rival-these seem absolute
impossibilities to me after golng
over the story Of the case and
STUDYING the pictured face Of the
Holds to Her Traditions
Frances Hall is the product or
generations of American ancestry.
behind her are traditions Of duty,
Of religion. of patriotism, Of iron
self control, of certain stiff kind
such women. poised. disciplined,
conscientious, are not killers.
They may be--they often, are
cold. petty. arrogant. intolerant,
iustifyinr these traits by their
Rfbles and their traditions, but
crimes of passion and violations OF
the Decalogue which have been
taught to them in their cradles are
Inherently impossible to them.
It ia the ignorant, undisciplined,
highly emotional woman who finds
relief for her revengefuI frenzy IN
gun or knife.
I could as readily imagine Calvin
Coolidge running amuck among ms
Cabinet with butchers cieaver IN
his hand as picture Frances Hal
shooting her husband and her rival.
or directing the marksman.
Much has been made OF the tact
that she betrays no emoton. .hdI
she is always calm ana poised
though a hell of grief and nun1llla'
ton may be her portion.
To the minds Of those, who have
studied the reactions OF different
human beings to tragedy. this Is
but another proof that both her
ternperament and her training pre-
cluda any possibility OF her COM
hitting any crime OF violence.
have seen a highly tempestuous
alien a vicious wife-beater. weep
bitterly when arrested for his crime,
scream historically and lavish
caresses upon the wife whom ne
Just had battered almost into uns'
consciousness.
Experienced newspaper reporters
whose work so frequently makes
them the messengers OF narrowing
tidings know that there are TOUR
classes Of people who display COM
posure when confronted with ter
rible news:
stolid. british peasants Of certain
nationalities. e.,4.
are abnormal, or have been stupe-
fled by drugs or drink.
Habitual criminals, gunner OF
the Gerald Chapman type.
Well bred persons, trained from
childhood to poise, dignity ana re-
The most rabid Of Mrs. Halls ac-
cugers will concede that the last
class il the one to Wnicn she De-
longs.
NV sympathy goes out to Mrs.
Hall upon other counts than my
conviction that she is unjustly &C
cused,
who have written and spoken OF
the tragedy have referred to the
association between the rector ana