Evening star., 1926-11-09
LOVERS THRONGED
NEAR DEATH SCENE
HaII-MiIIs Trial Barring Buried
Secrets of Murder
Lane.
BY DOROTHY DIX.
n,sDatnh 20 fTbn ctar

SUM SOCN N-oS'N
HOUSE. SOMERvILLE, y. j. No
vember 9.-The conclusion is ines
ca pable.
The PETERS Of New Brunswick must
have held a mass meeting in De Rus
sey ane on the night on which DR..
Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills were
| slain. and how any one could have
pulled off a murder In that crowd
without humping into his friends and
neighbors and have gotten away with
out being discovered must forever re-
main one of the unsolved mysteries
Of crime.
The second week of the trial opened
cheerily with the testimony OF another
of the local sheiks, who was also
among those present at the old tryst-
ing place on the night of September
IA, 1922. His name should not have
been plain Robert Erling, but Sir
Galahad. for he fought nightly and
calamity to defend the name of his
TO reveal II.
For" quoted he, she is now mar
ried to another and the mother of two
children, and 1 fear that it may get
her into trouble II it becomes known
that she was there"
Which was spoken like true
knight. But let us trust that the
lady's husband is a free soul who Will
not take a. narrow and prejudiced
view Of little midsummer madness.
~ Parked in Lane.
Mr.. Erling was an obviously unwill-
ing witness, but after much hemmlng
and having he admitted that he and
the girl arrived at De Russey lane
about $50 o'clock in the evening and
that they parked their car and re-
mained there until after II O'Clock.
During that time he saw Jane Glib
son come riding along on her old
mule, Jenny, and she stopped and
peered into his car. but he turned his
face away from her and did not speak,
SO that she might not recognize him.
He also saw two, cars in the lane.
One he took to be a Ford sedan, the
other a big touring car with the cur
tains on. Both cars drove toward
Hamilton avenue, and he saw them no
more. nor did he know who their oc-
cupants might be. Neither did he see
or hear anything Of the shooting, He
merely confirmed Mrs. GibsOn's story
Of her nocturnal excursion. 1t will be
recalled that Ralph Gorsline. one Of
the vestrymen In DR.. Halls church.
and Miss Catherine Rastall. another
choir singer, were likewise among the
philanderers along the lane. They
have both testified that they heard
mumbling voices in the darkness and
then three shots. whereupon they fed
from the spot, looking neither to the
right nor to the left.
In particular was Mr.. Gorsline most
emphatic that on that occasion he did
not see Henry Stevens. To contradict
this assertion of Gorsline's, a Mr..
Garvin, a Burns detective, who is also
known by the pleasing sobriquet Of
Greasy Vest" was placed upon the
stand, and he told a most amazing
story of an unknown man. who re-
fused to give his name, seeking him
out in his Office and telling him that
he was present at the scene OF the
tragedy. and that he recognized Henry
Stevens, who said to him, What the
h are you doing here? This is
our affair. Get the b out Of here
He then fred two shots into the
ground at his feet.
Told Story to Prosecutor.
Mr.. Garvin had no idea at the time
who this mysterious stranger was.
nor why he chose thus to unbosom
himself of this confidence to him.
"why didn't you tell somebody
about this at the time. when you
knew all Somerset County was trying
to, get some clue to whom the muir
derers might be-" demanded Cen
McCarter.
II did" replied the sleuth- II told
Prosecutor Asariah Beekman."
He is dead" cynically commented
Gen. McCarter.
Practically the whole day was given
over to the dull and dreary business
Of trying to trace the history Of the
little card that was found in the grass
at DR.. Halls feet, and which, the
finger print experts have all testified.
bears the print Of Willie Stevens left
index finger.
For four years this little bit of card
board has floated about, f1rst In one
mans hand and then in another. Ono
of the men who had it in charge said
he supposed he had showed 1t to 1000
people. 1t has passed through innu-
merable hands. it has been photo
graphed for q newspaper. it has been
the very Wandering Jew in evidence.
and yet upon tracing its every step
the fate Of three persons largely
han0s.
So far 1t Is the strongest link that
tho prosecution has been able to forge
to connect the defendants with the
murder. and it is therefore Of the ut
most Importance to them to prove
that there is a possibility OF this not
being the card that was found at pr.
Halls feet, or that in identifying the
bodies Willie Stevens touched 1t. or
that there was some carelessneSs In
handling the card that nullifles 1t as
evidence.
And so, hour after hour, Gen. Nc
Carter and Senator Simpson fought
over the bit OF pasteboard like dogs
over a. bone. 1t was interesting to
watch how the two men handle wit
ness. Gen. McCarter uses bulldog
tactics. He sets his teeth in a ques-
ton and worries 1t. and worries It,
and worries It. until he wears the
witness out, and sometimes. 1 fear.
the jury.
IKE a tiger: gives him a shake or
two and q claw that draws the blood
II he doesn't like his responses. and
them sits back in his seat with the
look Of the cat that has just eaten
tho canary.
Gallery to Simpson.
AS the fiappers say. he has a slick
line. and his Quips and Jeers never
fail to bring forth a ripple OF amused
laughter from the audience. He Is
witty, with a biting. singing wit.
But what they laugh at isn't always
humorous. Mostly 1t is hysterta-fhe
laughter of those whose nerves are
strung as taut as fiddle strings.
So far as can judge. I should say
that Senator Simpson has captured
the gallery. He amuses the oniook-
srs: he furnishes the thrills, the dy'
nanoics: he gives them a run for their
money. in sharp contrast to the statd.
digniied, solid battery Of lawyers for
the defense, who let of no fireworks.
hut the sympathy Of the audience ID
almost unanimously with Mrs. Hall
ana her brothers.
And while this sparring between
the lawyers goes on Willie Stevens
az. h>sfda hia sister with his big