New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-11-30
Prosecutor, Seeking to Offset Defense Testi-
mony, Seems Astounded at Statement Re-
fleeing on Alleged Eye Witness Simpson,
Claiming Jurymen Are Prejudiced, Threatens
to Ask For Mistrial as Result Of Disclosures
By Hotel Owner.
Charlotte Mills Fails to
Appear When Called to
Testify This Afternoon
-Faurot Again on Stand

Courthouse. Sommerville, N. j..
| Nov. so R - Introduced by the
state to testify as to the reputa.
ton Of Mrs. Jane Gibson. for truth
and yeracity, witness created 4
mild sensation in court during the
trial of the Hall-Mills case by say
ing that It Is mot so good"
Pig Woman's Reputation
The defense had offered a dozen
witnesses to say that Mrs. Gibson,
regarded as the star witness for
the prosecution, has a bad reputa-
ton in the community in which
she lives and Special Prosecutor
Alexander Simpson announced that
he would offer character witnesses
for Mrs. Gibson in rebuttal
DR.. Walter Madden OF Trenton,
first character witness called, was
not permitted to testify when 1t de-
veloped that he had not known
Mrs. Gibson for - years.
Another physician, DR.. J. H.
Cooper Of Milestone, was next to
furnish the surprising testimony
from a states witness.
The crowd in the courtroom, f1lls
ing only part of the seats in con-
trast to the previous days of the
trial, seemed bored as a hand
writing expert testified as to the
pencilled entries in Henry Stevens
| 1922 diary. There was no great in
terest when the prosecutor asked
DR.. Cooper the sterotyped question.
The Crowd Sits Up
The crowd sat up when DR.. Coop
er replied Not so good"
Later in the examination the
witness said, in reply to a question
from the states lawyer, what her
reputation was among people. Tho
witness said it was about 50-5O."
There was no cross-examination.
Mistaken Identity
Mistaken Identity halted the pro.
ceedings Of the Hall-Mills trial for
time today when five Somerville
men were marched from a gallery
into the courtroom and then
marched right out again.
The five suspects, sitting together
In front row and leaning over
the gallery, came under suspicion
as photographers, barred from the
court room by judicial order.
Justice Charles W. Parker, pre-
siding, thought he saw a camera IN
the gallery and sent John Bum.
the court crier, to investigate. The
first man the crier accosted plead
ed mot guilty." and Mr.. Bum after
search, called to the court below
that he could not find q camera.
Bring those men in the front
row down." replied the court.
Are you photographers" asked
Justice Parker.
Some of the quintet seemed nat.
tered, while others threatened to
grow indignant, all denying the i'm
parchment.
Take them out ana search
them" was the further order of the
court.
honorary Members
A thorough "frisking' in the
sheriff's office showed every man
innocent OF a vest pocket camera
and they were released, to be
quickly seized by the regular news
paper photographers haunting the
corridors.
The suspects were photographed
In the hands Of the law on the
courthouse steps and made honor
airy members OF the photographers
union.
1t was learned at the luncheon
recess OF the court that rebuttal
testimony will occupy the remain.
der of the days session, to the ex-
olusion Of a possible motion for q
mistrial
Special Prosecutor Alexander
Simpson announced yesterday aft
ernoon that he was assembling ma
terial for use in an application to
have the jury dismissed, the mo-
ton to be made when the evidence
is in.
Writing Expert Recalled
August Hartcorn, the handwriting
expert who testified yesterday that
an entry in the diary of Henry
Stevens for September IA, 1922, diff
fered from all other entries in the
diary. was recalled to continue his
testimony on resumption of the Hall.
Mills murder trial this morning.
When court opened, Alexander
Simpson,, special prosecutor. asked
for permission to call several wit
nesses to testify as to the reputation
of Mrs, Jane Gibson, states star wit
ness, for truth and veracity, but the
defense insisted that it be allowed to
ross-eXamine Hartcorn in due
process and order"
Another photograph OF the much
discussed calling card, which the
state claims contains the f1ngerprint
of Willie Stevens, was introduced in
evidence over the object of the de-
tense which claimed that this was
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