New Britain herald., 1926-11-05
CHARLOTTE UPSET
 BY TURN IN TRIAL Worried by Illness of "Pig Woman, !, Important Witness SORRY FOR MISS RASTALL
Realizes She Has Been "Terribly Punished" by Public Knowledge of Her Clandestine Ride in Auto With Church Vestryman.

of Her Clandestine Ride in Auto
 With Church Vestryman.
 BY CHARLOTTE MILLS
 Copyright 1926, Famous Features
 Syndicate, lnc.)
 Somerville, N. J., Nov. 5.-Poor her. It seems there is always some thing happening to me-something to make me miserable. 1 wanted Mrs. Gibson to testify. l have all ways thought that she could help to clear up the whole mystery. And now she lies seriously ill. This morning everybody is talking about her, wondering whether she will be well enough to testify soon. There is more interest in her now than in anything else.
 Last night I went over to the hospital to see If I could visit Mrs. Gibson for a few minutes. I have always liked her and I thought would like to see her. But was re- fused permission. She was guarded by state trooper. Then I inquired about her condition and they told me she was no better.
 Late yesterday while she was suf- fering in the hospital there was a legal wrangle about whether they should take her testimony there. But the court decided to wait to see if she got better.
 Senator Simpson wanted to have her testimony taken now because he was afraid she might die before she could tell her story of what she saw and heard that night my poor mother and Dr. Hall were so brutal ly murdered. But the defense ob- jected, in spite of their talk that Mrs. Gibsons mother would shatter the farm woman's testimony. Mrs. Gibson wants to tell her story. know she wants to see justice done.
 "Fine and Sincere Woman"
 have talked with her several times, and she has always impressed me as a very fine and sincere wom- an in spite of the fact she is only a farm woman. I do hope she gets we'll am really worried about her. Senator Simpson said he didn't want to see the hands Of death aid mis- carriage of justice.' And 1 agree with him.
 Fate has interfered 50 much in my life already. it would be a terri ble blow to me if it stepped in again and left this mystery of my mothers death to haunt me always That would be too much.
 Senator Simpson also said that If the defense counsel didn't stop wor- rying him so much with their objec- tions he would ask that someone else be assigned to the case in his place. I hope nothing like that happens be- cause he certainly has conducted the case well, and it has moved very quickly with that first negligent in vestigation. I am beginning to have faith again in Jersey justice. And theway Senator Simpson snaps at the Hall attorneys is very amusing. can really laugh sometimes at his sallies. l would be frantic with misery If it weren't for him.
 Ralph Gorslin was very nervous on the stand. He swore he didn't see anyone that night he heard the shots which killed my mother near 1 De Russey's lane. Catherine Ras- tall, who was with him that night, also testified.
 Sorry For Miss Rastall | I feel so sorry for her. It was just l torture for her to be on the stand. admitting before so many people who knew her that she had been out parked auto with Ralph Gorsline, a married man. That stigma will last perhaps, no matter how it is ex- plained
 Her story was substantially the same as the vestryman has told. You could see that Miss Rastall was anxious to have the ordeal over with as soon as possible.
 Mother always thought Katherine Rastall a nice sort of girl. She didn't have much contact with her except | that both sang in St. Johns choir but on the several occasions that l her name was mentioned. l know mother always expressed nice opin- ions of her.
 Her story in itself Is important only because it confirms the state ments of Ralph Gorsline regarding the number of shots heard, the screams, the time of the murders and the place.
 l do feel sorry for her, for if 1t hadn't been for the reopening of this case, she never would have been mixed up in the affair. You could see today by her whole attitude that she had been terribly punished. ... Minister Ill At Ease For a moment yesterday. I was back in St. Johns church in New Brunswick listening to Dr. Hall de- liver one of his warm, kindly ser mons. For a moment only-and in mind only. Just a flash-and the picture faded out After all. I was not in church but in the court room here and the pulpit was really the witness stand and intsead of poor Dr. Hall. 1t was his successor the Rev. J. NJ. Petit who was speaking The minister was ill at ease. it seemed 10 me. There was not that air of confidence and geniality about him that used to mark the personality of Dr. Hall. But of course, Mir. Petit was on witness stand. testifying a murder trial. In the pulpit in his own church. among his people, he's probably quite diff | ferent.
 Mrs. Anna Hoag followed Mir. Petit on the stand and after she l had told her story hearing shots