New Britain herald., 1926-11-22
Another Testifies to Preparing His Supper and Says He Was Home All of Following Day as Well.
Defense Presents Excel lent Alibi for Accused and State Fails to Cast Much Discredit on Those Who Testify.

Courthouse, somerville, N. J.. Nov. Z2 H9-A six pound blue" caught by Arthur Applegate of Lavailette on the night of September fl. 1922, con- tinued to win fame as the Eall-MilIs ! trial proceeded today This big blue. fish, blue" for short to the Laval. lette fishermen. looms large in the alibi offered by Henry Stevens Hall and brother. Willie Stevens, charged with the murder of Mrs. Eleanor R. Mills.
 Stevens Own Story.
 Henry Stevens testified in his own defense that he weighed six pounder caught by Arthur Applegate on the night the choir singer was slain, with the Rev. Edward w. Hall. orother-in-law of Stevens. Neigh- bors from Lavallete came again to- day to testify that Stevens was on the beach the night of September l4, 1922. Four witnesses today placed him there at 10 o'clock or after the killing Is alleged to have taken place at about 10:20 o'clock, 50 miles from the New Jersey coast town. Backed by Mrs. Applegate.
 Mrs. Mazie Applegate, wife of Ar- thur Applegate, testified that she saw the defendant on the beach about 10 o'clock or little later" She was a fiery witness and replied with flashing eyes to questions on cross-examination by Special Prose- cutor Alexander Simpson. Asked about statements her husband had made to Jersey City police officers. she made a counter charge against the police, declaring they took him off his work and said they would tell his boss, but they didn't do it." MT. Applesate, who showed the way to hooking "blues' on the night of September If. Is a carpenter. Mrs, Applegate said she saw the bluefish weighed.
 Also Applegate's Story
 Applegate supported his wife's testimony when he followed her to the stand after leaving Stevens at the beach In front of his house. they reached home at 1o:35.
 He also gave some additional de- tails of the catching of the big fel- low before the weighing ceremony took place. Stevens, 1t developed. gave him new hook when he had not been able to catch the crafty bluefish with his original equipment. Applegate was subjected to a rigid cross-examination by Simpson, as he sought to break his testimony, re- ferring to previous statements made made by the witness.
 Couldn't Remember Applegate could not remember making some of the statements ate tributed to him. He said on one ex. animation by police he was called 6 liar Another witness who saw Stevens on the beach as late as s;55 o'clock was Howard Price, a paint dealer of West Philadelphia, who lives part of his time at LaA vallette. Asked by Simpson if hs had ever been convicted of any crime the witness, rather indignant ly replied that he had never even been arrested.
 Other Alibt Witnesses
 Mrs, Anna Evanson. placid Swedish woman, with a decided touch of Scandinavian in her accent, told of preparing luncheon and sup per for Henry Stevens on the day and evening of September IA, 1922, and of his presence in his home and vicinity all of the following day and portion of Saturday. Mrs. Evan son. who said she had not been very well' had some difficulty in under. standing the questions fired at her in rapid sequence by the prosecutor, but she denied that she had been in hiding from police at any time since the investigation started. Reporters came 10 see her soon after the killing and again this year. she said, She was unable to identify a news- paper production handed her by simpson, with a question as to whether the man shown there was one of the reporters who visited her. Room outside the railing of the inner | sanctum of the courtroom. this seemed to be newspaper cut of Felix Di Martini, private detective, once in the employ of Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Sarah Wilson, a neighbor in 1922, testified that Stevens came to her home about 1o:So o'clock on the night of September 14.
 Will Call "Willic."
 The defense announced again to- day that Willie Stevens would be called to the stand ''at the proper time"
 Henry Stevens, the first of the de- fendants 10 testify. was on the stand the greater par of Saturday | Robert H. Neilsen. of defense counsel, made the announcement just before the opening of tho if. teenth day of the trial.
 Says Henry Was Home.
 Mrs. Anna Evanson, cook for the fCortinuAA m ps1A Y4f tiAi