Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-04
HALL MILLS CASE
OPENS; STATE HAS.
TESTIMONY

SOMERVILLE, N. j., nov. 3 (P)-
The first of the ,Hall-Mills trials was
opened today, fo@r"@years after the
double killing upon which they are'
based. in the little county courthouse
here modernized to accommodate
human drama already allotted page
in American criminal annals.
Opening it's case the state moved
with contrasting swiftness.
John L. Dixon, of North Plainfield,
n. J., hitherto unrent:oned even in
the lists of more than 100 prospective
witnesses, was called to deliver the
first blow at a defense alib:.
He told how lie had stepped from
his home at about $3.50 o'clock on the
hight that the Rev Edward Wheeler
Hall and his choir singer, Mrs.
Eleanor Mills, We're shot down, to
find stevens, one of the defendants.
at the door. Stevens who, with has
brother, Henry, and his sister, the
minister's widow are On trial for
murder, has asserted he spent the
entire evening in question at the
Hall home. His statement to the ef-
feet has been supported by Mrs Hall.
Dixon testified that Willie told
him he had just been set down from
his sisters automobile and that he
understood Willie to believe himself
near the Parker House, home fol
the aged about 500 yards away from
the supposed scene of the murders.
Willie was afoot. Dixon said, and
appeared excited. After directing him
tc trolley line, Dixon said he lost
sight of him, not seeing him get on
4 street car Dixon's testimony was
corroboraated by his wife, who said
she shook hands with Willie anG
found his hand cold and cIammy'
Charlotte Mills, daughter of the
slain choir singer testified that she
was taken by 4 newspaper woman to
the home of Ellis Parker, Burlington
county detective in Mount Holley
There, she said Parker tried to get
her to say that her father, James
Mills, had been out of the house on
the murder night. When defense
counsel objected 10 this testimony
Special Prosecutor Johnson shouted
he would offer proof thatN Henry
Stevens had worked with Parker in
an attempt to fasten the murders on
Mills.
L have a letter that viii prove it,,
Senator Simpson said
Edward Garrigan, New Brunswick
policeman, one of the first persons to
see the bodies as they lay under a
crabapple tree, testified thai visit
ing card of DR.. Halls which was Of
fered in evidence, was seen by him,
propped against the slain reverend s
left foot. Senator Simpson said he
would offer proof by two experts to
show the card bore the finger prints of
Willie Stevens left index finger.
The jury, without woman member,
was selected within an hour and a half.
The foreman is a teamster. There are
six farmers, two clerks, superinten-
dent, mason and blacksmith sitting
, with him.
Senator Simpsons opening address
required but 20 minutes. In it he said
the state would show that Mrs. Mills
was a, good woman whose interest,
after her husband became "cold" to her
was centered in her two children. She
turned to religion for solace, he said,
and met DR.. Hall, who had married a
woman of wealth and refinement and
had suffered the usual result-a cold
and cheerless home" The intimacy be-
tween pastor and chorister grew to be
more than spiritual, he said, and in
time became notorious.
Love letters exchanged by DR.. Hall
and Mrs. Mills came into Mrs. Halls
possession, Simpson asserted.
On the murder night he continued,
Mrs. Hall overheard a telephone con-
versation, in which her husband made
an appointment to meet Mrs. Mills in
De Russey's lane, where their bodies
| were found
She then communicated with her
brother, Henry, at his home in Laval
lette, N. J., he said, and her brother,
Willie, and with them drove to the
lane to confront DR.. Hall and Mrs.
Mills and show them the letters that
she had obtained. There, he said, they
became involved in a quarrel and the
murder was committed.
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