Evening star., 1926-11-30
MRS. JANE G|BSON'S
VERAC|Ty ASSA|LED
BYSTATE WITNESS
Called to Defend Her Repu-
tation, Doctor Says It's
mot So Good"
SIMPSON ASTONISHED
AT UNEXPECTED REPLY
Calling Card Said to Bear Finger
print of Willie Stevens
Bobs Up Again.
By the Associated Press.

COURTHOUSE, SOmerVille, y. j.,
November 30.-Introduced by the
State to testify as to the reputation
of Mrs. Jane Gibson for truth and
veracity, a witness created mild
sensation in court during the trial of
the Hall-Mills case today by saying
that it was mot so good"
The defense had offered a dozen
witnesses to say that Mrs. Gibson,
regarded as the star witness for the
prosecution. bore a. poor reputation
for truthfulness in the community in
which she lived, and Special Prosecu-
tor Alexander Simpson announced
that he would offer character wit
nesses for Mrs. Gibson in rebuttal.
DR.. Walter Madden of Trenton
first character witness called. was not
permitted to testify when it was de
veloped that he has not known Mrs
Gibson for IL years
Spectators Seem Bored.
Another physician. DIR. j. Ii. Cooper
Of Milestone, then furnished the sur.
prising testimony from a States wit
ness.
The spectators seemed bored as a
handwriting expert testified as to the
penciled entries in Henry Stevens
1922 diary. There was no great in
terest when the prosecutog asked Dr..
Cooper the stereotypedT question:
what is her reputation for truth
and veracity, good or bad?''
The crowd sat up when Dr.. Cooper
repleid Not so good
Later the witness said, III reply 10 n.
question from the States lawyer. that
her reputation was about fifty-tifty.
There was no crosS.eXaminatiOn.
Court opened with Il tense feeling
in the air. caused by an announce
ment yesterday that when the evi
dence is in the State will ask that a
n,iat,ial be directed. Other than that
a letter had been written i'll which
the conduct of the jury was criticized.
the State had no statement in regard
TO the possible motion for a dismissal
Of the trial The defense. TOO. was
silent
Expert Is Recalled
August Hartcorn, handwri1inS ~A'
pert, who testified yesterday that a
reference to Arthur ADplegate and a
sixepound bIuet:sh in Henry Stevens
diary was not marked by the same
characteristics of other entries, was
I0c3lICU IOf
was stressed in the questioning thap
the handwriting expert Is also Ger
tilted public accountant.
The six.pound blue caught by
Applegate has played an important
part in the trial, for Henry Stevens
testified that he weighed it with set
of pocket scales the night Rev. Ed
ward W. Hall and Mrs. Eleanor K.
Mills were killed.
Joseph A. Faurot. hngerprint eX'
pert. was the next witness, and tes-
titled that enlarged photographs OF
fingerprints used by defense experts
were distorted.
The State contends thdt nnger-
print Of Willie Stevens appears on a
calling card found near the body OF
Rev. Mr.. Hall.
Expe1rs testified for the defense
that the fingerprint in evidence is not
that Of the defendant and used the
enlarged photographs in dispute TO-
dav 20 illustrate their testimony.
Vacant Seats i'm Court.
When court opened, Alexander
simpson. special prosecutor, asked for
permission to call several witnesses
TO testify as to the reputation OF MIS-
Jane Gibson, States star witness, Tor
truth and veracity, but the defense
insisted that it be allowed 20 cross
examine Hartcorn in due process ana
order
Almost half the seats in the court
room were vacant when court opened
and there were no crowds ia the cor
ridors, as there have been on previous
days.
The diminishing of the numhe" OF
SPECTATORS was attributed TO the laet
that all the principal witnesses IN the
case have been called.
Another photograph of the much
,,isc,,ssed calling card. which the State
claims contains the tingerprint OF
willie stevens, was introduced In evil
dence over the objection of the de-
Tense. which claimed that this was
not proper rebuttal.
Prosecutor Simpson. in arguing Tor
admission of the photograph, said that
The testimony of defense experts VINO
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