Evening star., 1926-11-02
STAR WITNESS KEPT
GUARDED ON EVE OF
TRIAL
Another Disappears as Mrs.
Gibson Is Carefully
Watched at Home.
PLANS TO BROADCAST
PROCEEDINGS CONTINUE
Gorsline Denies He Told Detective
Henry Stevens Fired at His
Feet Night of Murder.

SOMEI[NIL ILLEi, n. j., November =.
The States chief witness for the
trial Of the Hall-Mills murder case.
which opens tomorrow, was under
heavy guard today. Another witness
had disappeared.
Mrs. Jane Gibson, at first was re-
ported yesterday to have disappeared
but Inspector John Underwood. chief
assistant to Special Prosecutor Alex
ander Simpson in investigating the
case. explains that she was removed
from her home and placed under
guard.
Mrs. Gibson, known as the pig
woman has said that on the night
Of the murder four years ago she was
riding her mule in search of corn
thieves and witnessed the crime. She
declares that she recognized at the
scene Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall,
the clergyman's widow; Willie Ste
vens, her brother. who with Henry
Stevens, goes to trial with her to-
day for the murder of Mrs. Mills, and
Henry de Ia Bruyere Carpenter, n
Cousin of Mrs. Hall.
The witness who vanished is Rev.
Paul HambOrSky, who is said to be In
Florida. He informed the prosecution
that Rev. Mr.. Hall told him few
days before the murder: Henry Ste
vens has threatened my life"
Tongue Not Cut Out.
DR.. Otto Schultz Of the New York
district attorneys office, who per-
formed autopsies on the bodies recent
ly, has found there is no foundation
for rumors that Mrs Mills tongue
Mas cut out.
Ralph V Gorsline. vestryman Of
DR.. Halls church, denies charges of
Mr.. Simpson that he told detective
he was confronted by Henry Stevens
on the night of the murder and told
to "get to hell out of here" after two
shots were fired at his feet. In max
ing the denial Gorsline remarked:
"There-will be a day of reckoning
after the trial.
WOR intends to broadcast the trial,
having set up a transmitter in quar-
ter5 near the courthouse.
Following are the chief figures in
the tragedy:
Edward Wheeler Hall, rector of the
Episcopal Church of st. John the
Evangelist, in New Brunswick. lie
was slain with Mrs. Mills September
IA. 1922. and their bodies We're found
hole in his head He married Frances
Stevens. 1S years his senior, in 1912,
when he was 21.
Three Wounds IN Head.
Mrs. Eleanor Rhinehardt Mills. 33.
slain with DR.. Hall; leader of DR..
Halls choir and wife of James Mills.
ianitor of DR. Halls church and
school. She had two children. Char
fln- in1
Love letters from her to DR.. Hall
were scattered over their bodies.
There were three bullet holes in her
head and her throat was cut.
Mrs. Frances Stevens Hall. now 50.
widow of DIR. Hall, descended from
an old New England family from
which she inherited 100000 She
denied all knowledge of the love affair
between her husband and Mrs. Mills.
and repeatedly stated she welcomed
investigation. Since indictment she
has been out on bail.
Henry Stevens, SO. brother Of Mrs.
Hall, formerly a small arms expert.
described as good-natured, even
tempered man. with an inheritance
of $175, 900, who retired to his home
at Lavalette. n. j., several years ago
to devote his time to hunting and
fishing. He claims as an alibi that
he was fishing on the night of the
murders He was arrested last Sep
tember and indicted by the same
grand jury that indicted his sister.
Fingerprints on Card.
Willie Stevens. SO. brother and
ward Of Mrs. Hall. who until his ar
rest and indictment devoted most OF
his time to being an honorary fire.
man in Nay Rri1nSyyiCS He inherited
1860, 900 and lived with his sister.
Fingerprints said to be his were
found on p card at the feet of Mr..
Hall.
Henry de la Bruyere Carpenter. SO,
a cousin of Mrs. Hall. who built a
fortune of $150,000 as a Wall Street
broker He claims he was at dinner
with friends on the night of the mur-
der He was indicted with his cousins.
but is due for trial later.
Mrs Jane Gibson. the States chief
witness. She was formerly a circus
rider, and now raises pigs. She claims
to have witnessed the murder while
riding a mule in search of corn
thieves.
Ralph v. VI. Gorsline, vestryman in
DIR. Halls church. who was with Miss
Catherine Rastall, member of the
choir led by Mrs. Mills, in De Rus.
sey's lane near the scene of the
murder when it was committed. Their
presence in the lane was not revealed
until four years after the crime.
James Mills. husband of the muir
dered choir singer. who denies that
he knew of his wife's love affair. He
was sexton of DIR. Halls church. His
daughter, Charlotte. wa. in high
school four years ago and is now