NJSBA Family Law Section

Good afternoon Family Law Section members,

On Wednesday, Nov. 25, NJICLE will present a video replay of the live program held in October 2019, Webcast - "ENCORE" - The Halls Mills Case - Takeaways from an Unsolved Murder in New Jersey, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Reverend Edward Wheeler Hall, an Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Mills, a married member of the choir at his church, were involved in an affair that was an open secret in New Brunswick, NJ. On September 14, 1922, they were brutally murdered.

While Hall was only shot once in his head, Mills had been shot three times, her throat was cut, and her tongue and larynx were savagely removed. Their bodies were discovered two days later at a local "lovers' lane", where they were staged lying side by side in an intimate pose, with her head resting on his right arm. His face was covered by his Panama hat and his calling card was left standing on edge near his foot, and torn up love letters the two had exchanged were scattered between their lifeless bodies. Suspicion quickly fell upon Reverend Hall's widow, Frances Stevens Hall, who came from a prominent New Brunswick family with ties to the Johnson and Johnson fortune. In fact, it was widely suspected that she set up the murder with the help of her brothers, Henry and Willie. However, after a questionable investigation, prosecutors alleged they could not find enough evidence to indict Frances, Willie and Henry, and the case went cold.

Four years later (1926), interest in the case was revived, a special prosecutor was appointed, indictments were issued, and one of the strangest trials in New Jersey was soon underway. The Hall Mills Murder Trial, had all the elements of a scintillating novel: adultery, murder, high society, incest, revenge, and badly mishandled evidence. Over 200 news reporters from around the country covered the case, making it the "Trial of Century", and there were 157 witnesses, including the "Pig Woman" who testified from a hospital gurney in the courtroom. Although the case itself lasted over a month, much to the confusion and concern of the general public, it took the jury only five hours to acquit the defendants on all charges, and the case remains unsolved to this day.

About the Program
Register today to reserve your seat at this unique History-Meets-CLE experience. The program will begin with a fast-paced recreation of the trial itself, presented by the Aldona E. Appleton American Family Law Inn of Court. Following the recreation of the trial, you'll hear compelling presentations on the history of the murders, use of experts at trial, and handling the high-profile case. By the end, you'll have all of the available evidence, and will be able to sort through the clues to come to your own conclusions regarding the true killers, and whether or not Frances, Willie and Henry should have been acquitted. Make your plans to attend today.

Live Commentator
Lisa W. Spiegel, Esq.
Associate Executive Director, Continuing Legal Education
New Jersey State Bar Association, New Brunswick

Featuring:
Hon. Travis L. Francis, AJSC (Ret.)
2016 Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Riker Danzig, Morristown
Hon. John Jorgensen, JSC
New Brunswick
William Pat Schuber, Esq.
Associate Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson
University, Florham Park, Teaneck

And the cast (Members from the Aldona E. Appleton American Family Law Inn of Court):
Hon. Peter J. Barnes, III, J.S.C.
Hon. Bradley J. Ferencz, J.S.C (Ret.)
Hon. Sheree V. Pitchford, J.S.C.
Hon. Deborah J. Venezia, J.S.C.
Jessica Arndt, Esq.
Sam Berse, Esq.
Leonard Busch, Esq.
Brian McFadden-DiNicola, Esq.
Raul Menar, Esq.
Gregg Rubenstein, Esq.
Ellen Schwartz, Esq.
Edward Weinstein, Esq.

Program Agenda:
9:00 Welcome
9:05 The play
10:35 Break
10:45 Discussion
   - Overview of the case - Hon. John Jorgensen, JSC
   - Expert witnesses - William Pat Schuber, Esq.
   - Handling the high-profile case
   - Hon. Travis L. Francis, AJSC (Ret.)
12:20 Q&A and program wrap up
12:35 Adjourn

CLE Credits:
NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 3.0 hours of total CLE credit.
NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 3.0 credits (50 minute hour)
NY CLE (nt): 3.0 professional practice credits

The tuition for NJSBA members is $160. The general tuition is $200.

Click here to register for Webcast- "ENCORE"-The Hall Mills Case- Takeaways from an Unsolved Murder in New Jersey.

For questions or to register by phone, please contact an association representative at 732-214-8500, or by email at [email protected].

All the best,
Barb

------------------------------
Barbara Straczynski
Director of New Media and Promotions
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Brunswick NJ
(732) 937-7524
[email protected]
------------------------------