Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-13
4 wIFE'S HONOR.
A Prominent California Lawyer Killed by
Husband and Brother.

Husband and Brother.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, November IL
James T. Noon, a prominent young law
yer Of Santa Rosa, and formerly president
of the Land League of this city, was killed
last Friday morning. by John Bailiif and
Al Reed, two well known citizens. The
two men suddenly entered the Office Of
their victim and, apparently without
word Of warning, began firing at him
from n revolver. Noon made desperate
resistance, closing with his murderers, and
when the people rushed in the three men
were found struggling in a heap on the
floor Of the room, which was full of smoke
from the discharges of their weapons.
The deadly struggle was still going on.
while beneath the men were seen three
large pistols, of which nearly every cham
Der had been emptied. The carpet was
covered with pools of blood. Chairs and
tables were overturned and books and
papers We're scattered about. The walls
and door were perforated with bullets.
Every evidence pointed 10 terrible
fuSillade, although the only witnesses of il
were those who had been engaged in it.
Noon had two wounds in his breast and
side The only words that he spoke were,
Take them off me-" lie died soon after
the arrival of an officer. The murderers
have since kept 4 most careful silence re-
gardng their deed and it's cause, Bailifl
only letting fall the remark that Noon de-
served his fate. The latter is we'll known
in San Francisco, and was classmate and
intimate friend of some Of the most prOmi-
net local Judges here. He was only TWEEN
ty-eight years OF age and of handsome and
very imposing presence.
Despite the great sensation caufed by
the tragedy, its motive was until to-day
involved in great deal of mystery. The
inquest, however, has extOrted from re-
luctant witnesses the fact that it was
caused by the infatuation of BailelI7s wife
for the young lawyer and lier frequent WIS.,
its to his Office and meetings with him AT
improper hours. On these occasions she
was accustomed TO envelop herself in a deep
veil and take every other possible precau-
ton to insure secrecy. Noon bOasted Of
his deeds The intimacy had lasted but
few weeks when he imprudently addressed
her a note This was the immediate cause
of the trouble. Ballet, who is wealthy
farmer and who lives ~ Laguna, seven
miles from Santa Rosa, is over seventy
years old and his wife is about thirty.
She was married TO him in her fifteenth
wear, and is Of family that is highly re-
spectacle.
Their first child, daughter, was named
after her. and this fact had proved Of fatal
importance The note fell into the hands
of the young lady, and, supposing it to be
for her, she opened and read IT. Acting
upon her first impulse of sorrow and indig-
nation she handed il over TO her father,
and together they confronted the unhappy
mother with the accusation OF her crime.
The woman made n full confession, and
implored forgiveness OF her husband. In
frantic rage he ordered her from his
sight. She then became nearly demented
and evinced q desire to take her own life.
In anticipation OF this purpose all OF the
druggists in SantO Rosa were warned not
to sell any poison to her, and several to
whom she applied for strychnine refused
10 supply il.
Reed is brother of Mrs Baileff. Both
he and the husband armed themselves at
once and forthwith executed vengeance
upon the paramour Of the fallen wife.
Most of the shooting. however. was done
by Ballet, the brother, it appears, hand
ing him the second revolver after the first
had been emptied