The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-24
INSTRUMENTATION
Bells Unique Comment on His
Death Sentence.
CONVICTED OF TOWNSHIPS MURDER
Prisoner on Being Allowed 90 Adj
dress the Jury Denies killing OF
staten Island Physician-ssid
~ Am No Harry Thaw."


NEW YORK, May 24.--John Bell
was last night found guilty OF murder
In the first degree and sentenced TO be
electrocuted ON the first Monday In
July next
Bell received the verdict and sen.
tence stolidly and remained cool when
his stepmother and his sister tainted.
The defense had attempted to estab-
lish an abb. and Bell stoutly asserted
his innocence.
IN his cell last night Bell thus COM
mented upon the verdict:
II have been handed lemon all
right, but the fact that this jury has
convicted me does not mean that viii
20 10 the electric chair"
Bell killed Dr. Charles Wilmot Town.
send OF Staten Island.
Just before the case went 10 the jury
the prisoner created sensation by
jumping up from his chair and shout.
ing:
"Your honor, I understand that as
defendant In this case l have the priv
negc OF speaking 10 the jury"
The judge granted permission TO Bell
TO address the jury. and. turning 70 the
jury box. Bell spoke ms follows:
Gentlemen Of the jury. / ask no IA
vors and no sympathy, and II you
think am guilty want you TO rem
der 4 verdict accordingly.
'The district attorney has told you
that the cap wore when arrested was
mine. IL IL not No. That cap was In
my home. and wore II when arrested.
but II was not mine.
THE district attorney also said that
my brother Howard said confessed
10 him that killed Dr. Townsend.
When I was on the stand the district
attorney did not ask me anything
about that did not tell my brother
killed Dr. Townsend. II II an untruth.
Gentlemen OF the jury. am no
Harry Thaw. and have not his
wealth. II had could produce wit
nesses who would testify as 10 where
/ was on the morning OF the shooting
and whose testimony would Ice sutii-
cient TO acQult me-"
Here Bell took sheet ~ foolscap
and placed Il NJ one Side OF his face
Now. gentlemen. look az my nose,
look ~ my face" he shouted.
Then be dropped the sheet Of paper
and. holding out his hands. cried.
Look NJ my hands. 10 look like n
L.. a o
I killed Or Townsend want to be
killed myself"
Bells only hope 81 acqulttal rested
on this appeal aud on the story he told
the jury In his own behalf. attempting
10 set ny an alibl FOR the night Of the
murder. lie gave what be- claimed was
a detailed account ~ his movements
on the night Of the shooting and the
preceding day.
Perhaps the most improbable part Of
biz tale wa how he overheard In a "a.
loon near the Brooklyn bridge AZ $50
O'Clock IN the morning two men dis.
cussing the Townsend murder. This
was only an hour aud a half after the
shooting. II was necessary. however.
o. explain how he was able 60 inform
his relatives Of the shooting ~ early
In the morning.
After Belrs testimony both sides
summed NJ Judge Abbott charged the
jury. aud nc 3:i5 o'clock the jury re
tired.
ON cross examination Bell told n pc
cullar story regarding the inscription.
Revenge rcnews our happy love In
heaven" on his wifes tombstone. IL
was the theory 81 the prosecution that
this showed Bclrs intention 20 kill Dr.
Townsend. under whose attendance as
physician Mrs Bell had died.
Bell. however. swore that after his
wlfe's death he secured lot Of pan.
sizes, her favorite flower. and decorated
her grave with them. Then he went
west While Ia the west be said he re
celyed several letters from relatives
aud friends that the flowers had been
removed by some one. lie came back
east aud went 60 the cemetery. found
the flowers all gone. and then he made
up his mind Ia get revensr ol the per.
son or persons who took the flowers
away.