Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1908-01-09
MONA BELLS
SLAYER IN JAIL
OFFICERS ARRIVE WITH FRED
DAVIS, WHO KILLED
HIS CONSORT.

Fred Davis. or Fred Skinner, the
alleged murderer of pretty but frail
Mona Bell, alias Isabel Heskett, was
brought here yesterday from Rhyo-
lite in custody of Deputy Sheriffs
John Casey and Thomas d. Devine.
Davis was held to answer before the
Grand jury without bail" He had no
defense to offer at his preliminary
hearing, but his defense will be I'M
doubtedly self defense. He has two
wounds to show where he claimed
that the murdered woman shot him.
Deputy Sheriff Casey said yester-
day that Davis was anxious to get
out of Rhyolite, for there was a very
| hostile feeling against him, and that
at one time it was feared that the
people We're going to make a break
for the Jail and take the law into
their own hands. The officer says
that all the actions of Davis after
, the shooting were of the most cold
blooded character, showing that he
was already at work building up a
defense.
! The wounds on Davis are only
f superficial" said Deputy Casey, and
the doctor says that they could hard
, ly have been made by anybody but
/ himself. No chances were taken eth
+ er in the way of killing. The wound
> in his breast is a scratch, and would
| have to be made, if not by himself
6 by someone standing behind him, and
t high above him. The doctor could
; have been standing to have inflicted
4 the second wound which is lower ii
n the body
II The case of the murder will proc
ably be the first to occupy the atten
/ ton of the Grand Jury which is t.
come into life within the next few
!, days, and the alleged murderer will
It have no cause to complain of the de
a lay in the proceedings
The body of the slain girl is nov
n on the way to Washington, to tn
) home of her mother, where it will
IS be buried. 1t is accompanied by c
el c. Heskett, the husband of Mon;
II Bell. The mother lives at Ballard
10 Washington, and her name is Mrs
If c. E. Peterman. She is half siste
$ of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the hea
J. of the Christian Science church
~ Isabel Peterman was married /
is Heskett at Shadron, Neb., about tw
D. years ago, when she was but eightee
[e years of age. Heskett was gamble
q and the marriage was arranged o
r the sly. The pretty girl entered int
\ life, with her marriage, the exist
ence of which she knew not, but {
q the credit of Heskett, it is said h
10 tried to shield her from the harm G
re it. They moved from Nebraska t
N Arrowhead, Colo, and while ther
Of the scoundrel Skinner came into he
be life. Skinner was a married mar
Nv but he evidently overcame the scruI
IN les of the young wife, and one nigf
to when Heskett was absent from HON,
Of they eloped and came to Nevada
or The remainder of the story til
or public is familiar with. Davis p,
III the girl into the dance hall here, an
OF she provided food and raiment fC
sh him that he might live the life {
be- ease and comfort. His passion fC
he her was intense, it is said, and /
he was always afraid that he would los
% her. Well, he has lost her, and h
by life will probably pay the forfeit f
M the loss.
Heskett has spent $500 in tt
search for the couple, and has a
the time kept in correspondence wit
she was with Skinner, but the latt
n had taken the name of Davis, al
the wife the name of Mona Bell.
Il throw the husband off the scent.
friend who discovered the secret
the pair at Rhyolite wired the nev
y of the murder to Heskett at Fallo
an and he Immediately went to Rhyoli
ers to do the mans duty. showing tn
is he was square" with the girl wi
Nv had deserted him for the life in
which she fell, and witch led her
-. an awful death.