Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-19


Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon the last of the twleve men
who are to try w. p. McComas, mining
man. man-about-t and former rider
of 'he range, for the murder of Mrs
Charlotte J.. Noyes at her home at OIL
South Little street early in the morn
ing of February rs last, was given the
oath and then Judge w. +. James ad-
journed the session until this morning
at 10 o'clock when the hearing of evil
dence for the prosecution will begin.
Despite the fact that Mrs. Noyes
was a well dressed woman of the
world divorcee and fond of the race
track and wine suppers, there was Dut
one solitary woman present at yes
ter6ay's proceedings to listen to the
technical questions put TO each tales
man as he took his seat in the box
This solitary female was hidden be-
hind several rows of men and had to
stretch her neck to keep an eye on the
defendant.
McComas himself arrived after his
attorneys at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing He was carefully dressed and
carried himself erect and with debon-
air air, showing no signs Of levity anc
no signs OF serious apprehension-1us'
that grave, well hammered demeanoi
that Indicated he realized the gravity
of the charge against him, but was
confident that he would get off scoi
free.
Hopes to Be Acquitted
II am hopeful that / will be ac-
Quilted" he said as he took his seat
at the long table before the bench be-
side Paul Schenck, one of his attor-
neys. That was the extent of his
willingness to make a statement.
When the selection of a jury was
begun Deputy District Attorneys Ed
ward j. Fleming and G.. Ray Horton
were found in their places to prosecute
the case for the state. McComas was
represented by Attorneys Earl Rogers
and Paul Schenck of this city and by
State Senator w. w. Dodge Of Omaha,
an old friend of the defendant.
Although Attorney Rogers and his
fellow counsel seem to be confident OF
victory Deputy District Attorney Flem-
ing Is not so sure that the killing OF
the woman will not be avenged by the
state. 1t is probable the struggle be-
fore the jury will hinge on the throw
ing of the acid.
Where was the acid bought!
Who bought it?
Did the woman deluge McComas
face with a flood of tissue destroying
liquid?
Or did the man kill the woman and
then to provide a motive for the crime
spatter his face and hands with the
burning stuff before he gave the alarm
at the Hotel Pepper?
Did Mrs. Noyes receive money from
McComas?
Or was McComas taking and spend
ing money given him by the beautiful
woman who had fallen in love with
him and forgotten in his presence her
old home at Newburyport, Mass?
H.
perchance for both sides, there is little
doubt. Letters are in the hands of the
district attorneys office in regard to
the financial relations between Nc
Comas and Mrs. .Noyes. While these
shed light on the relations between
man and woman they are not admis-
sible as they are hearsay evidence
merely.
Does a conviction seem probable?'
Deputy District Attorney Fleming was
asked yesterday.
1T Is q hard case," he answered, as
he passed his hand through his hair
in a tired sort of way. 1T is as tough
a proposition as l ever tackled We
will do our best to get at the truth
That is all we can do
do you believe Mrs. Noyes threw
the acid?"
"Bah!" said the prosecuting officer
and he entered the court room.
AS McComas sat in his chair at the
table there were few evidences of the
terrible tortures and burns that were
told about at the time Mrs. Noyes was
slain The right side of his face. which
was turned toward the light, showed nc
sign of scar at all.
A closer look at the left cheek, which
was in shadow, showed a long, rec
scar, running down from the hair close
to the ear, clear to the chin. 1t has
healed entirely, apparently. His hands
which were said to have been terribly
burned at the time, he kept in his lap
In the selection of the jury the ques-
tions were largely technical. Before
the twelfth Juror was sworn twenty
eight talesmen had been examined. Ol
this number eleven were dismissed by
the defense and five by the prosecution
Little time was lost in the selection
and where old-timers believed the Sc
lection of the jury would take two OF
three days, despite considerable de-
lay In the opening of court yesterday
morning, owing to Judge James duties
as presiding judge. the work was COM
pleted long before the closing hour ar
rived.
w. p. McComas, the defendant, is a
(Continued on Pags Twol