Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-29
Fashionable Woman Shot and
Killed by Well Known
Mining Engineer.
MAKES CLAIM OF DEFENSE.
Murderer Gives Himself Up and Saws
Victim Was Trying TO Throw
Acid In His Face.

Los Angeles, Feb pa Quarrel over
financial matters is today accepted by
tne police as the most likely origin of
murder committed early this morning
when Mrs Charlotte L. Noyas, a vonns
widow. was shot and instantly killed in
her apartments in the fashionable West
Lake district by w P. McComas. a
mining engineer, who has been paylne
her attentions for some time. The
slayer, in his first statements to the
police, declared that Mrs. Noyes had
attempted to fling a cupful of sulphuric
acid in his face; that he shot at the
ceiling TO brighten her and that he
then fired to protect himself. exhibiting
In proof of his statement acid burns on
his face which required treatment at
the receiving hospital The detectives
disagree with the statements OF Nc
Comas. and express n belief that he de-
liberately applied the acid to his face.
WOMAN FROM BOSTON.
Mrs. NQyes, who appears to have been
possessed of considerable wealth, came
to this city from Boston about five
months ago. She was known to her
acquaintances as a widow OF refined
tastes and had made the acquaintance
Of several OF her neighbors.
According to the evidence in the
hands of the police. McComas, who has
been in the company of Mrs. Noyes
almost daily for many weeks past. called
at her apartments about II o'clock last
night Just what transpired McComas
would not say until after he had con-
suited with attorneys, for whom he
sent shortly after the charge of MUIR
der was made against him
SURRENDERED TO SHERIFF.
The first known of the tragedy was
when at the close OF a ball at the
Hotel Pepper, close to Mrs. Noycs'
home, McComas. his face stained with
acid, appeared in the midst of the
Sheriff V. c. Carey, OF the hotel, 10
whom he announced tiasa he hal
killed Mrs. Noyes. The officer led
MoComas back to the apartments Of
Mrs. Noyes and Immediately sum-
moned the police. The body of Mrs.
Moves was found on the floor OF the
dining room, where she had evident
ly fallen. Two bullet wounds showed
in her breast, and one of these, the
surgeons later discovered, had pierced
her heart.
When asked for statement, Me-
Comas said to the police:
Il have known the woman for five
years, and she has been bothering ne
l could not stand it longer. and put
an end to it."
DISCREPANCY Is NOTED.
Before leaving the house. McComas
informed the officers that he and Mrs.
Moves had Quarreled. that she had
scuffled with him in the kitchen, and
had attempted to throw acid upon
him. Supporting this theory was the
trace of sulphurlc acid splashed upon
the door between tho kitchen ana
the dining room, behind which Me-
Comas says he attempted to seek ref
uge.
The revolver which McComas used
is said by rhe police to contradict
his claim of self defense. 1t shows
that between first and second dts
charges of the weapon the hammer
fell upon two other cartridges. which
failed to explode. In addition to this.
although McComas claims to have
fired once at the ceiling, both bullets
were found in the body of his victim.