The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-01

his first statements 10 the ponce, SAID
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 state
ment acid burns on his face which re-
quired treatment at the receiving hos
pitaI The detectives disa gree with the
statements of McComas, and express
a belief that he deliberately applied the
acid to his face.
Woman Refined and Wealthy.
Mrs. Noyes, who appears to have been
possessed of considerable wealth, came
to this city from Boston about five
months ago. She was known To her
acquaintance 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 tran
spired McComas would not say until
after he had consulted with attorneys,
for whom ne sent shortly after the
charge of murder was made against
him.
Told of His Bloody Deed.
The IiTst known of the tragedy was
when at the close of a ball at tine
Hotel Pepper, close to Mrs. Moves
home. McCcmas, his face stained with
acid. appeared in the midst of the
guests and inquired for Deputy Sheriff
V. C. Carey of the hotel. to whom he
announced that he had killed Mrs.
Noyss. The officer led McComas back
to the apartments of Mrs. Noyes and
Immediately summoned the police. The
body of Mrs. Moves WAS found on the
floor of the dining-rnom. where she
had evidently fallen. The bullet wounds
showed in her breast, and one Of these
the surgeons later discovered, had
pierced her heart.
When asked for a statement. Nc
Comas said to the police:
Il have known the woman for five
years. and she has been bothering me-
could not stand it longer and put
an enc TO it,
Story Not Believed.
Before leaving the house, McComas
informed the officers that he and Mrs
Moves had quarreIed, that she had
scuffled with him in the kitchen and
had attempted to throw acid upon him
Supporting this theory was the trace
of sulphuriC acid splsshed upon the
door between the kitchen and the din
ing room, behind which McCOmas says
he attempted TO seek refuge.
The revolver which McCOmas used
is said by the police to contradict his
claim of self-defense. 1t shows that
between the first and second dis
charges of the weapon the hammer fell
upon two other cartridges, which failed
to explode. In addition to this, al
though McComas claims to have fired
once at the ceiling. both bullets were
found in the body of his victim.
Both Gambled on the Races.
McComas. after treatment at the hos
pital, was asked for an explanation of
a large quantity Of bookmakers' tickets
issued at the race track and showing
heavy wagers, found in Mrs. NOyes'
apartments. He stated that he and
Mrs. Noyes had attended the races al
most daily for several weeks. and that
both had been betting freely Detec-
tives who searched the deliberately fur
nished apartments of Mrs. Moves, dis
covered a sheet of paper. presumed to
contain an account of their operations
at the track. 1t showed heavy win
nings up to TWO weeks ago. but the
total losses, all seemingly during the
past few days, amounted to between
s., 900 and $1,000. The list was kept in
the handwriting of Mrs. Noyes A bum
die of special delivery letters showed
that Mrs. Noyes had directed to her
daily a statement of tips on the
races.
Divorced From Her Husband.
special to the Express received this
afternoon says that the murdered wo-
man is Mrs Charles NJ. Noyes of BIS
ton and NewburyDOrt, Mass, the wife
of a salesman for a prominent Boston
millinery house. IT is said the couple
were married in NewburyDort twelve
years ago and divorced five years ago
Continued on page 2.
DECISION ON THE MIN