The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-01
0UARRE[EO OVER
MONEY MATTERS
Wealthy Young Woman Killed
by Mining Engineer in
Los Angeles.
SURRENDER OF MURDERER
TRAGEDY TOOK PLACE IN FASH
ioNABLE DISTRICT.

Los sAttSctts, Il ed "a quatt9t Vfct
financial matters is today accepted by
the police as the most likely origin of
la murder committed early this morn
ing, when Mrs. Charlotte L. Noyes was
shot and instantly killed in her apart
ments In the fashionable West Lake
district by W. P. MeComas, mining
engineer, who has been paying her at
tentions for some time. The slayer, in
his first statements to the police. said
that Mrs. Noyes had attempted to fling
a cupful of sulphuric acid in his face;
that he shot at the ceiling to frighten
her. and that be 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
pita1. The detectives disagree 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
tc this city from Boston about five
months ago. She was known 10 her
acquaintance as 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 Iirst known of the. tragedy was
when at the close of a ball at the
Hotel Pepper, close TO Mrs. Moves
home, NcCcmas, 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 be
announced that he had killed Mrs.
Neyfs. The officer led McComas back
to the apartments of Mrs Noyes and
Immediately summoned the police. The
body Of Mrs. Noyes was found on the
floor OF the dining 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 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 sulohuric acid spisshed upon the
door between the kitchen and the din
ing room, behind which MeComas 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 GambIed on the Races.
MeComas. after treatment at the hos
pital was asked for an explanation of
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 all
most daily for several weeks. and that
both had been betting freely. Detec-
tives who searched the laboratSly fur
nished apartments of Mrs. Noyes, dis
covered q 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
49, 400 and 5000. The list was kept In
the handwriting of Mrs. Moves. A bun
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.
4 special 10 the Express received this
afternoon says that the murdered wo-
man is Mrs Charles NJ Moves of BIS
ton and NewburyDort, Mass, the wife
of a salesman for prominent Boston
millinery house. Tt is said the couple
were married in NewburyDort twelve