New-York tribune., 1908-03-01
SHOT And KILLED WOM4N
Mining Engineer Says He Fired at
Mrs. G. l.. Noyes an Self-Defence.

Los Angeles FEB Ca quarrel over finan-
cial matters is to-day accepted by the police as
the most likely origin of murder committed
early to-day, when Mrs. Charlotte l.. Noyes,
who came from Boston about five years ago.
was shot and instantly killed in her apartments
in the fashionable West Lake district by w. p.
McComas a mining engineer. who had been
paving her attentions. The slayer declared to
the police that Mrs Noyes had attempted to
fling cupful of sulphurfc acid in his face; that
he shot at the ceiling TO frighten her. and that
he then fired to protect himself, exhibiting in
proof of his statement acid burns on his race
which required treatment at the Receiving Hos
pitaI. The detectives disagree with his state
rnents and express belief that he deliberately
applied the acid to his face. Mrs. Noyes was
apparently wealthy.
The first known of the tragedy was when, at
The close of a ball at the Hotel Pepper, close to
Mrs Noyes's home. McComas, 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 Noyes The police were Immediately
summoned and the body Of Mrs Noyes was
found on the floor Of the dining room. Where
she had evidently fallen. Two bullets had en-
tered her breast and one of these. the surgeons
later found had pierced her heart.
When asked for a statement, McComas SAID 10
the police:
"I have known the woman for five years. ana
she has been bothering me. could not staho 1t
any longer, and put an end to it.
The revolver which McComas used is saio oS
the e, nolice to contradict his claim OF sel1-oe-
fence II shows that between the first and sec
ond discharges of the weapon the hammer zen
,,no, two other cartridges which failed to e4-
Mode In addition to this, although McCoiia'
claims 70 have fired at the ceiiinS' ooth ou
lets were found in the body of his victim
detectives who searched the elaborately fur
nished apartments of Mrs Noyes disco'ereu "
ebeet Of paper presumed to contain an account
80 the operations of McComas and MIS-. NoyoS
ar the racetrack 1t showed heavy winnings up
to two weeks ago, but the total losses al seeiii
ir,,,I,, IN the last few days. amounted TO between
50 600 and 1000. The list was kept In the
,,o,dwriting of Mrs Noyes A bundle OF speclai
,,,, ,et+ers showed that Mrs. Noyes had
-. .. ,er daily a statement of tips on the
races.
,,o..o, Feb -29-Mrs Charlotte Noyes, who
,,as shot and killed in Los Angeles to-oas' was
4orr,erIv the wife of Charles M Noyes' resi-
dent of Newburyport and travelling Siii"i
for q Boston millinery firm Mrs. Noyes se'"ioo
a divorce from her husband IN Caliiofiha soii'0
time ago. --,e
Mr.. Noyes said To-Day .Ha' mo -,
.s wealthy in her right, but that ne VIII
,o+ wake any attempt to interfere with he'
property. -,,,x.y
Nc Moves was the daughter of Ell Lamprey'
- ,rau,bur,-port and was married to Mr Noyes
t 1909 hut left him eight years later Accord
ing TO MIR. Noyes his wife went to California hve
Years ago. When he heard that she had inslI-
tuted divorce proceedings he made no contest
.I.,a,,ot, he saws. he secured legal advice TO
.,.o ae.ect that the California divorce was not
legal in Massachusetts,