The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-03
MURDER ENDS
RACE BETTING
YOUNG WIDOW SHOT sY NAN
WHO MADE hERsETss.
his VICTIM TWICE
mccomas Alleged self-Dsfenss, but
circumstantiai Evidences Does Not
Bear Out Observation-Disclosures
With Acid on His Face.

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Los Angeles, Feb. 2s.-A quarrel
over financial matters Is today accept
ed by the police as the most likely
origin Of a murder committed early
this morning when Mrs. Charlotte D
Noyes, q young widow, was shot and
Instantly killed IN her apartments III
the fashionable Wesl Lake district by
w. p. McComas, who has been pay
ing attentions to her for some time.
The slayer in his first statements
to the police, declared that Mrs. Noyes
had been trying to throw a cupful of
acid in his face and he fred to pro-
tect himself, exhibiting in.proof of his
statement a burn on the side OF his
face which required treatmentaaI the
receiving hospital. The detectives
disagree with the, statements Of Nc
HComas and express a belief that he
deliberately applied the acid to his
face.
Mrs. Noyes, who appears to have
been possessed Of considerable wealth,
came to this city from Boston about
five months ago.
The first indication of the tragedy
was when at the close OF a ball at
the Hotel Pepper, close to Mrs. Noyes'
home, McComas, his face stained with
acid, appeared in their midst and in
CURED for Deputy sheriff v. C. Carey
Of the hotel, to whom he announced
that he had killed Mrs. Moves. 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 bullet
wounds showed in her breast, and
one of these, the surgeons later dis
covered, had pierced her heart.
Mccoma's Statement.
When asked for a statement Nc
Comas said to the police:
RI have known the woman for five
years, and she has been bothering me.
| could not stand It longer and put m
end to It"
The revolver Of McComas Is said
by the Police to contradict his claim
Ct ~self-defense. It shows that between
the first and second discharges of the
weapon the hammer fell upon two
other cartridges which failed to ex-
plode. In addition to this, although
McCon1as claims to have fred sorce
at the ceiling, both bullets were found
in the body OF his victim.
Detectives who searched the elab-
orately furnished apartments OF Mrs.
Noyes discovered a sheet Of paper,
presumed to contain an account OF
the operations OF McComas and Mrs.
Noyes at the rae track. It showed
heavy winnings up to two weeks ago,
but the total losses, all seemingly dur
ing the last few days. amounted to
between $4,000 and $4,000. The list
was kept In the handwriting Of Mrs.
Noyes. A bundle Of special delivery
letters showed that Mrs. Noyes had
directed to her daily q statement OF
"tips" on the races.
A special to the Express received
this afternoon says that the murdered
woman B Mrs. Charles M. Noyes OF
Boston and Newburyport, Mass, for
merly wife OF a salesman for a promi-
nent Boston millinery house. It 10
said the couple were married in New
buryport IL years ago and Lived some
time in Call4ornia. Mrs. Noyes is said
to have considerable property.
The detectives are OF the opinion
that McComas and Mrs. Noyes quar-
relied while computing their losses ut
the rae track.
invested inland.
since her arrival here Mrs. Noyes
has invested literally in real estate
located in neighboring towns, and
several days ago closed q deal for
the purchase OF q residence on Nc
1-4ntock street IN this city.
McComas, who has resided at 1919
street is about 10 years Of
age. He Is the son OF q former terri
torial judge in the southwest, his
having been massacred by
Apaches when he was q small boy.
AS q mining engineer he is known the
length Of the entire coast, and has
lately been interested IN some prop
erty near Ballarat. He married sew
eral years ago hut was separated from
his wife. McComas is related to At
McComas Of this county and
has been prominent socially and fra
ternally.
DR.. w. q. Campbell, acting for Cor
oner Martwell, held an autopsy today
on the body of Mrs. Noyes. It was
found that both bullets passed through
her body.
Several letters were found in the
effects OF Mrs. Moves, three being
from her family and showed that the
woman was in need.