The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-22

NOai &c TIC tllhldA Will DC lCoNASd
when she tells her story.
Yet there will be little in 1t
that is new, nothing to brighten
the love part of it, nothing to re-
lieve the fiatness, the bleakness of
the tragedy in it.
1t is right and just, undoubted-
ly, that she should tell her story,
before she is condemned or ex-
onerated. If she should not tell
it, she might hang. So she's go
ing to tell it, pretty soon-though
she will understand only a little
of what she is telling-and a
whole state is waiting to hear her.
That's the most pitiful part of
it. If the whole state could only
suppress it's thirst for sensation,
its eagerness to hear the young
girl lay bare internationally, scarce
Understandings, the details of her
wronged girlhood, Alma Bell
might still have a chance of max
ing something of her life, still
have chance for happiness or at
least chance to mourn alone for
the lover whom she killed.
Joe Armes, son of a well-to-do
rancher at Newcastle, near here,
was her lover. Alma Bell loved
him. Uncultured, untutored, prim-
Tive, almost, in her passions, as
she was, she was still a woman,
and she could love. So loving
him, she gave Armes all she had
TO give. From what she says,
she probably never gave thought
to whether 1t was right or wrong.
No." she said in answer to a
question put to her In Jail, II
never went to Sunday school or
Church. ! never had bit of re-
Iligious or moral training. I never
went to school after I was IA. ]
haven't read book since then.
No L never learned any prayers.
l never have been out of this
country and ! have worked most
of the time since 1 can remem-
ber."
But, mentally and morally un-
equipped to battle with the world
as she was. Alma Bell did know
later on that she must look &c
Joe Armes to shield her from dis
grace in that rought mountain
community.
She knew that for him to sc
shield her was simple justice. Sc
when he failed to fulfill his prom
ises to make her his wife, she
shot him. That, too, to the
daughter of old "Pike" Bell, pho.
neer miner in the days when mar
was law unto himself, was simpl-
justice.
Today, while she mourns fer
the lover who is dead, she is moi
sorry she killed him.
Eyes; l shot him." she says;
"and am glad of it. He prom
Used to marry me and ] trusted
him. He deceived me and l id
the only thing could do.
loved him and / love him now.
l had intended to kill myself, but
somehow 1 could not bring myself
ito it."
Alma Bell does not say I am
glad of it," with an air of hard
ened bravado. She is not hard
|ened.
Folks around Auburn who have
Known her since girlhood, say she
vas a good girl. hard working
girl. She kept company with
Armes for about four years, and
in the codes of the mountain peo-
pie, they were engaged.
A few months ago, Alma went
to live at the home of her lover,
where she helped Mrs. Armes with
the homework. The little house
hold was happy one until mid
summer, when the fruit picking
season brought many new faces to
the Armes' orchard. Among them
was Minnie Foster, an attractive
young girl-black-eyed, vivacious.
lit was not long before young Joe
Armes became interested in her.
That was the beginning.
A bitter feeling grew up be-
tween the two girls and Alma left
the Armes farm and returned t.
her own home.
Several times, Alma declares
she urged upon her lover the ne.
lcessity of Immediate marriage. AL
ways he put her off. with prom
Uses. Finally. on, the night Of
June last, when she had despair
ed of holding young Armes to his
promises. Alma called her lover
from his home and as he wa.
walking with her, shot hin
Through the heart. She was ar
rested. In the county jail hel
baby was born. II did not live.
\ And now they have put her OF
trial. The little home on the bar
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