The San Francisco call., 1909-11-09
GIRL SLAYER IS
wan FIGURE IN
AUBURN COURT
Insists She Shot Her Lover Be-
cause He Betrayed Her
After BetrOfllal
Mother of Victim Present at
Trial and Defendant Seems
Anxious to Testify

she believes herself absolutely justified.
She has no regret for her act Even
now she repeats, Yes. / shot him. and
am glad Of it. He promised TO marry
me and / trusted him. He deceived me
and I took the only course left open TO
me- / had intended to kill myself aft
erward, but somehow I could not bring
myself to it,"
An interesting figure in the courtroom
is Mrs. Armes. mother of Joe Armes,
the young man whom the girl killed.
Mrs Armes is q pleasant faced woman
of middle age and she follows the case
closely. For her there can be nothing
but sorrow in the hearing, but a strange
impulse has brought her day after day
10 court.
AS the case proceeds more details
ceme out in regard to the fatal shoot
ing Alma Bell had gone TO live at
the home OF her lover. where she as
sisted Mrs Arnes with the housework.
The little household was a happy one
until midsummer, when the fruit pick
ing season brought a great many new
faces to the Armes orchard. Among
them was Miss Minnie Foster, a very
attractive girl. II was not long before
she had taken place in the affections
OF Armes At once there developed
bitter feeling between the two girls.
and Alma left the farm, returning TO
her own home.
II was on June that she called at
The cabin Of her lover and called him
out. She persuaded him to walk with
her. and. suddenly whipping out a re-
volver, she shot him through the
heart.
DAUGHTER OF soUTHERNER
The girl IS the daughter of the late
pike" Bell, Tennesseean. who came
TO Placer county in 1S4e. He was a
well known character among the min
ers and struck il rich himself at diff
ferent times It was his habit to
prospect until he opened a rich pocket,
and then enjoy himself in San Fran
cisco while il lasted. His coin gone,
he would return to the mountains in
3 search Of another pocket At one time
ne took out $4,000. but ii went like
all before 1t and Pike Bell died a poor
man.
Joe Armes, for whose murder the girl
is on trial, was the son OF a prosperous
orchardist of Portuguese extraction.
SAYS CRIME WAS DELIBERATE
That Alma Bell was not in the throes
of temporary fit Of insanity when she
shot down Joseph Armes. her sweet
heart, and for whose death she is now
on trial for murder before Judge Ar
not in this city, but that she made de-
liberate preparation for the murder,
even to the extent OF taking target
practice with her revolver. will be the
case OF District Attorney Tuttle for the
prosecution.
District Attorney futile stated to-
night for the first time that the people
had evidence that several days before
the killing OF Armes. Alma Bell was
seen IN the woods near Auburn firing
at a target with the revolver with
which she shot down her lover
Three or four witnesses viii be pre-
sented by the people. who Will stare
that Alma Bell told them of her inten-
tion to XIII Joseph Armes. These
phases Of the case are expected to off
set the strong evidence of unwritten
law which the defense has at hand.
DENY CAUSE FOR JEALOUSY
One feature of the defense of Alma
Bell that the prosecution can not heII
but believe in is the jealousy of the
girl Of Miss Foster, whom she believed
was stealing the affections of JOSEPH
Armes from her Regardless of what
state of friendship really did exist be-
tween Miss Foster and Armes il Is
certain that Alma Bell believed Miss
Foster was coming between her and
the young man the accused says she
gave her heart and affection to.
The prosecution and Miss Foster say
there was no reason for the jealousy
as but a casual acquaintance existed.
The prosecution scouts the idea of
child having been born to the de-
fendsnt during her confinement in the
county Jail This story was sent out
saturday. but the officers and attor-
neys declare there is absolutely nc
truth to it, The defense will endeavoI
10 prove that Miss Bell believed she
was in a delicate condition at the time
OF the shooting of Armes