The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-22
He Broke His Promise Me and Killed Witness
TWO KILLED. FIVE HURT IN FIGHT OVER VILLAGE BELLE
Girl on Trial For Murder of
Lover, Tells Her Tragic Story

II
AUBURN, Cal, Nov. 22.-Alma
Bell, the girl slayer of her lover,
Joe Armes, took the stand today
and began her personal battle for
life and freedom, being prepared
to face a pitiless cross-examination
at the hands of the prosecuting at
torneys who have been waiting
to put her through the court room
third degree"
The kirl was pale but calm
when she faced the court room,
which was crowded with solid
jam of people anxious to hear her
tell her own story.
Wears Confident Smile.
She smiled as she answered tho
questions of her attor-
neys with confidence.
She first told how she took the
news to Mrs. Armes of the death
of her husband on February IS
and how she later attended the
funeral. After this. she said, she
remained with the Armes family.
Il told Joe of my condition the
first of May" she testified, but
he said he thought ! was mistak-
en-. On the 10th of May told
him again and | said: Joe, we
had better get married right
away"
Without a show of shame the
girl told how she knew of her
opd tban ctotnd fhat
she asked Mrs. Denny, at the be-
hest of Joe. what would relieve
a girl in her condition.
The court ordered this part of
the testimony stricken out.
Tells of Marriage Promise.
Then she testified:
after that Joe said to me:
Wen get married. I'll go down
to the court house right away and
get the license. Then we'll go
to Sacramento, where I'll get a
job in the cannery.
Then the witness told of the o.
on Decoration day. She
said that she made wreaths and
crosses of flowers for the grave of
Joe's father.
She said she went to the ceme-
terry with the family and helped
decorate the grave.
On the Thursday before the
killing, she said she was taking
care of Mamie Armes, who was
sick, and telephoned to Manuel
Neves asking for Ben Kenison or
some ice man and requesting that
some ice be sent out for Mamie.
This was the telephone conver-
sation in which Mamie said Alma
to go riding with Kenf
son.
Move to Deceive Her.
She next testified that Joe Ruth
called her up on Thursday even
ing and told her that her mother,
Mrs. Pike Bell. was sick.
Later Ruth told me that this
was not true" she testified. "He
admitted that he told me my
mother was Ill just because ne
wanted to take me out buggy
riding and thought he could get
me to go that way. under pretense
of taking me home"
She said that when she found
this out. she said to him: II
don't want to go riding. Take
me back to Mrs. Armes or to my
mother"
In response to a question, she
said:
81 was always treated like a
of the Armes family"
Story of Final Quarrel.
Then came the story of the
final quarrel.
"On Saturday night" she said.
al saw Joe and he hardly spoke
to me. Mrs. Armes wouldn't
speak to me at all.
.I said to her, Mamma, you
think / made a date rer the tele-
phone with fellow and she re-
piled: That's what Manuel
Neves said
81 tried to explain, but sne
would not listen. She said that
Johnny Armes heard the same
story.
"I begged her to let me explain,
but she would not listen to me-
Denies Revolver Story
The witness denied the story
told by Frank Armes OF her hav-
ing had a revolver strapped to
her leg. She admitted that she
had pistol. but did not say where
she carried IL.
Frank Armes and his girl and
l and Joe went to dance" she
said, Franks girl got mad and
would not SO home with him.
Joe took her home instead. Frank
asked me what was wrong with
his girl and why she wouldn't go
with him and said didn't know
Then Frank began to cry bitterly
because his cir wouldn't go homo
with him and that Is all that hap
pened on that night
The direct statement of the girl
was not lengthy and was confined
to the main facts contained in her
defense--that Is, the statement
that Armes promised to marry
her and then refused.
II was all because he refused
10 keep his promise. she said.
|"That was the cause or the trou-
bile between US and It followed the
trouble about Kenison and Joe
Ruth.
She stated that she had been
Engaged to marry Joe Armes sInca
= ssust 1. 1906