The San Francisco call., 1909-11-20
A[MABELL WAS
JUSTIFIED, SAYS
HER DEFENDER
Attorney Chamberlain Tells Ju-
rOrs Girl Did Right in Shoot
ing Joe Armes
Sister of Dead Man Says Ac-
cused Threatened to Kill
Him for Abandonment

continued Chamberlain. "and viii swear
and tell you that a child born under
those conditions is neurotic. with an
unbalanced nervous system; that a neu-
rotic may be properly nourished and
grow better or IL may be neglected
and grow weaker"
Chamberlain then developed his
story. going into the relations between
Alma and Joe Armes. He made it in
its incipiency an innocent association
at dancing parties, skating rink frolics
and buggy rides.
In 1906" said Chamberlain in low
cred tone, he asked her to become his
wife. She consented and he placed on
her hand the engagement ring. She
told him that she loved him; and he
told her that he loved her. The wedding
day was set"
Counsel Justifies Accused
The attorney then told the circum-
stances of the alleged betrayal of the
girl. and in the blunt terms OF the
clinic described how the defendant
learned that she was approaching ma
ternity even while Armes was repu-
dating his alleged promise TO marry
the girl
Chamberlain described the last night
of Armes life and the murder, then he
ended as eloquently as he began;
This girl was in a condition in which
she did not know right from wrong.
Alma Bell when she shot Joe Armes
did right. When Joe Armes met his
death at the hands of Alma Bell he
got just what he deserved: just what
he was entitled to- We stand here for
the law of God, the law of right and
the law OF justice, irrespective of our
plea of insanity"
Minnie Foster on Stand
The first half day on Alma Bells de-
fense, excepting the able exposition Of
her case by Chamberlain. brought out
little in her favor. In his address
Chamberlain did not mention the al
legged stillbirth Of her child in jail,
nor did he refer TO Minnie Foster.
What has become of the child?"
asked Special Prosecutor George w.
Hamilton during the recess that fol-
lowed Chamberlain's address.
And as for the neurotic theory. a
court might hold that such q person as
has been here described should exer-
else all the greater restraint"
Contrary to expectations the de-
fense did not subject Minnie Foster.
the inspiration" of Alma Bells 1eal-
ousy. 70 q long cross examination. At
torney Chamberlain asked her a few
questions. Then she gave way TO
Mamie Armes, the Is year old sister of
Joe Armes. the last witness for the
people.
Sister Tells of Threat
Mamie Armes had incriminating evil
dence TO give with her first words.
Alma Bell told me-" she testified,
that she had heard that Joe was going
with other girls in Newcastle and
Auburn and that she would kill him
If he " mt with other girls. She said
that af 81 Minnie Foster came to the
place sne (Alms) was sighted and that
she thought that Minnie was stuck
on Joe and Joe was stuck on Minnie.
'On Thursday before the shooting
Mamie testified. Alma told me that at
II o'clock that night she was going
out with Ben Kenison TO Lincoln, that
he was going to wait for her in the
road. She told me not to tell mamma,
as she did not want mamma to know.
but asked IL I would put the key out
side for her so she could come in
The defense subjected Mamie Armes
10 a searching cross examination, but
could not break her story. When thai
was concluded Special Prosecutor Ham
ilton said: That is our case"
Defense Calls Student
Chamberlain called as his first wit
ness J. E Richardson. a student of the
Western normal school at Stockton,
who testified that some day between
May / and Is of this year he had met
Joe Armes in Auburn and that Joe had
told him he was going to marry Miss
Bell"
Mrs. Ella Denny was called to testify
that Alma had confded to her the
secret of her approaching maternity
and a clinical conversation they had
had on the subject Judge Arnot held
that the evidence was not admissible.
II may be introduced in part later.
Change in Alma Bell
H. W. Bolton testified that he had
seen Joe Armes and Alma together
many times and on three occasions had
seen them together in the early morn
ing in Joe's cabin. He had noticed a
change in her moods, he said. She
had a wild look in her eve" He had
seen Alma Bell give Joe money on
various occasions.
Other witnesses were Eldredge May.
who had heard woman weeping at
the door Of Joe's cabin on the night of
the killing; Efie Lasono, Lorenz Fagg
and Robert Grifin, who had noticed
changes in Alma's temperament. and
Doc williams. a teamster, who testi-
fed that he heard a woman's hysterical
scream on the Ophir road just before he
heard the report of the shot that killed
Joe Armes.
Ed Bell, q brother OF the defendant,
was the first Of the members of the
family to be called TO the stand He
had just begun his testimony when
, point in law-was raised and adjourn