The San Francisco call., 1909-11-13
AGED DMOTHfRF[ARS
OUTCOME OF CASE
Mrs. Bell Can See Only Dark
Prospect in Store for Her
Daughter-Slayer
Decrepit Product OflBarren Hills
Pessimistic Over 'Result
of the Trial
Continued from Page .


She did not turn 10 comfort her daugh-
ter. she sat like some statue of dumb
sorrow. while the girl by-her side shed
the first tears that haves fallen in the
county courtroom since Alma Bell
went on trial for thes murder of her
lover.
The question put by Hamilton and
fbe way he put il seemed cruel ana
remorseless. But there Is ample
ground. according TO evidence now IN
The hands of District Attorney c. A
Tuttle. to show that Alma Bell was
not giving the favor Of her friendship
solely TO Joe Armes. her reputed
fancee. during the period shortly be-
fore the murder.
The district attorneys Office holds
q number of letters received by the
girl during the month Immediately
preceding the shooting from corre-
spondent named Carl" which letters
arranged. it is said, for number OF
clandestine meetings between Alma
Bell and Carl. The letters were in
troduced as evidence at the preliminary
hearing and may be used at the trial
The infirm old mother would not
turn TO her sobbing daughter Tor sew
eral moments. She might have been
exercising a stole discipline over the
girl over whose future Siic
no illusions Then she relaxed and
bent toward the girl. A tall brother
went to the table and brought glass
OF water 10 Alma She drank II and
braced herself But the moment OF
trouble was over. Hamilton had nm
ished and the tedious routine OF in
terrogations was taken up and the girl
turned again toward the courtroom
listlessly TO watch the proceedings
~ A lima ga IN n
during the morning session. While
the elder woman is not so tall as her
daughter she gives the idea OF being
larger. She is heavier and has eyi-
IDENTIFY been a woman of formidable
strength.
There were no furbekows about the
old woman from Rock Creek. Her
dress had the plainness OF the bare
mountains She walked slowly and
heavily. for she has been i'll and is
a sufferer from chronic heart trouble
A person with a weak heart Is out
Of place in room where her daughter
is on trial for murder.
GIRL GREETS MOTHER
Alma sat still while her mother ad-
vanced across the courtroom floor The
girl smiled feebly and when her mother
was near she arose and the two kissed
affectionately. Then they sat together
with InelE myers h-u-
AT intervals they exchanged lew
words. until Hamilton's question broke
the girls Indifference.
For 30 years Mrs Bell has lived on
a barren $50 acres located at Rock
Creek. four miles from here.
There she has labored with her tur-
keys and her cows. And she has borne
i children. She is 65 years of age
and her face is scanned with wrinkles
from eXnnSHFP
At the noon recess she talked of the
trial She has the pessimism of age,
which is a dour and hopeless theory
Of life.
Il have had much trouble in my
life" she said, but it has all come
since the death of my husband.
buried six OF my children, four of
Them within a few weeks. They lie
buried up there on the HILL
The woman pointed a yellow hand
toward the window lin the direction OF
the cemetery. 'Myt Husband is buried
there too
What are your plans for Alma after
she is acquitted?" the mother was
asked.
FEARS DAUGHTERS CONVICTION
she might not be acquitted, said
the old woman, hersvoice weak and her
ewes watering.
Don't YOU think she win be-"
NO. I am not sure of that" reiter-
ated the woman. Il fear that she will
be convicted i knew nothing about
her troubles with Joe until after the
shooting. ] fear she will be convicted"
Mrs Bell came to California from
Missouri in 1863, ION the first through
train she said today.
III was our honeymoon" she contin-
ned. we went directly to this place
and 7 have lived there ever since. But
] want TO move away from the ranch
al soon as the trial is over want to
sell my place said said. There is
= mine on il from which $3.50, 600 has
been taken. Ny husband made that
much out of it
Mrs. Bell was not at the afternoon
session Of the case. Her chronic COM
plant had attacked her again and she
returned TO the barren home ranch,
where she was happy until her husband
died
WOMEN SPECTATORS INCREASE
There were more women in court
when the Bell trial started this morn
ing than on any day since its inception.
The mother of the dead Joe Armes, a
bent figure huddled in mourning habli-
ments. was in court with Mrs. Foster,
mother of pretty Minnie Foster, the
reputed rival of Alma. Minnie was
there were several other women
friends Women residents of Auburn,
who, for the most part, have kept
away from the courtroom, appeared
today in considerable number
Two jurors were passed at the morn
ing session subject to peremptory
challenge. They were ]. J. Phillips Of
ROseville and William Donald. For
the most part the jurors were favor
able to the girl. c. Brainerd being the
most decided in expressing his SYM
pathy. He was excused. A. F. Son
neyville of Roseville- who was a men,
ber OF the Modoe county jury which
tried the lynching cases there eight
years ago, was drawn on the panel
today. but was excused for cause He
had an opinion favorable to the de-
fendant
The afternoon was wasted, as there
were no veniremen at hand. and ad-
5ournment was taken until this even
ing. when the elisor reported a panel
Of 25 names.
The attorneys have already 9-epared
The cases they will present and the
sequence of the witnesses. The open-
jnx for the prosecution it is believed
Will be formal. The fact of the death
or Joe Armes and the material point
that he was shot by Alma Bell will be
r~fohlfcred 10 ,1aoSf f,,arorf,n&