The San Francisco call., 1909-11-23
Girl Slayer StOicaily Relates In
cidents Which eliminated
in Fatal Shooting
Testifies Dead Man Postponed
Marriage, Despite Her Plea
for Hasty Ceremony
Dick Albright, Alleged Affinity,
Denies Story, and Defend
ant Scores Point
BY ARTHUR L. PRICE
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

a OBURN, Nov alma Bell
"A told her story today. coo1ly
q and seemingly without re-
straint- She made no reference to the
killing. Only at the end, when she
related in response to questions put
by Special Prosecutor George w.
Hamilton on cross examination the
story OF her first wrong act with Joe
Armes, did her voice break Then
there was half sob, which she quickly
stihed and fastened to tell of the
promises made by Armes at that time,
November 1, 1906, at his ranch near
Auburn.
That is ALL said Hamilton. ss!
Dries Mothers Tears
Alma Bell stepped from the stand
and fastened to her nlpther's side
Old Mrs Mary Bell was in tears. The
old and the young woman went to each
others arms. Alma dried her mothers
tears and then turned to chat with
friends. while Mrs. Bell. most pitied
of all women IN Placer county. sat as
if stunned by the girls exposition OF
her wrongs.
The prosecution tried. while the de-
fendant was on the stand. TO make an
opening for the admission of the letters
which she had written to Joe Armes
during a period of three years and
which the prosecutor says do not con-
tain a single reference to the engage
ment. Judge Arnot ruled that they
were not admissible as part OF the cross
examination. but may possibly be pre-
sented during the rebuttal
The afternoon session of the court
was devoted to expert testimony by
physicians produced by the defense to
testify that under the conditions which
have surrounded Alma Bell since her
birth and the congenitaI characteristics
she would have acquired from her
parents the girl was insane when she
shot Armes.
Big Crowd in Court
There was a large crowd in the
courtroom during the morning session
to hear Alma tell her story. There
were more people present in the after
noon. although the only testimony
given was that OF the physicians. which
was both unsavory and unexciting.
While one of the expert witnesses
was describing the distinction between
neurotic and neurasthenia Daniel Ra-
gan. of Auburn suddenly pointed a
menacing finger across the courtroom
at his wife and shouted: Here, want
YOU" The woman arose and left the
courtroom Ragan was escorted out
by deputy sheriff.
Alma Bell was the only witness ex-
amined at the morning session. She
was dressed neatly in black with the
customary quaker band at the throat
and a fresh black ribbon IN her hair.
She answered all questions clearly and
did not lose her temper. Her attorney
minimized the scope OF his examina-
tion and therefore left a restricted field
for the cross examination by ths prose-
cution. He did not ask her a single
question regarding the shooting. The
alleged still birth in Jail OF her child
was not introduced Chamberlain
pruned the tree of his interrogations
so closely that the prosecution had
few limbs to climb on in its attempt
to dislodge her.
Girls Ready Reply
Hamilton took advantage Of what
scope was given him. He demanded OF
her: When you found in May that you
were in a delicate condition. how did
you come to tell Joe Armes about it?"
Il thought I had the right" the girl
replied quickly i was engaged TO
him.
When Alma Bell took the stand At