Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-24
BELL ENDS CORY
FEUD BY MURDER
Former Texas CattIeman Shoots
Down Attorney Widaman at
Railway Station
CROWD CRIES LYNCH SLAYER
Two Hundred Passengers on the
Electric Train Are Panic
Stricken by Crime
CROWD CRIES LYNCH SLAYER
(ContInued from Paee onel


train to n stop, and the crowd saw the
distracted wife tearfully imploring
those nearest to tell her If the wounded
man would live. The sight of the LITTLE
woman, called from her house to be in
formed that her husband was on the
point OF death, worked on the sym
pathies of the crowd, for nearly a hun
dred voices began shouting:
Lynch him! String him up! Cut
his tongue out! We want Bell"
ESCAPES THE CROWD
As the men rushed in the direction OF
the first car Mrs. Widaman was hur-
ried aboard, and the motorman released
his brakes Just as the leaders of the
crowd were within few feet of the
rear coach. The train sped toward Los
Angeles In the first coach the prisoner
whistled snatches from q popular song;
a few seats behind him sobbed the
woman he had robbed of q husband
while in the other car DIR. c. j. Otis
was endeavoring to save Widaman
life.
'I knew that Bell had shot my hus-
band" said Mrs Widaman to the pas
sengers who tried to comfort her I'VE
have lived in dread of him for many
months"
Bell complained OF being sick and
pulled at the ropes which held his
IdHuS lOBeliaCI. NpOtl llio NclplpiS III
formed him that whatever he said
might be used against him, and on
hearing this Bell said:
Then ] retract anything l might
have said
When the train arrived at the Pacific
Electric station a police ambulance was
in waiting and the wounded attorney
was rushed to the California hospital
where eight minutes before 10 o'clock,
one hour and thirty-seven minutes
after being shot, Widaman died, his
wife being at the bedside when the end
came
Deputy Sheriff Alexander met Noon
and his prisoner at the station, and the
trio boarded a car for the county Jail
SENDS FOR ATTORNEYS
On being booked Bell was Informed
by Sheriff Hammel that any attorney
he might name would be sent for Tho
prisoner called for Attorneys Fleming
and Sturgis. After n whispered con-
versation with one of the attorneys
Bell was placed in a cell. At the re-
quest of newspaper representatives
Sheriff Hammel had a guard bring
him 10 the outer door of a lower tank
where. through barred window tn
rcnorters saw the deathly pale face
the man.
''Do YOU want to make a statement
FeU rubbed his hands over his for
hepd and then in a low voice whined
Il want TO go to sleep; what d.
these men want me to talk about?"
why. they want you to tell then
ahout your shooting affair." RESPONDED
the sheriff.
"Nas | out shooting: did l have
shooting affair asked the prisone'
.e he again pressed his hands to hi:
topples.
His eyes kept rolling. taking in al
Frtaus. and officers who witnessed thf
intarvicw stated that Bell was un
douhtedly shamming, Before the az
nr6ach of his attorney he seemed liv1
iv. Later he seemed to be in T.
throes of brain storm.
SAYS HE PLANNED KILLING
Officers who worked Throughout;
Yesterday on the case claim to have
evidence which proves their assertions
that The murder of Widaman was pre-
mc7tated.
Re1 became angered at Widaman
during the early part of 1903, when the
attorney represented Mrs. Bell in di-
vorce proceedings. Prior to the es-
trangement of the Bells Widaman was
counsel for Bell in business affairs
A few months after the hearing of the
divorce proceedings Widaman and Ar
thur r. Sanger, a brother of Mrs. Bell.
went to Bells apartments in the Hol-
lenbnCk hotel to discuss business mat
ters
After the men had been in the room
for about an hour people in adjoin-
ing rooms were startled b! a pistol
report in Bells apartments. The
sound of a struggle was heard by
those who rushed to the door. Sanger
and the attorney then left the hotel
and on the following day Bell secured
warrants for their arrest, charging
that they made an attempt to murder
him. The men denied the charge and
ot their examination testified that Bell
had a revolver and was threatening to
shoot them when they struggled for
the weapon. causing it to be dis
charged. The case was then dismissed.
. CAUSED BELLS ARREST
They in turn secured Bells arrest,
charging that he had committed per-
Jury in swearing to complaints against
them. Bell was held to answer on
the charge, but the case was dismissed,
a jury having failed to bring in YER
dict.
Bell seemed to be a man of mystery
and rumors We're circulated around
that he was the possessor of large
amount of money, some people even
rating him as a millionaire.
Bell appeared proud of his owner
ship of the yacht Aloha and was great
ly annoyed when an attachment was
levied on it. A deputy constable was
placed aboard the Aloha to hold pos
session until the civil action, which
resulted in the attachment proceed
ings, was heard. On the night follow
ing the arrival of the officer aboard.
Bell and a sailor overpowered the Of
ficer threw him overheard and set
sail for southern waters.
Bell cruised around Mexico for sew
eral months and on returning to San
Pedro harbor with the yacht another
attachment was levied on it by II. C.
Sanger, Bells father-in-law. The yacht
has been under attachment since then,
as the case is still pending.
THREW AWAY REVOLVER
During January of this year Attor-
ney Widaman informed District At
torney Fredericks that Bell was seen
by residents of Artesia hiding in shrub
berry near the Widaman home. Chief
Browne of the district attorneys
force was detailed to investigate Bells
action on going to Artesia Browne
found Bell walking along the railroad
track. At the approach of the officer
Bell threw his revolver away.
AS neighbors said they had heard the
man threaten the life of Attorney
Widaman, Browne placed him under
arrest and he was given a preliminary