Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-30

Of Columbia, at the Trinity Episcopal
Church. Sd and c streets northwest, at
) o'clock Thursday afternoon, December
l, 1910. Dress uniform. Overcoats and
side arms will be worn.'
There was meeting in Postmaster
Merritt's office in the Post Office Depart
ment at > O'Clock this afternoon, when
appropriate action was taken on Col.
Bells death. The various superintend-
ents of the city post Office and representa-
tiveS from the letter carriers and clerks
associations attended the meeting.
Resolutions Of sympathy and coincidence
for the widow and family were adopted
at the meeting in Mr.. Merritt's office.
After referring to Col. Bells manly
qualities. his devotion to duty, his useful
citizenship, his lovable and generous ma
ture, and, above all, his sterling integrity
and honesty of purpose" the resolutions
set down his death as a loss to his friends
and co-workers of "a wise counselor
and a Jealous advocate" and to the postal
service Of "a painstakinS, conscientious
and efficient officer A copy of the
resolutions was forwarded to Mrs. Bell.
Col. Bell had been too i'll to attend to
his business for more than a fortnight.
He was confined to his bed for one week.
For the last two months he was unable
to spend more than half of each day at
his office.
taken LII Last summer.
The intestinal trouble from which he
died first troubled him last summer when
at the rifle matches at Seagirt, n. ].
While there he complained to friends of
feeling ill and put himself on a strict
diet. He grew steadily worse after re-
turning to Washington.
With him at the time of his death was
his wife, who was Miss Josephine Holmes
of Poughkeepsie, n. Y, and Capt. Horace
NJ. Bell, a son by previous marriage.
Col. Bells first wife was Miss Fred
ericka Brandt Of this city.
Though widely known and almost uni
versally popular as a public spirited citi-
zen, Col. Bell was best known and loved
in two quarters--the National Guard OF
the District of Columbia of which he had
been a member for twenty-five years, and
the Washington city post Office, to which
he had giver nearly fifty years of continu-
Gus service. From both quarters. the
news of his death brought innumerable
expressions of regret and loss.
Postmaster Merritt's Tribute.
When informed of Col. Bells death, A.
n. Merritt, postmaster of Washington,
said:
"The character Of the public services
performed by Lieut.. Col. James E. Bell
are so well and favorably known that any
expression from me would seem unneces-
sary. Identified with the Washington
post Office from his youth. he was al
ways regarded as faithful and con-
scientious official and a man of kindly
and forbearing nature.
''Our service and the community can i'll
afford to lose a man of such exemplary
character. Col. Bell displayed the same
characteristic zeal and fidelity to duty as
an officer of the National Guard Of the
District, and also as a member of the
quadrennial inaugural committees.
His untiring energy as military officer
and instructor is a matter of record, and
his work has been repeatedly commended.
His agreeable and generous disposition
won him host Of friends who, in his
DEATH will feel distinct loss
Big Loss to National Guard.
Brig Gen. George II. Harries, COM
handing the District of Columbia Militia,