El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-19
FL Pasoan Wrote Her Of His
Fears Of Assassination and
How God Was Protecting
Him.

Los Angeles, Cal, Jan. 1S.-Frank NJ.
Bell, of FL Paso. on trial for his life
for killing attorney 0. P. Widaman at
Artesia last July. wept bitterly in
court this morning Wien letter writ
ten to his moCner in Ell Paso, was read
to the jury The letter was written be-
fore the killing of Widaman. and was
introduced by the fdefense TO show
that the prisoners mind was not right
at the time.
The writing was fine. but the SEN
fences We're badly constructed. Repe-
titions were frequent concerning the
alleged grievous wrongs that Bell had
suffered at the hands of Widaman.
He discussed the methods used by
Widaman. the district attorney and To-
cal police officials to hound him and
told of a plot entered into by Vida
man to have him killed by an asses
sin in Mexico, his narrow escape, and
intense fear that the object would be
accomplished. Graphically he rehears-
ed alleged criminal relations that he
believed to have existed between
Widaman and his wife.
Trusted In God.
He spoke of his love for her, despite
her infatuation for Widaman. and his
alteration of his baby girl Then he
wrote how God called upon him while
lodging his enemies in Mexico, and &C
companied him to this city He also
related how God, as the redeemer Of
his soul, protected him from his enc
mics, the insults of Widaman, and his
brotherinlaw, Arthur Sanger.
Trustin Hart an inferno at the cOun-
ty hospital, who has had much to do
with insane patients, and who quail
fled as an expert in spite of the fact
that he is not a graduate in medicine.
testified this morning also as to BslPs
condition. He said he was a paranOic
or epileptic.
Witnesses from Texas and Mexico
will testify this afternoon as to BelPs
good character and business integrity.
Proving Him n Paranoiac.
In the effort TO prove that their
client was insane and not responsible
when he killed Widaman last July, the
attorneys for Bell introduced their
first testimony yesterday tending to
show that he is a paranoiac-
Dr.. Truston nunt, of the county hos
pital staff, who attended Bell after
his arrest, declared that the prisoner
exhibited symptoms of paranoia and
epilepsy for some time after the
tragedy.
A long letter written to his mother
in Ell Paso. a short time before the
shooting, also was introduced. 1t was
lengthy but rambling. In it Bell told
his mother that Widaman had hired
assassins to kill him in Mexico. but
God in the person Of a friend pro-
tected him from his enemies. Lawyers |
Bell argue that Bell shot
Widaman while temporarily deranged |
and while unable to distinguish right |
from wrong In attempting to prove !
this contention the testimony OF at |
least ten nerve specialists VIII be !
taken, and as many physicians who |
treated Bell for nervous disorders will |
be summoned.
Story of Marriage.
The story Of Bells cOurtship ano /
marriage to Agnesl Sanger, their do |
nestle uuhappiness. their hates and /
their jealousies and the events which |
prompted her recently to sue for d. |
vorce, will be brought out in the evil |
dence.
Mrs. Bell has made no attempt to |
press her divorce suit since the tragedy,