The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-02-28
MURDERS HIS
SWEETHEART
AND KlLLSSELF
James Bell Shoots Miss Mar
tell at Her Home On
Portland Street

Carrying out threat he had made
repeatedly during the past few
months, James Bell, aged 81, a lum-
herman and "iack of all trades" shot
and killed his % year old sweetheart,
Emma Martell and then committed
suicide by sending q bullet through
his head. The double tragedy occur
red in the kitchen of the MaItell
home on Portland street, whore Bell
was a roomer, about 2.30 O'Clock Sat
ur1ay afternoon.
The shots, which were from a %
calibre revolver, were not heard by
ncighbors and it was not until an
hour later that the crime was discov-
cred. Napoleon Martell, brother of
the murder victim, arriving home
from Ralph SheIy's slaughter house
in the woods, where he had been Wis
iting Wilfrcd Guyer, in charge Of
the house, found ne body of his
sister lying on the floor near the kit
chen stove and Bells body in heap
in the corner Of the room.
Without stopping to make any IN
vcstigation, the boy rushed out to the
street and hailed Mr.. Guyer with
whom he had driven from the slaugh-
ter house and exclaimed, "Jim Bell
has shot my sister and think he shot
himself The boy, with Mr.. Guyer,
went to the home of Thomas Bcllen-
ger. adjoining the Maltcll house and
informed Mrs. Bellanger of the trag-
edy. While Mrs. Bellanger tclephon-
ed to the authorities, the boy sought
Mr.. Sherry, who with DR.. John Ward,
a veterinary, arrived on the scene
within q few minutes. After making
a brief examination, Mr.. Sherry went
to the Ward home and summoned
DR.. Edward H. Ross, who upon ar
rival at the house made Il curSory eX-
animation and pronounced both per-
sons dead. L.
The examination revealed that Miss
Martcll was shot in the temple, where
the bullet became lodged, and that
Bell pressed the gun close TO his head
Just above the right ear and fired.
The weapon was found lying near his
hand whore it had fallen after the
deed was done. his body was in
q sitting position. with the back rest
ing against the wall Of the room. The
rill was laying on her back whe,e he
had fallen over from the chair in
which she was evidently sitting near
the stove.
As far US could he made ouj Bel
must have shot the girl suddenly from
the front and then gone to the corner
Of the room Immediately and tmne /
the gun on himself. only two shots
had been fired so it is evident that
Bell planned the job carefully.
States Attorney James Campbell,
Chief of Police John Finley and She
riff Wilbur Woithcn were soon on
the scene and after an examination
was made, the CaldelWood ambulance
was called to take the bodies to the
undertaking rooms.
Bell, who is married and the father
Of three children, made careful prcpa-
lations for the end. Early inthe after
noon he sent for his 16-year old son,
Joseph, who makes his home with
Bells sister, Mrs Edward Wallace on
the East st. Johnsbury road. He gave
his son all of his personal effects with
Instructions to take tncm TO Mrs. Wal
lace. After this detail had been taken
care of he proceeded to get Mrs. Ga
the Martcll girls mother out of
The house He told her that a boarder,
Edward Mcdonald, wanted her 20
meet him ut the raildoad station and
collect a weeks board bill he owed.
Mrs. GadapCc suggested that her
son Wilfrcd to the errand, but Bell
insisted Mcdonald wanted to sec hcr,
so Mrs. Gadapcc dressed and left the
house. The boy went out ahead of her.