Evening star., 1934-12-11
BELL POISON TRIAL
OPENS WITH SIX
JURORS ACCEPTED
Wife, Virginian Is Accused
of Poisoning, Protests
His Innocence.
DIFFICULTY is FOUND
IN SELECTION OF JURY
Fredericksburg Civic Leader Is
Represented by Array of
Legal Talent.
BY Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

BY Stan Correspondent of The Star.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, December
11.-Fellow-townsmen today turned
incredulous eyes upon Edward C. Bell
as the former Baptist deacon went
on trial before Judge Frederick w.
Coleman on charges Of poisoning, or
attempting to poison" the wife who
lives to protest his innocence.
The 60-year-old citizen of Fred
ericksburg, a leader in community
affairs, followed the selection of the
jury this morning with keen interest.
Gray-haired, thin-faced and hand.
some, he looked on through horn
shelled glasses while prospective juror
after prospective juror was turned
down.
Considerable difficulty was en-
countered at the outset In finding
jurymen who could describe them
selves as wholly impartial At least
dozen told the court they had
already formed an opinion as to the
guilt or innocence of Bell. Another
prospective Juror confessed he be.
ieved what he saw in the papers"
Judge Coleman ordered this man
from the box Immediately.
Served on Church Board.
One Juror was tentatively accepted
although admitting he had served
many years on the Baptist Church
board with the defendant. This pro-
spective juror added he was a cousin
of cousin" of Bells.
Mrs. Bell was too ill to attend the
trial. Bell, former Sunday school
superintendent and a member of a
prominent Virginia family, was ar
rested October 10 on information fur
nished by doctors and nurses who at
tended Mrs. Bell during a serious ILL
ness. Astonished to learn that charges
had been preferred against her hus-
band, Mrs. Bell expressed her conf
dence in the defendant and predicted
he would be cleared in open court.
A mild sensation was created in the
crowded court room this morning
when an elderly spectator arose on a
bench high against the wall and
shouted several words to Judge Cole
man.
II used to shave the defendant,
your honor declared the spectator,
and want to tell you that know
he is"
Whatever the man had in mind he
was not allowed to express it.
Put than man in JAIL" ordered the
court.
Two baihffs translated this order
into action before the elderly barber
could say anything further.
Up until early this afternoon only
six jurors had been selected. Most Of
those on the prospective list had
either worked for Bell in his furniture
factory or had served with him as a
Democratic leader. or were distantly
related to the defendant. All of the
prospective jurors admitted they had
read many newspaper accounts Of the
case and had discussed it freely among
! their neighbors and families.
An informal prelude to the trial oc-
CURED Sunday night when a photog-
rapher for Washington morning
newspaper was pounded over the head
with a bag of coins in the hands of
the defendants brother. w. A. Bell.
The photographer. Lewis Brown. was
attempting to snap" Bell as he
emerged from q church where he had
taken up the collection. Brown was
still confined to a hospital in Fred
ericksburg today, suffering from pos
sible conclusion of the brain.
Bell explained he did not know
whether Brown was attempting to
| rob" him or take his photograph.
Twelve Counts in Indictment.
Following his arrest in October, Ed
ward C. Bell was released under $4,000
bond provided by his brother. who is
q former city councilman. On Octo-
Der 81 the grand jury returned an
indictment Of IL counts against Bell
and his bond was raised to $4,000.
The indictment charges Bell ad-
ministered poison to his wife on six
| occasions, between August / and Oc-
tober 8. He is alleged to have placed
the poison In food, drink and medi-
cine intended for Mrs. Bell.
For time following his arrest, Bell
lived at home until q court order
caused him to take up residence with
his brother. Since that time he has
taken his wife and their daughter,
Irma, on automobile rides about
Fredericksburg, accompanied by q
nurse.
Mrs. Bells health improved since
October, but yesterday she took a
turn for the worse, and was reported
In a serious condition at her home
here.
At first Bell declared he would 90
before the court without the benefit
OF counsel. He reconsidered, how
ever, and this morning was sur
rounded by a formidable array Of
legal talent-Attorneys William w.
Butzner, w. Marshall King, A. w.
Emery. ir., and C. O'Conor Goodrich,
president Of the Virginia State Bar
Association and former State Sena.
tor.
The States case will be presented
by Albert v. Bryan, youthful Com.
monwealth's attorney of Alexandria.
w. B. F. Cole, Commemorative at
torney Of Fredericksburg, was relieved
from prosecuting the case when he
Piled "a personal interest" Cole has
been summoned as Q prosecution
witness.
The prosecution is expected to put
81 witnesses on the stand, while the
defense was expected to summon only
character witnesses.
Y0IITH'C CAR kIIIC MAN