Evening star., 1934-12-09
f. c. BELLS TRIAL
STARTS TUESDAY
Fredericksburg Leader Is
Charged With Poison.
ing Wife.
BY the Associated Press.

ing WlIe.
BY the Associated Press.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Decem-
Der s-One of the strangest criminal
cases In Old Dominion history will be
detailed here next Tuesday, when Ed
ward c. Bell, prominent church man,
business man and leader in social
and political life, goes on trial on
charges of poisoning and attempting
to poison his wife, who apparently has
confidence in her husbands plea of
innocence.
Bell, a 60-year old Baptist deacon,
formerly Sunday school superintendent
and member Of prominent Virginia
family. professed innocence when ar
rested October 10 on information given
to the authorities by doctors and
nurses who attended Mrs. Bell during
an illness. Informed Of the charges
"a hours later, Mrs. Bell expressed
confidence that her husband would
be eXonerated.
Indicted on Twelve Counts.
Bell was released under $1,000 bond,
with his brother, former City Council
man William A. Bell as surety, but
this amount was raised to $4,000 after
q grand jury had investigated the
charges and indicted him on II counts.
For time after his arrest Bell lived
at his home. A court order after his
indictment caused him to take up his
residence with his brother, but he has
frequently taken Mrs. Bell and their
daughter Irma on automobile rides
about the city, accompanied by nurses
Fredericksburg, one of America S
most historic cities, is agog. The de-
fendant is one of the best known men
in town.
Allegedly Poisoned Food.
Bell Is charged in the indictment
with administering poison to his in
valid wife on six occasions between
August l and october 8. He is alleged
to have placed the poison in food,
drink and medicine intended for Mrs
Bell.
When arrested he asserted he was
ready for immediate trial without
counsel, but subsequently retained Will
liam w. Butzner, w. Marshall King
and A. w. Embry, jr. More recently
c. O'Conor Goolrick, president of the
Virginia State Bar Association and
former State Senator, has been added
to the array of defense counsel.
Albert V. Bryan, youthful and ener-
getic commonwealth attorney of Al
exandria, has been selected to prose-
cute the case, since the retirement of
w. B. F. Cole, commemorative attor-
ney of Fredericksburg.
Neither defense nor prosecution has
revealed the procedure contemplated
and the public knows nothing of the
evidence to be presented, other than
that revealed by the indictment.
Five Called From Richmond.
In addition to witnesses summoned
from this vicinity, the prosecution has
summoned five from Richmond and
the defense has summoned two from
Suffolk, Bell having business interests
in the latter city.
The Richmond witnesses include
Thomas A. Balthis, chemist of the
State Department of Agriculture, who
appeared before the grand jury; Mrs.
Ella McMullin. c. Braxton Valentine,
w. F. Bynum and Joseph Donly. The
defense witnesses from Suffolk are
Willis E. Cohoon, an attorney, and c.
A. Costen, paying teller in bank.
So far the prosecution has not re-
vealed what motive it will contend
was responsible for the alleged poison
ing
Mrs. Bell was seriously i'll during the
period in which the State contends the
poison was administered. DR.. John
E. Cole. her physician, summoned
specialists from other cities, who
diagnosed her condition, and the
charge of poisoning followed. Speci-
mems of alleged poisons found in Mrs.
Bells food and medicine were ex-
hibited before the grand jury and are
held as evidence for the trial.
Health Has Improved.
Since October Mrs. Bells health has
improved.
If convicted the defendant could
be sentenced to from 3 to 18 years on
each Of the II counts in the indict-
ment.
Bell has been a political and busi-
ness leader for many years. He is a
member of the city Democratic Com
mittee, register for the upper ward
and a stockholder in furniture COM
pany founded by his brother and him.
self. Some years ago he retired from
active business.