Evening star., 1934-12-13
Mrs. Jones Describes Talk
With Fredericksburg Man
Following Arrest.
TESTIFIES TO DISCOVERY
OF CONFESSION LETTER
Declares She Found Note From
Richmond Woman While
Searching for Poison.
BULLETIN.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, De-
cember 13.-Testimony that Ed
ward c. Bell had paid s7o5 by check
on an automobile purchased by Mrs.
M. E. McMullin of Richmond was
given this afternoon by W. F.
Byrnum. Richmond automobile
dealer. 1t was Mrs. McMullin whose
confession" letter to the de-
fendant had been described in
court earlier in the day by Mrs.
Viola Jones. The testimony was
designed to prove Bells affections
were. no longer vested in his wife.
By Stan Correspondent of The Star.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Decem-
Der l3.-Testimony that Edward C.
Bell, following his arrest on charges
of poisoning and attempting to poison
his invalid wife, told her nurse you
have sent me to the electric chair"
was given at his trial here today.
Mrs. Viola Jones. nurse to Mrs.
Madge Bell, testified that Bell ques-
toned her after his arrest aud asked
her if it were true she had kept some
of the medicines under lock and key
and had left other bottles out as
traps.
The witness said she replied that
she had and that she had given sam
piles to the city sergeant.
She said Bell then exclaimed. you
have sent me to the electric chair"
Tells Of Confession" Note.
A confession" letter from a Rich
mond woman to the 60-year-old de-
fendant was described by Mrs. Jones
after she testified she had thwarted
persistent efforts of the former Baptist
deacon to poison his wife.
Mrs. Jones, who said she became
convinced last July that Bell was
looked in Bells coat pocket and
found the letter signed by a Rich
mond woman acquaintance. Mrs.
Jones testified the letter asked "for-
giveness" for some unknown offense
and said the offense was committed
because Of her financial condition.
Was Looking for Poison.
The nurse explained she found the
letter while searching for poison in
Bells pockets. At this time, she testi-
fed, Bells pocket, in addition to the
letter, contained an envelope of powder
which she believed was poison. She
turned it over to authorities for
analysis.
When Bells trial on charges Of six
poison attempts un the life OF his wife
opened three days ago, the prosecution
announced it would present evidence
to show Bells affections no longer
were vested in his wife.
Mrs. Jones, who had attended Mrs.
Bell on various occasions for the
last % years, testified she suspected
a poison plot last August. She said
she then procured q duplicate set of
the medicine and beef extracts in
tended for the invalid and placed them
under lock and key. She administered
these to Mrs. Bell and took pos
session of the other medicines, which
she believed Bell had poisoned.
Mrs. Jones told the court she re-
turned the letter to Bells pocket, but
could remember almost the whole of It.
Finds Extract Bottle.
A strange angle was injected into
the case at noon today when a news
photographer found a meat extract
bottle of the type used in evidence
concealed in an ante-room at the
court house.
The photographer, A. C. Chinn Of
The Star, reported the find to the
prosecuting attorney. The bottle vas
manufactured by the same company
which turned out other containers
which were found filled with poison
The court room was crowded this
morning to capacity as on previous
days of the trial before Judge Fred
erick Coleman. The jury was COM
posed wholly of men, while the specta-
tors were mostly women. Only five
witnesses have been heard so far. The
prosecution expects to call at least
dozen more witnesses and the defense
will summon at least six more.
Indications today we're that the trial