Evening star., 1934-12-15
BELL BREAKDOWN
TOLDBY PARTNER
Says Accused "Acted Like
Crazy Man" in Row
Over Stock.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
organizations. Bell had been active
in charity drives for the Salvation
Army here.
In the last two years, however, Bells
personality showed decided change,
according to John F. Goldman, q lead
ing banker, who has known the de-
fendant for the last IS years.
Goldman said Bell underwent an
operation three years ago and had
never been quite the same since, either
In his manner or his handling of
business affairs.
Now he's a serious man." Goldman
said. He never jokes He has seemed
intensely worried as if under some
strong pressure"
Goldman revealed that Bell had
been required within the last 80 DAYS
to put up collateral on a $4,000 note
which the bank had held on his per-
sonal signature for the last three
years.
State Rests Case.
The prosecution rested in the case
late yesterday shortly after presenting
It's key witness, Mrs. Ella McMullin,
35, of Richmond, Va. In a brief ap-
pearance on the stand, Mrs McMullin
admitted she knew Bell and had re-
ceived money from him.
The prosecution earlier had pre-
sented evidence to show Bell paid S705
on car purchased by Mrs. McMullin
In 1882, and that the woman charged
$50 worth of clothing and merchandise
at Richmond dry goods store, having
the bill sent to Bell. A confession"
letter from Mrs. McMullin to Bell also
had been described in the court.
After Mrs. McMullin testified, the
Bell family physician, DR.. John E.
Cole, took the stand. He said Mrs.
Bell, who is So years old, became seri-
ously i'll last February. Previously, he
said, she had been a comparatively
| active woman, whose absorbing in
terest was her children, although she
found time to participate in Baptist
Church affairs and do little work in
her flower garden.
Illness Puzzled Doctor.
Mrs. Bells illness was in the nature
of nervous shock. Puzzled, DR.. Cole
called In other physicians for a con-
sultation, but they could not locate
the source Of the trouble, he said.
Nurses in attendance on Mrs. Bell
said Bell at this time was troubled
by expenses" He constantly COM
planned OF the mounting costs Of the
household and left slips of paper
about on which he had written figures
in an apparent effort to balance the
budget, it was testified.
Time after time DR.. Cole pleaded
with Bell to send his wife to the hos
pital. Always, he said, he received the
same reply-"We can't afford It,"
Mrs. Bells condition was becoming
chronic. Sc did not respond to treat
ment, and DR.. Cole could not diagnose
her case, although he was In frequent
attendance upon the woman. 1t was
about this time, in the Spring, that {
colored maid noticed Bell sprinkling
powder on foods intended for the in
valid, DR.. Cole said.
Food Burned Her.
Mrs. Bell only took few mouthfuls
of chicken, grapefruit and salad be-
lieved by the prosecution to have been
contaminated. The foods burned her
and she would have none Of them, it
has been testified. The colored maid
testified she was afraid to reveal her
observations to any one in the house.
hold.
The two registered nurses, Miss
Hill and Mrs. Viola Jones, had been
called in, but they did not become sus-
picious for several months. It was in
September before they began to watch
Bell and search for poison while care
fully guarding the patients food from
contamination. They communicated
their suspicious to DR.. Cole, who told
them to set trap bottles" for the sus-
pect. These bottles were contaminated,
the nurses said.
The doctor and two nurses were
proceeding with caution. The situa-
ton held too many distressing possi-
bilities for hasty acton. DR.. Cole had
been q friend Of Bell for years and
had keen affection for him. On the
other hand, he was fond Of Mrs. Bell,
wishing to protect her in every way.
Through many q sleepless hour, as
he tossed in bed, DR.. Cole wrestled
with the problem. Should he de-
nounce Bell to the authorities?
Should he warn the patient of the
danger he believed to be lowering
over her? Such shock might prove |
fatal to the sick woman.
Nurses Tell Of Cache.
The whole troubled matter was
brought to climax when the nurses,
as they testified, found Bells secret |
poison cache in q nook above the !
furnace in the basement. That was |
early in October. Samples were hur-
riedly taken from the bottles and |
powder containers. When DR., Cole |
learned from the analysis that one Of |
the large containers was full of po- !!
tassium cyanide, he knew the time |
had come for action, he said.
IF you can hold out until 8 o'clock |
tomorrow morning." he told the |
nurses, 1T will all be over" The |
long strain had brought the nurses
to the verge Of hysteria. They did