On Saturday evening, June 5, 1909, Alma Bell went to the house where Joe Armes was getting ready for bed with his brothers. The Armes family owned and managed a fruit ranch just outside of Auburn on the way to Newcastle. Alma had grown close to Joe and on this night wanted him to commit to marrying her.
But Joe didn’t want to marry Alma and the two had a brief argument before Alma asked if he would escort her to Joe’s mother’s house where she lived and worked. Joe refused but agreed to walk her part way. Once they were out of sight of the house, Alma stopped and drew a gun.
Alma shot and killed Joe. He collapsed to the ground. Alma fired another shot into the air and then walked toward Mrs. Armes’s house and hid in nearby bushes. The Armes brothers, alerted by the shots, ran from the house and found his body.
Alma was found the next morning, still hiding in the bushes, and arrested. Alma claimed that Joe had once agreed to marry her when she thought she was pregnant but rescinded once he discovered she was not.
The sensational crime and subsequent trial were covered in newspapers across the county and even in some newspapers abroad. Ultimately, Alma Bell was acquitted for the murder of Joe Armes by reason of temporary insanity.
But, we have yet to discover any evidence that Alma and Joe ever had a relationship, let alone that he had once agreed to marry her.
To learn more about the Alma Bell trial, join us at 10 a.m. any Saturday for a Walking Tour of Old Town Auburn. You can also meet Alma Bell during the Heritage Trail at the Placer County Museum on July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo: The grieving Armes family, c. 1909
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