h/o Alice M. Davis (d/o Thomas Davis and Delia Hannett)
Marriage Date: 21 Mar 1903
Marriage Place: Lyndon, Vermont

The Caledonian-record., February 28, 1921, LATEST EDITION, Image 1
MURDERS HIS
SWEETHEART
AND KILLS SELF

James Bell Shoots Miss Martell
at Her Home On Portland Street

Carrying out a threat he had made repeatedly
during the last few months, James Bell, aged
37, a lumberman and "jack of all trades" shot
and killed his 22 year old sweetheart, Emma
Martell and then committed suicide by sending
a bullet through his head. The double tragedy
occurred in the kitchen of the Martell home on
Portland Street, where Bell was a roomer,
about 2.30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The shots, which were from a 32caliber
revolver, were not heard by neighbors and
it was not until an hour later that the crime
was discovered. Napoleon Martell, brother of
the murder victim, arriving home from Ralph
Sherry's slaughter house in the woods, where
he had been visiting Wilfred Guyer, in charge of
the house, found the body of his sister lying
on the floor near the kitchen stove and Bell's
body in a heap in the corner of the room.
Without stopping to make any investigation,
the boy rushed out to the Street and hailed
Mr. Guyer with whom he had driven from the
slaughter house and exclaimed, "Jim Bell
has shot my sister and I think he shot himself.''
The boy, with Mr. Guyer, went to the home
of Thomas Bellanger, adjoining the Martell house
and informed Mrs. Bellanger of the tragedy.
While .Mrs. Bellanger telephoned to the
authorities, the boy sought Mr. Sherry, who with
Dr. John Ward, a veterinary, arrived on the scene
within a few minutes. After making a brief
examination, Mr. Sherry went to the Ward home
and summoned Dr. Edward H. Ross who upon
arrival made a cursory examination and
pronounced both persons dead.
The examination revealed that Miss Martell
was shot in the temple, where the bullet
became lodged, and that Bell pressed the
gun close to his head above the right ear
and fired. The weapon was found lying near
his hand where it had fallen after the
deed was done. His body was in a sitting
position with the back resting against the
wall of the room. The girl was laying on her
back where she had fallen over from the
chair in which she was evidently sitting near
the stove.
As far as could be made out Bell must have
shot the girl suddenly from the front and
then gone to the corner of the room immediately
and turned the gun on himself. Only two shots
had been fired so it is evident that Bell planned
the job carefully.
States Attorney James Campbell, Chief of Police
John Finley and Sheriff Wilbur Worthen were
soon on the scene and after an examination
was made, the Calderwood ambulance was called
to take the bodies to the undertaking rooms.
Bell, who is married and the father of three children,
made carefull preparations for the end. Early
in the afternoon he sent for his 10-year old son,
Joseph, who makes his home with Bell's sister,
Mrs. Edward Wallace on the East St. Johnsbury
road. He gave his son ail of his personal effects
with instructions to take them to Mrs. Wallace.
After this detail had been taken care of he
proceeded to get Mrs. Gadapee the Martell girl's
mother out of the house. He told her that a
boarder, Edward McDonald, wanted her to
meet him at the railroad station and collect a
week's board bill he owed. Mrs. Gadapee
suggested that her son Wilfred to the errand,
but Bell insisted McDonald wanted to see her,
so Mrs. Gadapee dressed and left the house.
The boy went. out ahead of her.
This was about 2.30 o'clock and it is believed
the shooting took place within a few minutes
after Mrs. Gadapee left the house. Her first
knowledge of what had happened came
from her son, Louis, ,who went to the depot
after her.
Mrs. Gadapee, who was formerly Mrs. Cyril
Martell, was divorced from her husband about
12 years ago. She later married Mr. Louis Gadapee.
Mr. Martell, father of the girl, was returning
from work in the woods when he was informed
by Chief Finley of the tragedy. He visited the scene
but stayed only a few moments. Mr. Gadapee
was away working in the woods and could
not be notified immediately.
Bell had been making his home with the
Gadapee family. He had a room there and
boarded himself. His work consisted
chiefly of wood chopping and a great
deal of his time was spent in the
woods.
For the past three or four years Bell has
been keeping company with Miss Martell.
He is said to have been extremely jealous
of her and several times had threatened
to kill her if she did not cease accepting
the attentions of other men. He has even
gone so far, members of the family say,
as to choke her on several occasions. His
latest threat in this direction was made
early last week.
Bell was anested August 26, 1917, for
non-support of his family and was sentenced
to serve a term in the House, of Correction.
His sentence was suspended and he was
placed on probation. On April 17, 1918, he
was taken into custody for breach of
probation, on complaint of Commissioner
of Charities and Probation Jefferies
and was sent to Windsor.
Bell's body was shipped to Lyndonville on
Sunday. Brief services will be held from the
local undertaking parlor there today or
tomorrow and burial will be in the cemetery
there.
Bell was born in Sherbrooke, March
12, 1883, the son of Joseph and Mary
Bell. His father was a native of France and
his mother was born in Three Rivers, Que.
Bell was married to Alice Davis and lived in
Lyndonville until he deserted her some years
ago.
Miss Martell was born in St. Johnsbury
April 17, 1898, the daughter of Cyril and Minnie
(Rivier) Martell. She lived here all of her life.
She is survived by her parents and 8
brothers and sisters, Marion, Florida,
Arthur, Emily, Napoleon Louis, Philip and Joseph.
The funeral is expected to be held
on Tuesday from the Gadapee home.