The herald., 1898-07-03
KNEW WfBB'S COUGH
AND IT SPOILED HIS PROPOSED
ALIBI AT THE CLUB
HOW THE SINNER WAS CAUGHT
His Audacity Was Checkmated by the
Elaborate Plans Of His Wife
to Defeat It

Mrs. Lille T. Webb was granted divorce
yesterday by Judge Shaw from her husband
Walter L. Webb, by default, on the ground
Of adultery. She was also granted the Gus
tody Of her four minor children and de-
cree ordering the ex-school director to pay
so aiimony per month, but there Is very
little prospect that she will ever get that,
IS Webb is now in San Francisco on his
way to parts unknown, and he is said to
have with him the correspondent in the
case
Mrs. Webb and Mrs Josephine Manley
testified that they went to the Newport
Lodging house at the corner Of Fourth and
Los Angeles streets on June Mth, when
notified by Private Detective W. B. Gard
that Mr.. Webb was there with young
woman. When the guilty pair were con-
fronted by the wronged wife, her husband
admitted the whole story, but not until he
had tried an unsuccessful bluff and 1t was
then found that the woman in the case was
Miss Gussie E. Carter. teacher at the
Amelia street school. The exposure led the
board OF education to demand Miss Carriers
Immediate resignation. How she obtained
q situation In the Los Angeles schools is
mystery, as she had been compelled to leave
Santa Barbara two years ago, where she
had taught, for just similar scandal.
When Mrs. Webb made,uD her mind to get
nd OF her worthless husband she saw to it
that he didn't cart off too many valuabes.
He had a splendid gold watch, valued at
$500, acquired in boom days and fine dia-
mond stud. These he had to yield up and
he did 1t because he couldn't help himself.
The way Webb was trapped isvery anus
ing. Detective Gard saw Webb making for
the Newport on the evening that he was
SO neatly caught. and rightly surmised that
he had a date with the gushing Gussie, as
they had met before at the same place. At
Z o'clock Gard telephoned Mrs. Webb that
he had the director and the schoolma' am
bottled up at the Newport 1t was not until
9 o'clock that Mrs. Webb made her APP
pearance with Mrs. Marley, and for two
hours they and Gard patrolled the cor
ridors Of the Newport without finding
sign of the guilty couple anywhere
Presently Mrs. Webb heard a cough in
room. She said: THAT'S his cough. know
Mr.. Webb's cough!' The spoilers now lis
tened intently. After awhile Webb re-
marked: ''Well, Gussie. 1t is about time for
me to 60 down to the club and establish my
alibi!" Gussie answered.: Don't you know,
Webb walk in on us suddenly"
And that is just what happened when they
opened the door. Gard and Mrs. Manley had
retired within earshot, but Mrs. Webb. who
had not budged, walked into the room as
soon as the key was turned. and scared
Walter and Gussie most awfully.
But Webbs we'll known audaclty mo-
mentarily stood him in good stead here as
much as it had done during the school
board investigation. AS soon as he had re-
covered from his surprise he asked his wife
what she was going to do about it. He and
his paramour would outswear her and she
would gain nothing Mrs. Webb, however,
kept cool She told Webb to sit down, as
she, too. had something to say. "You talk
about outswearing me- she told him
scornfully; "try it. Don't you know that
have two detectives within call, who know
as much as I, and that I have but to
whistle to have them here forthwith" And
Mrs. Webb displayed police whistle and
pretended to place 1t to her lips, so as to
let her trusty henchmen know that the time
for action was at hand.
That settled Webb's hash and he and Gus
sic Carter meekly took such tongue lash
ing as they never had before Mrs. Webb
dictated her terms, and a couple of days
thereafter the two vert out again into the
world, dishonored and disgra ced and they are
now wanderers with shady past and very
problematical future.