Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-15
GOOD REPUTATION
Borne by Arthur Webb, Who
Killed Miss jeanette
Derby at Wilton.
SECRETED IN THE ATTIC
He Waited for His Victim Over Niqht
and Then Shot Her in Cold
Blood.

Wilton, Iowa, Sept. 15.-The coro-
ner's jury that yesterday afternoon in
quired into the manner of the death
of Arthur Webb and Miss Jeanette
Derby. killed in the dual crime of the
former at school house near here,
found that the young man died from n
shot inflicted by his own hand and
that the young woman was killed by
him.
Webb was a young farmer of thirty
odd years, and farmed on shares near
the scene of the crime He was indus
trious and bore a good reputation. He
was the last man to be suspected of
such an atrocious deed
and must have been in a rage and
frenzy bordering on emotional insanity.
He was a church-going citizen, and
socially affiliated with the Modern
Woodmen of America. What reasons
led the parents of the girl to oppose
his attentions are not known. Miss
Derby was % years of age, pretty, and
great favorite in the community.
Hid I'm Attic.
Webb had secreted himself in the at.
tic of the school house during the night
and made his appearance after Miss
Derby had dismissed the school at 1O:45
a. m. so she and her pupils could attend
the Wilton fair in the afternoon.
There were no direct witnesses to the
deed. But one of the girls had seen
Webb and heard the screams of the
young woman just before he shot her
She rushed to the neares; neighbors
and spread the alarm.
Engagement Broken.
Webb had paid attentions to Miss
Derby for the past three years, but her
irdor cooled and when they met at the
Wilton fair on Wednesday afternoon
Derby demanded that the engagement
ing be returned and vowed that if she
would not be his, she should never be
ong TO another.
Frantic with resentment over his re
ection, Webb went to Muscatine and
hen drove down to Seventy-Six town
ship and told his mother. residing
here. the story his trouble Upon
eaving her. he announced that he
would travel TO the far west, see Port
and, and lose sight and thought of the
'oung woman who had spurned him.
But this harmless resolve must have
given way TO fierce change of heart.
Returning to Muscatine, he procured a
livery rig, drove out into Sweetland
ownship. and tying the horse, pro-
,eeded on foot some distance to the
Yankee Hollow school house. which he
entered and climbed into the attic of
he building. where he laid in wait un-
II the opportune moment arrived when
he could slay his intended victim.
Pushed Girl Out.
Miss Derby came to the school house
IS usual. little dreaming of the fearful
ate that awaited her. AS the pupils
Wished to go TO the fair, she dismissed
'chool about 1920. All the pupils had
eft except one, Alice Marchant, 13l
ears old. who was tidying her desk.
Hiss Derby had seized a broom prepar
Ltory to sweeping. when Webb made
his appearance. Through an opening |
,ver the dressing room he descended. |
'eizing the little Marchant girl, he
oughly pushed her out OF the school
md slammed the door.
What transpired after that can only
)e judged by what was found when
leighbors reached the spot The body
II the teacher was lying near the stove
With two bullet holes in the right arm
md one in the top of the head. Death
lad apparently been instantaneous and
here had been no struggle.
The tracks of Webb were followed
o potato patch in the rear of the
chool house, and there his body was
ound. bullet hole in the head show
ng the manner OF death. A 3S-calibre
'evolver and bottle that had contain.
ID laudanum lay at his feet. showing
hat he had made death sure.