The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-12

SmithsilIe No.. Oct. 1s.@Jesse
Webb, VINO yesterday was shot by his
wife. who then l15lasd herself in carry
ing out suicide act entered into by
the young couple. IS as much improved
this morning and Is " recover.
Jesse Webb and eis young wife. who.
was formerly Iuez Naihup of Fairfax,
Mo. Nexe married N Topeka about
week age. They came to Topeka from
st. Joseph where Afr. Webb was en-
ployed n an Insane hospital and where
Miss Walkup WAS visiting q sister.
Their return to s. Joseph was quickly
followed by the announcement OF
physicians that NJ Webb's life was in
danger on accoa1t of consumption
The young couple decided to go south
for a change Of climate on the advice
OF his physician. While on the train
was overcome by 4 hemorrhage and
they left the train a Smithville, Mo,
and went 10 a hotel.
Fearing that the dread consumption
would soon separate thenas they agreed
to die together, As a result of the
death compact the young bride IS dead
and the husband is near death with q
bullet wound near his heart.
The shots, according to the weakly
whispered story OF the husband, were
fired by the wife with his sanction He
said that he preferred death to separa-
ton from the woman he loved, but
did not have the courage to XIII her
and himself Mrs. Webb, however,
said that she was not afraid and agreed
to first kill him and then end her own
life. One shot she aimed at his heart
and then turned the weapon against
herself. making sure Of her purpose
by shooting herseN three times
The Bride 19 Years Old.
The story preceding and leading up
to the tragedy in the lives OF the Two
Young persons is tingeG with romance.
Webb was an employs IN the state hos
pital for the insane. IL St Joseph. Mo-
for the last two years He is g years
old. Eight months ago IT1ez Walkup,
19 years old and unusually pretty. left
the home of her father. I, H Walkup
of Fairfax. Mo- to go to st. Joseph on
a shopping trip. In st. Joseph she went
e the home Of ller sister. Mrs. 3 z.
Miss Walkir had intended to spend
only few days in 1t Joseph BY ac-
cident, however, she met webb. and
It is said to have been case or love
at first sight. The return home was
POSTPONED from day to day and from
week to week, the young woman re-
manning at the home of her sister.
Finally the young people decided TO
get married and came to Topeka for
that purpose.
The Husband Too Nervous.
In telling his story Webb said that
the hemorrhage brought them to
realization of the rapld progress of his
disease and convinced them that a.
speedy separation was inevitable It
was then that they began to talk Of
death. The subject was first suggested
last Monday. The bride insisted that
she would rather face death than
separation from her husband, and
after they had talked the matter over
for a time the undertaking did not
seem so terrible.
The decision was not finally reached
until Thursday morning, however, and
then Webb confessed that he was too
nervous to use the weapon The young
! wife at once volunteered to accom-
/ plish the task herself. After tender
farewells had been said Mrs. Webb
: pressed the revolver against her 1us-
bands side and fred. Believing that
she had killed him, she then shot her
self four times. three bullets going
close to the heart and one entering the
head just behind her left ear.
The shots were heard by many, and
when the door of the room in the
Peddicord hotel, in which the tragedy
occurred, was forced open, Webb was
lying unconscious on the bed, his wife,
already dead, lying beside him with
her head pIl1owed on his arm The
I revolver lay near her hand
Asked That He Be Allowed to Die.
The body Of Mrs. Webb was removed
! to another building. Webb was re-
stored to consciousness and managed to
tell his story. He insisted upon knowing
/ the fate of his wife and when he learn
ed that she was dead, Webb asked that
no attempt be made to save him.
7 love her and want to be with her, y
he said.
Before lying down to die the two had
written, sealed and stamped three let
ters and had also written two open
notes. The letters were addressed TO
Mrs Webb's father, L H. Walkup of
Fairfax, Mo; her sister, Mrs. Robinson
of St. Joseph, and Mrs. Minnie Hart of
Tulsa, T. T.. who was a friend of both
the husband and the wife. These letters
/ were placed in the postoniee without
! being opened.
One Of the notes was addressed to no
one and was as follows:
I'VE were married one week ago in
Topeka and love each other dearly. and
have decided to end it together.
j B WEBB AND WIFE
The other note. which was addressed
ITO the Landlady." read:
please notify my folks at ST. Joe,
my father at Fairfax and ". L. Webb
of Edgerton.