The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-06-25
A LIFE SENTENCE
FOR WILL0UGHBY
MAN WHO MURDERED WIFE
PLEADS GUILTY AND GOES
TO PRISON.
HAS RECOVERED FROM WOUNDS
Former Manager of Jewett & Sherman
Company Believes He Was Not
Entirely Responsible.
MAKES REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

MAKES REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
MILWAUKEE. Wis, June %, 1908.
George Wollmghby, slayer of his wife
. Florence at their Prospect avenue home,
March 20, pleaded guilty to the charge OF
willful murder in municipal court short
ly after II o'clock this morning and was
sentenced to Naupun for life by Judge
Brace.
Makes Remarkable Statement.
Firmly and almost joyously, without a
culver in his voice, George Wllloughby,
popular business man and Sunday school
/ teacher. rose from his chair in the mu-
nicipal courtroom and gave out state
mcnt that for it, pointedness and clear
ness, is considered a remarkable one.
Planned to Plead Guilty.
! The decision Of Wiloughby to plead
guilty to the charge was made some time
ago and a favorable time was only wait
ed for. There was no warning of the
event, the information having not been
disclosed. ',-.'.l --s ~
{ This morning at / o'clock, accom-
/ panied by Depu.y Sheriff Daniel Horlivy,
/ George Willougl5y was taken from the
cell in the county Jail to the municipal
courtroom Here Judge Brace, his
clerk, reporter AMI a few attorneys and
newspaper men had gathered. No one else
with the exception Of few officials and
Leroy Wilouglby, Willoughby's brother,
and his wife were present, the court
rom being almost deserted.
ID $ rict Attorney Francis McGovern
then read the information formally charg-
ing George WiIIoughby with murder. As
Willoughby had never been formally ar
raigned he was requested by Judge Bra
zee to stand up and plead. Instead the
man stepped forward and began to make
a statement. He was requested, how
ever, to wait with his statement until
later and asked if he was guilty or not.
He hestated but a moment and then
answered in clear firm voice:
"Guilty.'
Is for the Best.
With a firm step and with sober mien
Wiloughby stepped forward and said: /
The plea | have just made is not in (
accordance witt my heartfelt, conscien- /
tous belief in this matter, nor that Of .
my friends, bur they and feel that ,
perhaps it is for the best. | believe /
that the inner working of the human !
mind cannot be fathomed by medical .
science. the uncomfortable and unqucs- /
tionable impulses under which a person I.
sometimes acts. know and my friends Z
believe sincerely that | am not wilfully
resnnnsihIa for that tragedy. nm act
~ ;,I' ,t.os diomctric,rIv onnoSnd to every
o+ t.rjI, ~ nv ngtnrn Nn matter what
io,,roa ~ rosnnrsfhilitv | may feel how
degree Of resp.,p1a ' tEa , doad " "nd
| have pleaded guilty"
M, Is rr,-,oyod
va" -
He stopped speaking suddenly and
walked slowly back 10 his seat. all eyes
il the court room being on his face, but .
it showed not a trace OF PAIN or pale F.
Th.n District Attorney NcCovprn rose
,oai, IA mako y statement of the facts,
s1viro.
The Cuc,e in the ease are that the
killing I'm ti- case was the direct result .
If d1mos-in discorl in the family. OK.
tending over n number Of years. The .
tr"m'I '' WA, an over-iprreasinr one. and
,snociaIy untireablr during the last
three or faur wears.
w, r.,
"oL"ah Wa J."iouS'
1T seems mat MRS. W Il,onGonE n'r
the defendant and he, because of an at .
tachmcnt for another woman. lost sym
pathv aud affection for his wife. /
"On tho night in question, after h0v- .
inc nrnyilaI himself with revolver .
and chlor,form. he made. | believe. an .
ATTEMPT Ia AXE her life by choroform. .
4 scream vas heard which may have
lern cou~nd nv the action of the Choro-
form or by the injury from the shots