Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-06-26
A LIFE SENTENCE
FOR WILLOUGHBY.
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 Wolliughby. 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 IL o'clock this morning and was
sentenced to Waupun for life by Judge
Brace.
Makes Remarkable Statement.
Firmly and almost joyously, without a
culver in his voice, George Willoughby,
popular business man and Sunday school
teacher, rose from his chair in the mu-
nicipal courtroom and gave out a state
ment that for its pointedness and clear
ness, is considered remarkable one.
Planned to Plead Guilty.
The decision of Willoughby to plead
guilty to the charge was made some time
ago and favorable time was only wait
ed for. There was no warning of the
event, the information having not been
disclosed.
This morning at II o'clock, accom-
panied by Deputy Sheriff Daniel Horlivy,
George Willoughby was taken from the
cell in the county Jail to the municipal
courtroom. Here Judge Brace, his
clerk, reporter and few attorneys and
newspaper men had gathered. No one else
with the exception Of a few officials and
Leroy Willoughby, Willoughby's brother,
and his wife We're present, the court
rom being almost deserted.
DIS rict Attorney Francis McGOvern
then read the information formally charg-
ing George Willoughby with murder. AS
Nlloughby 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 hesitated but moment and then
answered in a clear firm voice:
Guilty"
Is for the Best.
With a firm step and with sober mien
Willoughby stepped forward and said
THE plea l have just made is not in
accordance with my heartfelt, conscen-
tious belief in this matter, nor that of
my friends, but they and L feel that
perhaps it is for the best l believe
that the inner working of the human
mind cannot be fathomed by medical
science, the uncomfortable and unques-
tiOnable impulses under which a person
sometimes acts. I know and my friends
believe sincerely that / am not wilfuliy
responsible for that tragedy. an act
which was Numerically opposed to every
attribute of my nature. No matter what
degree of responsibility | may feel. how
ever, | know | committed the deed, and
I have pleaded guilty"
Man Is Unmoved
He stopped speaking suddenly and
walked slowly back to his seat. all eyes
in the court room being on his face. but
it showed not a trace of pain or pale
ness.
Then District Attorney McGovern rose
again to make a statement of the facts,
saying:
''The facts in the case are that the
killing in this case was the direct result
of domestic discord in the family, ex-
tending over a number of years. The
trouble was an ever-increasing one, and
especially noticeable during the last
three or four years.
Woman Was Jealous.
cit seems that Mrs. Willoughby be-
came intensely jealous and suspicious Of
the defendant and he. because of an at
y
pathy and affection for his wife.
con the night in question, after hav
ing provided himself with a revolver
and chloroform. he made. [ believe. an
attempt to take her life by chlOrOform.
A scream was heard which may have
been caused by the action of the chlOrO-
form or by the injury from the shots
fred.
Fired Two Shots.
Finding himself in this predicament
the defendant then fired two shots which
passed through her brain and killed her.
He then turned the revolver upon him
self and fired two shots into his body
over the heart.
Tried to Conceal Crime.
"Willoughby then attempted to cover
the true nature of the transaction and at
tempted to give it the appearance of an
attack by a burglar. He hid the gun i'll
the basement and gave an account of the
burglars attack to Detective John Norm
ington.
cred by the detective, he retracted and
made a statement to Detective Dennis
Sullivan, substantially as l have stated.
That is all l have to submit.
Confession Is Filed.
Did I understand you to say that the
defendant made statement, and was 1t
taken down.: asked Judge Bflzee
1T was" replied the district attorney.
Il direct that copy of the statement
or confession be filed together with the
notes of the inquest" concluded Judge
Brace and then he said:
George WilIoughby you may stand
up" WlllOughby stood and listened in
tently while Judge Brace charged him
formally with the crime and concluded
by saying: Il sentence you to the state
penitentiary at Waupun. Wis. for the
full term and period of your natural life,
the first day of your confinement and
Z y IL L.