Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-04
WILL CLAIM HE KILLED WIFE TO
PREVENT HER KILLING
HIM,
OFFICIALS FEAR PRISONER
WILL ATTEMPT SUICIDE
Boasts That Hs Will Never Hang
Causes Removal to Another Cell-
Webster Despondent Whom He Hears
Legal Wife ContempIates Action for
Divorce.

oregon, ILL.,. Oct 4.--Dr. Henry F.
Webster, under arrest charged with
the murder of his wife Bessie Kent
Webster. will attempt to prove that he
killed the woman in self defense and
that she had threatened to end his life
on a number of occasions. This. it is
said, will be his defense, when he is
arranged for trial in the crimina! court
Of Ogle county.
that he would never hang caused his
removal to another cell and close
search Of ALL his clothes today. Sher-
III Delaney heard of the threat and
feared that his prisoner might have
contemplated suicide. and had hidden
some powerful drug in his cell. The
search failed to reveal anything but
the cell was changed to insure the
prisoners removal from anything IN
the way Of weapons that he might
have hidden there.
Appears Disconsolate.
For the first time DR.. Webster ap-
peared disconsolate today. The crowd
with it's curiosity satisfied. no longer
visited his cell, and in his hours alone
his mood changed TO one OF discour-
agement.
Reports from Cedar Rapids that Zoe
Varney Webster wife number two, was
moving for divorce, affected the prls-
oner to tears. He spent the early morn
ing hours studying newspaper reports
Of his case and repeating stories re-
fiecting on the character Of Bessie
Kent Webster.
States Attorney Emerson was busy
preparing to present the evidence IN
the case to the special grand jury
which Is now in session. He declared
that the case will be tried at the
earliest possible date and that there
will be no unnecessary delay.
Repudiates Confession.
Webster repudiated the 10000 word
confession he made in Chicago Sunday
afternoon. He charged that Bessie Kent
Webster. the wife whose life he took,
repeatedly had threatened to Kill him.
The defense" was rounded out by
the assertion that DR.. Webster finally
was forced to take her life in self-de-
the fight that led to her death.
"Third" Wife is Found.
At the very moment he was making
this statement, however. discovery that
he had been married before he met
either Bessie Kent or Zoe Varney, here
tofore accepted as his first and second
wives, was made in Chicago. The third
wife to be discovered. in reality his
first, was Mae 3. Graft $500 Princeton
avenue, whom he married Nov. ,, 1904.
Court records were found that
showed they had eloped to Racine, Wis.
They returned to Chicago and started
housekeeping at Sixty second street
and Monroe avenue.
Webster, then a student at the Uni
versity of Chicago. was working as a
waiter in the Hollenden hotel. Miss
Graft was employed in a furniture
house in the loop.
The Only change the marriage made
in their work was that Webster gave
up his Job as waiter. He was salts
fed, according to Mrs. Graft. to permit
her to support him while he continued
his education.
But this plan did not appeal to the
she said, he deserted her. 1t was the
charge Of desertion that led the trial
judge to grant her u decree of divorce.
Marriage is Denied.
All this detail did not perturb the ac-
cused doctor He disposed of the whole
story with the statement that he never
had married Miss Gran.
"It isn't true" he said. Il never loved
anybody but Zoe Varney and she is my
wife today"
"But the records plainly show that
you married Miss Graf and were di-
vorced by her." was suggested by the
inquisitor.
well. 1t isn't true" said the prison.
er. Anyway, what difference does 1t
make if l had q dozen wives? / can
tell you that this isn't true.
Divorce Plan Blow.
The hardest blow the prisoner has
had to bear thus far was the an
made to him that suit for
divorce was to be started Immediately
by Mrs. Zoe Varney Webster. wife No.
,, according to the latest developments.
Are you certain Of that?" he asked.
so her father says" he was told
me-" replied DR.. Webster. II am willing
to go to the gallows II / have been
convicted in Zoes mind. II have been
spurned by Zoe there is nothing more
In life for me. I swear that ! never
loved any woman but Zoe
Indictment Expected Soon.
Evidence against Harry E. Webster,
charged with having murdered his
third wife, was presented to the grand
jury today, and an indictment will be
returned before night. according to
States Attorney Emerson.
The report that Webster had repu-
dated his confession was denied. "I
have heard of nothing OF his denying
the confession said Emerson, "altho
there are some parts Of 1t that do
not believe. I am confident an indict-