The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-05
HUSBAND CONFESSES
!. KILLING SECOND WIFE.
Chicago Physician Murders Her
to Hide the Fact He Was X
a Bigamist.

Chicago. Oct 3.-The police ara
searching for the occupants of a mys-
ferrous yellow automobile which was
rented by two men and two women,
said to be from Chicago, the day bee
fore the body of Mrs. Bessie Kent
webster was found in the woods near
Dixon. III. stabbed to death by her
husband, DR.. Henry Il. Webster. ac-
cording to his confession to the no.
lice.
Inc day after the alleged murder
the automobj'" ~as seen in Dixon. but
one womaI. seen the day before. was
missing
one OF tuc men In the machine was
addressed a. doctor" according to the
employees OF garage when the party
stopped for supply Of gasoline Do,
lice Captain Baer believes the big tour
ing car was hired in Chicago and that
Or. webster may have been in the car
despite the physicians statements to
the contrary. made in his confession.
captain Baer had copies made of DR..
Webster's 10,00o-word confession and
forwarded them TO the authorities at
oregon, Ill. In careful study Of the
DETAILS or the physician's story the DO
ice declare there are many obvious dis
crepancies. But despite these the DO
lice believe tha' DR.. Webster's story
IL substantially true.
Mrs. Zoe Varney Webster, who COL
iapsed last evening after hearing her
husbands confession. was reported
somewhat improved today, although
she still is In NERVOUS condition.
Is Confessed Guilt.
Chicago Oct. 3.--Dr. Harry Elgir
webster Rush medical college grad
uate student And inferno at the Poly-
clinic hospital. in a confession to the
police last night admitted that he muir
dered one Of his two young wives, Bes-
SIC Kent Webster, of Chicago in the
woods OF Ogle county, 10 miles from
DIXON. September Is. The police de-
clare that the motive for the crime was
Webster's desire to hide from his first
wife, Zoe Varney Webster, of Cedar
Rapids. Ia. the fact that he was biga-
mist. He had married the two women
within one week last January
The accidental discovery of Bessie
kent's body Friday. almost two weeks
after she had been killed, was followed
by identification Saturday and the ar
rest followed yesterday Of Webster.
Webster stated that he told his sec
ond wife Of the marriage at Cedar
Rapids, but she still refused to agree
to divorce. In August he brought suit
for divorce in the Chicago courts. The
case was thrown out because Of insuffi-
Gent evidence. Following this unsuc-
cessful attempt to end the affair, Web
ster said he met his second wife on
September 13 as he was preparing to
go to the home of his parents at Dixon
for his vacation. He said that she
begged to go with him. but that he did
not want her to meet his parents.
Married January 4.
cedsr Rapids, Ia, Oct. 3.--Dr. II. Ell
gin Webster accused Of numbering his
wife. Bessie Kent, in Chicago, was
married here January 4, 1911, to Miss
Zoe Varney. a music teacher. whom he
met while she was studying music in
Chicago. The ceremony was performed
by Rev. Isaac Divan, of Foreston, Ill
AT the Varney home here this after
noon 1t was learned the bride had gone
to Chicago last night, having been
here alone since the ceremony.
Dr. Webster was inferno at Rush
Medical hospital. and warned her that
the marriage must be kept secret in
Chicago. as married men were not al
lowed as internes. He told her this
would be his last Sunday off, so he
could see her. Parents of the girl de-
clared there must be some mistake, as
they were sure DIR. Webster was the
real soul Of honor and that the girl
was, too,