The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-10-05
HUSBAND CONFESSES
KILLING SECOND WIFE
Chicago Physician Murders Her
to Hide the Fact He Was
a Bigamist.

Chicago. Oct. 3.-sTle police are
searching for the occupants of a mys-
FERROUS yellow automobile which was
said to be from Chicago, the day be-
fore the body Of Mrs. Bessie Kent
Webster was found in the woods near
Dixon, ILL.,, stabbed to death by her
husband. DR.. Henry L. Webster, ae-
cording to his confession to the po-
lice.
The day after the alleged murder
the automobile was seen In Dixon, but
one woman seen the day before, was
missing.
One OF the men In the machine was
addressed as doctor" according to the
employees OF a garage when the party
stopped for a supply of gasoline. Po-
lice Captain Baer believes the big tour
ing car was hired In Chicago and that
DR.. Webster may have been in the a
despite the physicians statements to
the contrary, made in his confession.
Captain Baer had copies made of DR..
Webster's 10.000-word confession and
forwarded them to the authorities at
Oregon, I'll. In a careful study OF the
details of the physicians story the po-
lice declare there are nan obvious dis
crepancies. But desnite these the nn-
lice believe that DR.. Webster's story
is substantially true.
-. p. a. v alllGy w GDStCi, ~ SOI"
lapsed last evening after hearing her
husbands confession. was reported
somewhat Improved today. although
she still is in q serious condition.
Confesses Guilt.
Chicago, Oct. 3.-Dr. Harry Elgin
Webster, a 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 II of his two young wives, Bes-
sic Kent Webster, of Chicago, in tile
woods of Ogle county. 10 miles from
Dixon. September 16. 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 a 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 a divorce. In August he brought sui
for divorce In the Chicago courts. Thu
case was thrown out because OF INSULT
cient evidence. Following this unsuc.
cessful attempt to end the affair, Web.
ster said he met his second wife OF
oGpleIiiDSE lo as ne Was preparing u
go to the home of his parents at DixoI
for his vacation. He said that sh'
begged to go with him, but that he dit
not want her to meet his parents.
Married January 4
Cedar Rapids, Ia, Oct. 3.-Dr. II. Ell
gin Webster, accused of numbering hi
wife, Bessie Kent, in Chicago, wa
married here January 4, 1911, to Mis-
Zoe Varney. q music teacher, whom h
met while she was studying music i
Chicago. The ceremony was performe
by Rev. 1saac Divan, of Foreston, II
At the Varney home here this after
noon it was learned the bride a gon
to Chicago last night, having bee
/ here alone since the ceremony.
DR.. Webster was inferno at Rus
Medical hospital. and warned her tina
The marriage must be kept secret i
Chicago, as married men We're not a
lowed as internes. He told her thi
would be "his last Sunday off" so II
could see her. Parents of the girl de
clared there must be some mistake, q
they were sure Dr.. Webster was til
real soul Of honor and that the gil
was. too.