Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-02
DOCTOR MURDERS
HIS SECOND WIFE
H. E. Webster, Drug Nerve
Gone, Confesses Crime to
Chicago Police.
MARRIES 2 WITHIN WEEK
Body of Young Woman, Former
Nurse, Found in Lonely Wood.
land Near Dixon.

Webster, or Harry D. Webster, "
yesterday dispelled the mystery sur
rounding the murder of his wife, Bes-
sic Kent Webster, by the simple
statement that he was her murderer
He said he had taken her to a boy
hood playground. a lonely ravine
near Dixon. Ill.,, and stabbed her to
death. Moreover, he said he was
guilty OF bigamy. He had taken two
wives within a week.
While the police were searching
for him Saturday night, he was at
a downtown hotel with his first wife,
who was ignorant not only of the
killing of her rival, but also that she
had ever existed.
He gave but one reason for the
murder. His second wife continued
to annoy and embarrass him, and
her death seemed to be only solution
of his difficulties.
THE TWO MARRIAGES..
His two plunges into matrimony.
he said, were accomplished with
these steps:
Jan. t-MdITleu AllSb Z<OS al hCJ
% years old, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
He told her that married interne
would not be tolerated, and for that
reason returned to Chicago without
her.
Jan. 11-Married Miss Bessie
Kent, 1929 Jackson boulevard, in the
marriage parlor" in the county
building. He told his second wife,
according to his confession, that he
had another wife, and exacted a
promise that she would procure a di-
vorce in the near future.
Cringing fear took the place of
drug-produced nerve when DR.. Web
ster collapsed and confessed to the
murder.
SOBS DURING CONFESSION.
The physician, whose brazen non
chalance had excited the wonder of
police officials, sobbed as he lifted the
curtain on a dual life that had ex-
listed since his second marriage.
He told how ION the impulse" he
had taken two wives within week.
He related in detail his efforts to rid
himself of the second wife and how
she had persisted that she loved him
and pleade dto be introduced to his
parents.
1t was this desire that led her to
follow him to Dixon and to her
death.
The remainder of the story, view
ed from the doctors standpoint, was
simple enough. He grew so enraged
at her perseverance in following him
that he decided to kill her.
TELLS OF BRUTAL KILLING.
He drove in a buggy to the almost
inaccessible spot in the woods where
her body was found few days ago.
Then he literally threw her from the
rig. He hurled a suit case and
travelling bag at her head. Finally,
he said, he leaped from the buggy
and stabbed her again and again In
the throat.
When the unconscious woman
sank TO the bed of leaves under
hickory tree, he simply drew the
leaves about her and returned to the
buggy. He drove back to the VII
Iage, paid for the rig and returned
OF Chicago, content in the belief that
he had rid himself Of the one OBJ
stacIe to complete happiness.
That was all the prisoner had to
say. He looked at his accusers when
he had finished as If his statements
had amply justified his acts.
FIRST WIFE HYsTERICAL.
In a cell at the police station DR..
Webster's first wife sobbed herself
into a hysterical condition, while the
confession was being made. She beat
upon the bars of the cell and alter
nately begged to be taken TO her
husband and back to her mother in
Iowa.
REMOVED TO OREGON.
Oregon, H., Oct. "A crowd of sew
eraI hundred surrounded the jail this
morning in an effort to get glimpse
of Dr. Henry E Webster, under arrest
for the murder of his wife, who was
found in the woods near Dixon, Ill,
stabbed to death. Webster was
brought from Chicago last night. He
declined to discuss the case, explain
ing he had already told everything TO
the police.