The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-04
ACCUSED HUSBAND
LED DOUBLE LIFE
DIR. ii. E. Webster Must Answer
Tor Murder OF Third and
Bigamous Wife.
HIS TRIAL STARTS TO-DAY
Expected That Insanity Will BE
Defense OF Young
Physician.

oregon Ill. January 3.-The nnal
ehaPters OF double life and It's tragic
consequences will begin Tomorrow.
|hen Dr.. Harry L. Webster, the young
is go medi:ai student. will go on
,, ,ta' 'ior The murder OF his third ana
uis amous wife. Bessie Kent Webster.
"nose body was found In a ravine nea.
. DIXON, ILL.,. the home OF the accused
mans parents. September 90
earring the possible postponcment
~ Tue Trial, owing 10 the illness OF j.
o. Erwin. one Of the chief attorneys
LOT ths defense. the States attoruey.ts
.ohitdeht OF having the jury box allied
rom the special venirc that has been
summoned this afternoon, when the
battle for the young interne's free
do'h VIII begin, Dr. Webster has been
sno"lng marked iInpatience for the
ira! 10 begin, rs he Is confident that
ms story OF alleged prosecutions by
inc murdered woman will result in his
hcquittal.
Women Write Of sympathy.
Me'noers OF the medical fraternity
'hroushout the state OF Illinois have
contributed to the defense fund o..
wooster, az have number OF women
IN the West. who have expressed deep
sympathy for him In letters accom-
panyins their contributions pool
started by his friends and associates
IN the Poiiclinic Hos.ttal contributed
large sum TO the defense fund. and
a. G. Harris, attorney for the North
western Railroad Company at Dixon.
has Informed Webster's lawyer that
MS friends in his home town will DO
Siad TO render any financial assistance
needed
1t Is expected that Webster's law
yers VIII demand tho appoint ent Of
an insanity commission to determine
me present state Of the doctors mind.
Ih!s VIII be requested on the ground
OF many conflicting statements made
by the prisoner regarding the murder
OF his wife. and his strange actions
since his arrest. The basic OF the de-
tense proba bly, will be insanity, emo
'ional. temporary or hereditary, or Il
combination OF all three
Story of Duplicity.
The story OF the deceit and dupIicity
Of the young doctor, which resulted In
such cold Dlooded tragedy. Is one %
The most sta! Ting in the criminal his
tory OF the State OF Illinois. All The
time that Webster was studying mcdi-
c!nc III Chicago ne was carrying on
courtship with Miss Zoe Varney, the
pretty daughter OF 4 wealthy citizen
OF Cedar Rapids. Iowa. In tho mean
while he was introduced 10 Mics Bessie
Kent, who was living In CnicaEo, by one
OF his student frlenus, Tho girl seemGn
70 take 70 the young Doctor iu,redi-
atcly. Aad then began n Bcrics OF clan
dcAtinc meetings that caused the SirI
10 fall deeply in love with the nun.
who was in reality only tri.ltng with
her affections, ST he fully intended 10
marry Mics Narnsy, the Iowa girl, as
coon as he had graduated from medical
college and had established q substan-
mr. I,, ~
Webster gave SO rnuch time 10 the
Kent girl that ho gradually began to
neglect MS regular correspondence with
his tiancee in Iowa. whose father was
rendering him financial aid He finally
furnished homo for Miss Kent In Chi
cage, convincing her relatives that
they had been married and lived with
her for several months during which
time he gave lItiie thought TO the girl
ne declares he really loved
WEEDS Aguin In Fortnight
y sudden cessation of allowances
from the prospective father in-law in
Iowa brought the doctor TO his senses
hewever. and January 3, 1910 he mndc
a trip TO Cedar Rapidg. effected re-
Cancellation with hts offended nance.
and in order to make certain of fnan.
cial support from her father arranged
tor an immediate marriage which took
placc january /. Inc nappy pair went
on weeks honeymoon trip to Denver.
and when they returned TO the brides
homo Webster promised TO -Eo to Chi
cngo to finish his studies and send for
his wife as soon as he had Furnished
up a home
Upon his arrival IN Chicago he was
visited by Bessie Kent's sister. Kittie
Kent Newberger. who charged him
with deceiving her sister and demand
cd that he marry Bessie Immediately
in order 10 protect her good name.