The Yale expositor., 1912-01-18
WEBSTER IS GUILTY
PHYSICIAN WHO KILLED WIFE
MAKES CONFESSION OF MUIR
DER IN COURT.
WILL BE SENTENCED JAN. %
Doctor Gives the Horrible Details
Which Led Up to and included the
Heinous and Monstrous Crime
Tells OF Fatal Drive.

Oregon, ILL.,, Jan. 13.--Dr. Harry Ell
gin Webster pleaded guilty here to
the murder of his wife, Bessie Kent
ing the evidence against the Chicago
physician, who has been an interne
at several hospitals, decided that it
would be useless to fight the case, and
DIR. Webster himself declared that il
was best for him TO plead guilty and
endeavor to escape with life SEN
tence. Judge r.. s. Farrand announced
that he would pass sentence Oh Web
ster January %.
Are you guilty or not?' asked the
court.
Guilty" said Dr. Webster in n
strong voice and was easily under
stood in every corner OF the crowded
courtroom.
Webster Tells Murder story.
DR.. Websters confession, which was
presented in court, is dated October
|. 1911, at the East Chicago avenue
police station, in Chicago After go
ing into details as TO Webster's
career, it continues as follows, con-
cerning the events connected with the
murder:
Q.-Weil. when did you see her
Bessie Kent Webster? About Sep
temper 49, or -, or IA? Al saw her
the night of the 18th.
Q.-Then what did you do? Awe
started down Chicago avenue TO come
over to a Clark street nickel show. 1t
started to rain. We turned and went
back TO her room, 903 I.aSalle street.
We stayed there that night. The fol-
lowing morning ] again attempted to
get away from her TO go TO the west
side. She followed me as far as Chi
cago and LaSalle avenues and we had
another quarrel and walked away
from her. / went to Wells street and
took car for the west side and went
to the drug store
Q.--Go ahead and state what you
did then. Al got lunch downtown.
From there | went 10 the Northwest
ern station and took train to Dixon.
Q.--When you got off the train what
did you do? Al got off the train
and started for the car. Was Just
rounding the depot to so for the street
car when Bessie Webster called to
me. We Immediately started to quar-
rel
Q.-~Now you got on the street car
and where did you go? A.--Down to
the business part where the car stops
in front OF the car barns.
Q.-What did you do? A.--Got of
the car there and looked for a place
to stay. | went TO a hotel right in
front of where the car stops.
Q.-9ou went in there, and did you
register? A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-What followed after you regis
tered? Ave went to our room and
stayed in the room about half an
hour. Had several drinks of whisky.
Tells About Fatal Drive.
The next day Webster took rig
for drive.
Bessie jumped out Of the buggy"
said the confession, "and | threw her
handbag at her. She ran, screaming
down into Il wood, sort OF ravine. I
ran after her, several blocks | guess.
She stumbled and fell as I neared her
and l fell over.
She was yelling or screaming and
slashed at her head with my knife
first. Then cut at her throat.
hacked at her until she stopped yell
ing. ] don't know how long. The next
thing / remember l was lying on the
grass exhausted Then climbed
back into the buggy and drove back
TO Dixon. | don't remember whether
disrobed Bessie's body or II I COZ.
cred it with leaves"