Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-22
SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPOSED UP.
ON MAhlvsho MURDERED
YOUNG WIFE.
CRIME coWARDLY AND CRUEL,
LATER ACTIONS BRUTAL
Judge Fsrrand Tells Webster That
Life lmprisonmsnt in His Case is
Greater Punishment Than Death
Webster Killed First Wife Aftsr
Marriage 70 Cedar Rapids Girl.

Oregon. Ill.,. Jan. 22.-Dr. Harry e.
Webster. Of Chicago. was today sem
fenced to life Imprisonment by Judge
Richard 8. Farrand for the murder OF
Bessie Kent Webster last October
In pronouncing sentence the court
reviewed the crime and declared that
mo greater punishment could be in
fiicted on a young. intelligent man than
to imprison him for life"
Court Scores Webster.
The court said:
Harry E. Webster. on the 12th day
Of this month, the anniversary of your
bigamous marriage with Bessie Kent,
you entered a plea Of guilty to the
charge Of murder 1t then became the
duty of the court to hear ana con-
slider such testimony as might be Of
fered in mitigation or aggravation OF
the crime committed. None was Of
fered that would in the least mitigate
the offense. Your attorneys have spok-
en- their last word in your behalf. and
it only remains for the court to impose
Your sentence.
During the progress of your hear
ing two mothers sat before us. The
heart Of one was bleeding as memory
recalled the suffering and death OF her
daughter. The heart of the other was
wrung in agony because of the acts
OF her living SON. Which of the two was
suffering the greatest agony only
mothers that have been down In the
dark valleys Of gloom and despair can
answer. All this has come because OF
your cruel act. Surely It causes one to-
think deeply Of the tragedy Of life and
the mystery and sorrow OF death.
Crime Cruel and Cowardly.
'rhe crime to which you plead guilty
was cruel and cowardly one. Under
the name OF husband you heguiled
Bessie Kent to q lonely spot where. in
childhood days, you had passed hours
OF pleasure and there in quierude you
took her life.
"The brain that conceived and the
hand that inflicted that mortal wound
were trained and skilled in the use OF
the knife. With one blow the weapon
penetrated q vital part and almost In
an instant her life went out: and be-
Iieve that while the warm blood was
still flowing you denuded her person
aHu tlIOWSu llc& UouS W ic oti tiIS Soau
ground and the fall rains to beat on 1t
during the long days and lonely nights
for two weeks until by accident the
| her bed OF death--which you selected
for her.
:. Sought 70 Biacksn Character.
In your bill Of divorce which was
dismissed as a fraud and imposition on
the court you sought to blacken the
character Of the dead. Aside from the
language Of the bill. so hled. there Is
not scintina OF evidence In the record
justifying tho conclusion that Bessie
Kent was other than a sweet pure girl
UP to the time you put your debauch-
Ing hands on her.
'sThe peoples representatives. those
who have done all the arduous labor in
securing your confession and In pre-
| pairing the case tor trial. are not asking
that the extreme penalty be inflicted
upon you. This meets the approval OF
the court. You no longer stand In de-
f1ance Of the law but come before the
court contrasting your crime and ask
ing for mercy.
lsnlsney Not Virtue.
Much leniency In this case would
not be q virtue but rather q condona-
tion Of the crime. ! shall spare your
life and be moro merciful to you than
you were to your victim.
Il know no greater continuing pun
ishment that can be inflicted on Q
| young. intelligent man than to TIM
prison him for life. When the iron
doors of the penitentiary close behind
you you must abandon all hope OF free
dom on this earth. Within those gray.
cold walls, with the dark memory OF
your wrctched crime before you you
| must remain until death calls you to
approach the silent shores Of eternity.
and II tho light which then breaks on
you from the further shore 10 radiant
with hope and you hear the voice OF
peace It will be only because an Of
fended but all-wise and merciful God
has forgiven your awful sin.
1T In the sentence OF this count that
you be innprisoned at tho penitentiary
At Joliet Tor and during your natural
life, the hrst day Of that imprisonment
to be In solitary confinement and the
balance at hard labor and you to pay
the cost Of prosecution"
Z, DR.. Webster killed Bessie Kent Web
ster shortly after his bigamous mar.
riage to Zoe Warner. respectable and
prominent young woman OF Cedar
Rapids. who has since obtained d.
vorce.
Webster Hoped For clsmsnoy.
Dixon, nl.. Jan. 2s-With his sen.
tence a few hours away. DR.. Harry Ell
gin Webster this morning struggled to
maintain the. composure which has
marked his. hearing since confessing
tho murder OF his wife. Acssie Kent
Webster.
Only the hope that his sentence
would be less than life term kept him
frv5Is- SSssM!..,se. Judge FArrand said he
|asAw no, reeson for clemency IN tho case
aud that hs woull set accor1lusly.