Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-22
Tn PrOuOunoing Fate, Judge
Farrand Draws Revolving
Picture Of Crime and Hand
That Struck the Blow.
TWO MOTHERS SUFFER
IN SILENT SORROW
One Hears Dead Daughter
Avenged While the Other
Hears Her Boy Condemned
to Cell As a Convict.
INV ~ ,nInE IsraIa 4. ?. i.ssseS wiveS

(ny Nv 'ning HIerala a. y. Leases Wfre9
oregon, IN. Jan. Cdr. Harry El-
gin webster. who confessed 20 the
murder of his wife. Bessie Kent web
stor. today was sentenced 90 life inn
prisopmont In the Joliet penltontiary
by Judge Farrand In the county cir
cult court.
In pronou ,cing sentence the court
reviewed the crime and declared that
mo greater continuing punishment
could he inflicted or a young. lntclli-
gont man. than 60 imprison him for
/ life"
! The court said:
Harry E. Webster. on the twelfth
I day OF this month. tho anniversary OF
I your bigamous marriage with Bessie
/ Kent. YOU entered a plea of guilty
I 60 the charge 90 murder. II then be-
came the duty Of the court 10 hear
and consider such testimony as might
{ be offered IN mitigation of the crime
committed None was offered that
would In the least mitigate the Of
fense. Your attorneys have spoken
their last words IN your behalf and II
only remains for the court TO impose
your sentence.
During the progress OF your hear
lng two mothers sat before uR. 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
ucts of her living son. Which OF tho
two was suffering the greater grief
only mothers who have been 6own In
the dark valley Of gloom and despair
can answer. All this has come because
of your cruel act. surely Il causes
one 10 think deeply OF the tragedy Of
life ana the mystery and sorrow OF
death
"'rhe crime 70 which you plead
guilty was a cruel and cowardly one.
Under the name of husband you be-
guiled Bessie Kent 20 n lonely spot
whore I'm childhood days YOU had pass
cd hours OF pleasure and there in the
quietude you took her life. Tho brain
that conceived and the hand thgi in
flictcd that mortal wound was trained
and skilled IN the use Of the knife.
with one blow the weapon penetrated
o vital part and almost In an instant
her life went ont, and | believe that
while the warm blood was stll flow
ing from the gaping wound You de-
nuded her person and allowed her
body TO lie on the cold ground and
the fan rains 10 beat upon u during
the long days and lonely nights for
two weeks, until by acclde I the body
was found In a desolnte ravine--her
bed OF doath--whlch you selected FOR
her.
I'm your bin Of divorce which was
dismissed az a fraud and imposition
upon the court. you sought to blackon
the character 81 the dead. Aside from
the language IN the bill so dled there
is not a scintlla OF evidence IN tho
record lustifyinR the conclusion that
Bessie Kent was other than a sweet.
pure girl up 10 the time you pat your
/ debauchinE hands on her
/ 1T Is the sentence Of this court
/ that you be Imprisoned Ia the pcni-
/ tentiary al Joliet for and during your
material lie. the first day OF that im-
prlsonmcnt % be- 90 solitary conhne-
ment, the balance OF the time az
I hard labor and that you pay the costs
I of prosecution"