Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-08
MAD CRIES AROUSE PEOPLE
NEARBY; HUSBAND AND
WOMAN HELD
: CHILDREN DYING
ANTOINE WEBER, DRIVEN IN
SANE BY SICKNESS, CALLS ON
SHERIFF TO KILL HIM AFTER
ARREST-WiFE IN ASYLUM.

A razor bearing mute evidence OF
It's CHASTITY usage, was the object d
much interest in the Office of Sheriff
Davis this morning
Up in the county Jail with his throat
slashed from ear to ear Antoine Web
Der, aged 40, is being held prisoner
pending the outcome Of the worse
night OF terror ever spent by a La
Sale county family. At the asylum
with her body and face swathed in
bandages, is Mrs. Webber. 35 years,
o second party in the pact to exter'
inmate husband, wife and three chill
dren.
Awakened by the screams Of horror
OF Antoine Webber, Jr., aged Z, Mary
aged s and Margaret aged 3, inter
mingled with the hysterical cries OF
their mad parents, neighbors in the
vicinity OF the home in Oglesby at 10
q. m. were startled into frantic ac-
tivity when full realization of what
was taking place impressed itself up.
on their sleep-befogged minds.
Neiohbors Sound Alarm.
Sounding an alarm that terrible
tragedy was being enacted, officials
we're summoned from the Oglesby po-
lice station and upon arrival at the
Webber place broke in the doors to be
met by revolting sight. Upon the
floor with their throats slashed lay
the three infants. Mrs. Webber's face
was hacked In criss.cross manner,
Her throat and breast bore Sicken'ng
wounds. Webber's throat was opened
from one side to the other and nearby
lay the telltale razor that occasioned
such studious interest in the sheriff :
Office.
TIE children were hurriedly re
moved to St Mary's hospital In La
Sale, where the outcome Of their CON
dition can only he surmiscd. Mrs.
Webber, determined to die, is being
closely guarded at the asylum, Whlle
strict vigil is being maintained over
the husband at the Jail lest he carry
out his determination 10 complete the
task Of the early morning.
Sheriff ravis and Deputy William
Mischke were called to Oglesby carly
in the morning and assumed charge
OF the case. They directed the remov
al OF Webber and his wife to Ottawa
and secured taxi TO convey them t
the asylum and Jail That both par
ents are insane was the opinion ol
county and police officials.
Refused to Leave Spouse,
AT La Sale Mrs. Webbcr refused
TO be parted from her husband and a
the asylum locked her arms abou
Webber and tried to prevent his bnini
taken from her. While Mrs. Webbe
was being forced into the ladies build
ing at the poor farm, Webber begged
the sheriff to kill him and at the jai
repeated the prayer that his life b'
disrosed OF then and there.
On his way to Ottawa, Wcbber
talking iucohcrcnlv at times, relates
the story OF how he had atiacket
Mrs, Webber with the razor and the
turned upon the three offsprings a
thev Inv sleeping in their beds "
said he cut his own throat first an
then started to carve Mrs. Wcbbel
He cut her above the eyes and a Ion
cash extended down her check. TIL
Anal blow was aimed at the jugula
vein and coursed downward the fu
length Of her breast
The chi,Jren were slashed but on
each. Medical attention was given t
the parents at the Oglesby jail. Will
the children were hurried to the l.
Sale hospital where everything wa
ono to gave their Ives
Both Believed Insane.
Tho authorities are confident We
ber and his wife are both insan
Wcbbcr is suffering Of cancer OF tf
stomach and only n week ago was r
leased from the La Sale hospit'
where he had been o patient for
lpng period Mrs. Weber accordlr