Milford chronicle., 1939-03-31
DONOVAN GIRL
IS REMOVED TO
KENT CO. JAIL
,oOntinusc from First Page,


liceman, as to the circumstances un-
der which they obtained the state
ment from Isabella, who insists that
Webb committed suicide.
Clad in a rose dress, the girl re-
mained alert throughout the entire
hearing, often nudging Tunnel 10
call his attention to answers the pO-
licemen made. She showed no emo
tion as the pistol from which the
fatal shot was fired was placed on
Judge Willey's desk.
During the questioning of Stant,
Tunnel asked whether his client
had been threatened you'll walk the
l3 steps if you don't tell the story
we know is the truth"
Il don't remember just those
words" Slant replied, but later he
admitted the girl had been told she
would be hanged if she didn't
change her story.
He was also asked if Deputy At
torney General Daniel j. Layton had
not said: IF | should have you
hanged all the people would say.
that prosecuting attorney is a d
good attorney but | am willing TO
give that up and help you if you will
change this story and tell the truth"
1T might have not been those ex-
act words but | remember cOnver-
sation to that effect" Slant testi-
fed.
He said the girl had maintained
her innocence over several days and
signed the alleged confession after
she had been questioned from 10
O'Clock at night until sometime
around o'clock in the morning"
She was told Mr.. Layton was the
only man who could help her and
he would help her only if she chang
ed her story" Slant said. "She also
was told her story, as she persisted
in telling il at first, would be laugh
ed out of court"
Although her attorney argued that
she should not be held on charge
more serious than manslaughter or
Involuntary manslaughter, Judge !
Wiley ordered her held without bail.
She was taken to a cell in the I
women's division on the second floor
of the Kent county jail. With her she c
took a bag of apples sent by her /
mother and the radio given to her c
at Georgetown. |
Layton said he decided to trans v
fer the case after determining that i
under Delaware law Il person ac- i
cused of murder must be tried i'll v
the county where the victim was a
wounded. Webb was shot in Kent q
county, but died in the Milford Mem Il
orial Hospital just across the county n
line.
So quickly did Layton act that {
Mrs. Donovan did not know her
daughter had been taken to Dover
until several hours after she was
placed in a cell.
His first step was to have Kent :,
issue new warrant for
Isabellas arrest State police then
took Isabella to the Office of JUS II
tice of the Peace J. ElwOod Wright, II
al Georgetown, before whom the IL
Sussex proceedings were nullited, VI
and Isabella was rearrested on the IL
Kent warrant III
AS result vi thV NHohSN' 9H
will come to trial next III
month instead of in June. The Kent III
Grand Jury meets April II, at which rt
ime it will he asked to indict her "l
'riminal Court will open April 81, VI
md she may go on trial that week
Layton was not present at the ar W
alignment before Judge Wiley. The u
state was represented by Deputy
Attorney General William J. Storey e'
rs Storey is in charge of cases in al
Gent. he will act as prosecutor. Lay III
on said he might assist. +
Tunnel said it is 'immaterial to
lse where she is tried, as we are ?
convinced she is innocent" He said
er mother seemed pleased with tn"
hanse.
Webb died March Is from a D.
alibre bullet wound near his heart. "
II first Isabella said lie ended his Va
,wn life. because she jokingly said +,
he was going to New York, but Fri
av night. March II, police announ- of
ed she admitted firing the SHOT al 50
or "A struggle for the weapon as the so
ouple sat IN an automoblle On Fea of
0dy avenue Milfords lovers lane. in
Isabella recently was employed in
Milford factory Webb was the son m
t a farmer living in the Shawnee ii
actiOn, near Milford. hi
1900 - annRHNf III