Thursday, April 1, 2004 -- 4:03 PM

The subject, who was described as an acquaintance of the victim and mother of one of the pageant finalists, was interrogated by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department subsequent to her arrest. Subject's attorney, Iris Rhodes, was present during the interrogation, which was conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

TA: For the record, Mrs. Webb has been advised of her rights. She has her attorney, Iris Rhodes, present and has waived her right to remain silent against the advice of Ms. Rhodes. Is this correct, Mrs. Webb?

EW: Yes, I am willing to speak to you. After all, I am innocent of any wrongdoing so I have nothing to hide. Ask away.

SM: First, your name and address for the record.

EW: Erma Webb of 2215 Jefferson Drive until I was handcuffed and dragged down here to the station for no good--

TA: Mrs. Webb. Just listen. We know what you did; we have the evidence; we just want to know why.

EW: And just what is it you think you know, Detective? Since I've done nothing--

TA: Just listen! First, we have evidence that you poisoned the chocolates eaten by Barbara Dubois.

EW: Impossible!

TA: It's not only possible, but we have two witnesses who saw you tamper with things on the contestants' table after the banquet. Is that when you injected the ipecac into the chocolates?

IR: You don't have to answer that, Mrs. Webb.

EW: Oh, but I do. You are mistaken, Detective. Your so-called witnesses couldn't have seen anything because I did nothing.

TA: Then we have your fingerprints all over the box that held Barbara Dubois' Tuttle Confections chocolates.

EW: It's a mistake. It simply isn't true.

TA: But you did go into the banquet hall while the ladies were at the photo shoot, didn't you?

SM: You might as well tell us your side of it, Mrs. Webb.

IR: Don't say anything, Erma.

EW: Ridiculous! Besides, I understand there was ipecac in Scarlett's chocolates as well. I suppose you think I would poison my own daughter!

TA: Funny, Murph, I don't think we released that fact to the press, did we?

SM: Not that I can recall.

EW: I must have heard it from one of the policemen who brought me here, or in the station.

TA: They wouldn't know. Only you would.

EW: I must have read it in the paper.

SM: Are you sure?

IR: Erma, say nothing.

EW: Be quiet, Iris. Yes, I must have read it in the paper.

TA: Sure you did, Mrs. Webb, sure you did. You poisoned Barbara Dubois. When Barbara was dizzy and ill, you took a weapon and beat her until she died. And then you put poison in your own daughter's candy to direct suspicion away from her. And you.

EW: That is not true! I would never resort to violence, even if--

TA: What do you think will happen to the person who did this crime when we catch them?

EW: I haven't thought about it. That is your job; it has nothing to do with me.

TA: It has everything to do with you, Mrs. Webb. What do you think is going to happen to you?

SM: What do you think is going to happen to Scarlett?

EW: Scarlett? Nothing should happen to Scarlett. She wasn't involved. She didn't do anything.

SM: Mrs. Webb, I understand. You're a mother. You were trying to protect your only child and help her to attain her aspirations of becoming a beauty queen. After all, a mother must do everything she can to help her daughter. Isn't that right?

EW: Yes, I'd do almost anything for Scarlett.

SM: And you knew if Barbara was out of the way, ill maybe, that Scarlett would have a better chance to win the title. Is that true?

EW: Yes, I guess it would be possible.

TA: Forget it, Murph. I'll send two uniforms for the daughter. These two can have adjoining cells.

SM: Just hold on. Mrs. Webb, we have a problem. Not with you -- you're going to jail. Our problem is with Scarlett. She's surely going to be charged as an accessory.

EW: No! No, no!

SM: Now just listen. We need to hear from you what you did and what happened -- and we need the truth -- or the District Attorney is going to go after Scarlett, too, I just know it.

IR: Erma, don't let them pressure you.

EW: No! If she's arrested, she'll never qualify for another--

SM: Then why don't you tell us your side of it before it gets any more out of hand and we have to book you for murder?

IR: I caution you, Mrs. Webb. You don't have to answer that.

EW: But I didn't kill her! I did put the ipecac in the chocolate, but only to make Barbara sick so she wouldn't be at the competition the next day.

TA: But then you confronted her and beat her with a shoe?

IR: Don't answer that!

EW: No, no, I would never do that! I never lose control nor give in to my anger. I would never respond with rage. I did not hit her with anything. You have to believe me! I wasn't angry at her. I just wanted her out of the competition -- not dead.

IR: You got your answer, Detective, now let up.

SM: When did you inject the ipecac into Scarlett's chocolates?

EW: Not until the next morning. Scarlett was out looking for Barbara. I thought if her chocolates had ipecac too, she wouldn't be suspected of anything. I knew she was too busy to eat them.

TA: But you did inject Barbara's that night after the banquet?

EW: Yes, yes, I already told you that.

TA: Then what did you do when you left the banquet hall?

EW: I told you before. I went to check on Scarlett to be sure she was in her room after the photo shoot, then at midnight, I called her to say good night.

TA: Did you go to the laundry room that night?

EW: Laundry room? I don't do laundry at 11:00 or 12:00 at night, Detective.

SM: Were you in the halls at any time after you went to your room that night?

EW: Let me think. No, I didn't leave my room until the next morning.

TA: I don't suppose anyone but Scarlett can corroborate that?

EW: I didn't kill anybody, I swear!

TA: Maybe, maybe not. But you sure as the devil tried.

SM: Is there anything else you want to tell us, Mrs. Webb?

EW: I wanted that girl to be sick. I never meant for her to die. I didn't have anything to do with that. Now you'll leave Scarlett alone, right?

SM: That's up the DA.

IR: I'll need to talk to the DA myself. Maybe we can spare the county the expense of trial and spare my client and her daughter any more trouble. That's all. Now, Erma, not another word. My client wants to return to her cell.

SM: As soon as she writes down what she just told us, we'll get her back there.

Interview ends -- 4:42 PM