Arrestee interview

Saturday, June 21 – 6:03 p.m.

Erma Webb is pageant finalist Rachel Webb's mother and was acquainted with Barbara Dubois. Erma Webb was arrested on multiple charges related to Barbara's murder.

Later that same day, Detectives Armstrong and Murphy re-interviewed Erma Webb with her attorney, Iris Rhodes, present at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Erma Webb
• Iris Rhodes, attorney for Erma Webb

Detective Armstrong: For the record, Erma Loraine 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?

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

Detective Murphy: First, your name and address for the record.

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

Detective Armstrong: Mrs. Webb. Just listen. We know what you did. We have the evidence. We just want to know why.

Erma Webb: And just what is it you think you know, detective? Since I've done nothing—

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

Erma Webb: Impossible!

Detective Armstrong: 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?

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

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

Detective Armstrong: Then we have your fingerprints all over the box that held Barbara's Tuttle Confections chocolates.

Erma Webb: It's a mistake. It simply isn't true.

Detective Armstrong: But you did go into the banquet hall while the ladies were at the photoshoot, didn't you?

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

Iris Rhodes: Don't say anything, Erma.

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

Detective Armstrong: Funny, Murph, I don't think anyone said anything about Rachel's candy being tampered with, did they?

Detective Murphy: Not that I can recall.

Erma Webb: I must have heard it from one of the police officers here in the station.

Detective Armstrong: They wouldn't know. Only you would.

Erma Webb: I must have read it in the news.

Detective Murphy: Are you sure?

Iris Rhodes: Erma, say nothing.

Erma Webb: Be quiet, Iris. Yes, I must have read it in the news.

Detective Armstrong: 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.

Erma Webb: That is not true! I would never resort to violence, even if—

Detective Armstrong: What do you think will happen to the person who killed Barbara when we catch them?

Erma Webb: I haven't thought about it. That is your job. It has nothing to do with me.

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

Detective Murphy: What do you think is going to happen to Rachel?

Erma Webb: Rachel? Nothing should happen to Rachel. She wasn't involved. She didn't do anything.

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

Erma Webb: Yes, I'd do almost anything for Rachel.

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

Erma Webb: Yes, I guess it would be possible.

Detective Armstrong: Forget it, Murph. I'll send two uniforms for the daughter. The two of them can have adjoining cells.

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

Erma Webb: No! No, no!

Detective Murphy: Now, just listen. We need to hear from you what you did and what happened—and we need the truth—or the District Attorney will go after Rachel too. I just know it.

Iris Rhodes: Erma, don't let them pressure you.

Erma Webb: No! If she's arrested, she'll never qualify for another—

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

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

Erma Webb: 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.

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

Iris Rhodes: Don't answer that!

Erma Webb: 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.

Iris Rhodes: You got your answer, detective. Now, let up.

Detective Murphy: When did you inject the ipecac into Rachel's chocolates?

Erma Webb: Not until the next morning. Rachel 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.

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

Erma Webb: Yes, yes, I already told you that.

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

Erma Webb: I told you before. I went to check on Rachel to be sure she was in her room after the photoshoot. Then, at midnight, I called her to say goodnight.

Detective Armstrong: Did you go to the laundry room that night?

Erma Webb: Laundry room? I don't do laundry at 11:00 or 12:00 at night, detective.

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

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

Detective Armstrong: I don't suppose anyone but Rachel can corroborate that?

Erma Webb: I didn't kill anybody, I swear!

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

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

Erma Webb: 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 Rachel alone, right?

Detective Murphy: That's up to the DA.

Iris Rhodes: I'll need to talk to the DA myself. Maybe we can spare the county the expense of a 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.

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

Interview ended – 6:42 p.m.