The trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, at the Medical college (North Grove street) on the 23d of November, 1849 : Supreme judicial court, before Chief Justice Shaw, and Associate Justices Wilde, Dewey, and Metcalf. Counsel for the government, Attorney General J.H. Clifford, and George Bemis, esq. Counsel for the defence, Hon. Pliny Merrick, and E.D. Sohier, esq. / Reported for Boston journal.

Webster, John White, 1793-1850

Date:: 1850

Credit: The trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, at the Medical college (North Grove street) on the 23d of November, 1849 : Supreme judicial court, before Chief Justice Shaw, and Associate Justices Wilde, Dewey, and Metcalf. Counsel for the government, Attorney General J.H. Clifford, and George Bemis, esq. Counsel for the defence, Hon. Pliny Merrick, and E.D. Sohier, esq. / Reported for Boston journal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

31/68 (page 25)

$■Hie back-room, about a hatchet, and Dr. Webster said it was in the sink in the lower laboratory. Search was made for it in the upper room previous to the enquiry. I don't recollect whether it was Sunday or Saturday morn- ing that Mr. Clapp fitted a key into the privy lock, which was on the floor in the laboratory. Cross Examined.—It was on Friday that Dr. Webster accosted me about the S20 bill. He was acquainted with me slightljr. A week or two before he asked me to make some inquiries in regard to police matters. 1 saw Mr. Littlefield on Saturday. There was a conversation be- tween Mr. Kingsley and him. On Friday, the 30th, Mr. Littlefield told me about his suspicions of Dr. Webster. He told me he did not wish me to mention it to any one until he had ascertained. Mr. Kiugsley asked Mr. Little- field on Saturday if he had seen Dr. Parkman, and he said that he had not seen him for three or four days. But he went to the Marshal's office to contradict—[but the an- swer was arrested by the Court.] The conversation between Mr. Littlefield, Mr. Kingsley and I, did not last more than 2 or 3 minutes. Littlefield did not say when he had last seen Dr. Parkman. I assis- ted in breaking open the privy door by driving-back the bolt with the hatchet. The lock fell off that nipht. Nathaniel D Sawin, called and sworn. I am an ex pressman; run the Cambridge and Boston Express;— know Prof. Webster. I have brought in and carried out articles for him. Brought them in the week of Dr. Park man's disappearance. I recollect of bringing them in. I was there on Monday, 26th November, and brought in two bundles. I called them faggots, or cuttings of grape vines. I took them at Professor Webster's house. I brought also an empty box and a bag of tan. The box was about a foot square—a soap box. I took the bag and box from Dr. Webster's house in Cambridge. I received directions from Dr. Webster to leave them tn Littlefleld'ti cellar, and he said I will take them into my laboratory myself. 1 never received any similar in- structions before. I have been in the business three years next August. I suppose I have been to the College 200 times at least. I had always been accustomed to leave articles in the lower laboratory. Sometimes in the up- per. I would take the keys in Mr. Littlefleld's kitchen, hung up in a small case at the left hand of the door, as I went out of the entry into the kitchen. The Monday when I left the articles, I looked for the keys and tried to open the door. I took hold of the labo- ratory stairs door to set the articles in, but found it fast. 1 went through the entry to the store-room door, and found it fast like the other one. I then looked for the keys, and could not find them. I always went into the store-room door. 1 went there again on the 28th of No- vember, that Wednesday, and carried two boxes. The largest was about 2J feet long, 1 foot deep, 10 inches wide —the other was- about 1|- foot square. The small box was full, and the other empty. I left them in Littlefield's cellar where I left those on Monday. A piece of the cover of the small box was broke off one end,and I observed a piece of a small check handkerchief. I did not try the door. I saw the other things there, I saw the grape vines and the box there, but not the bag of tan. If it had been there I think I should have seen it. I went to the College after the arrest of Professor Webster. I could not find but one box I could identify, and that wa.s the small one I took on Wednesday, this was the box which had the check handkerchief. It was marked with red chalk J. W. Webster, Cambridge. I saw the grajje vines but not the other things. The oth- er boxes wei e composed of pine. Cross-examined. I carry boxes very,frequently to the College. I never saw any tan in barrels in the lower laboratory. Dr. Webster did not say the door was locked when I took the things there on Monday I have seen the clasp knife before; I saw it on the 17th oi November, iu Dr. Webster's bauds, in hir /jaidei.. tie wastrimminy his grapevines. I.sp(>k!-;o him, and no- ticed the knife, as it wat; a very peculiar knife. I am sat- isfied that thi-i is the knife—I am positive. Dbbastus (LAPP called and .sworn. Have been connect- ed with the Police since 1828. [Two notes, an account, and a memorandum, were exhibited to the witness and Identified by him.] On the 5th of December I was directed by the City Mar- shal to go to Cambridge, and get a Cambridge officer and learch the house of Dr. Webster; I took oliicei- Hopkms of Boston, and procured the aid of officer Sanderson of Cambridge. Went to the hou.se of Dr. Webster; the oth ers went up stairs; I remained down stairs This was the second search. I went to search for a particular par- cel of papers iu Dr Wei ster's house. In consequence ot what was said, I asked Mis. Webster if she had in her possession any particular piiioel or package given by ttie defendant at the bar. In a short time after asking that question Mr. Sanderson came down with a bundle of pa- J)er8. Mrs. Webster remained down a portion of the time. They not being articles named in tlio seai ch war- rant, I reque.-ted him to replace them in the trunk where he found them and to bring the trunk down. The trunk was broughi down, and I requested Mrs. Webster to hand certain papers to me, as I wished to take thena to the oit^, and I w ould give a receipt, which I did. I believe the officers went up stairs again, but this was all we found or took away. The Cambridge officer had a search warrant. I did not know what the package con- tained I asked for, but I supposed what Mrs. Webster handed me was the one. I recognized the handwriting of Dr. Parkman on two of the papers. I received from Mrs. Webster a note dated June 22d, 1842, for $400; a note dated Jan. 22d, 1847, for $2432; and an account dated April 26th, 1849. I put my mark upon the papers. The following copy of the papers alluded to, was thea read and put into the case: $400 Boston, June 5!Sd. 1842. For value received, I promise to pay to George Parkmam or order, the sum of Four Hundred Dollars in fifte'^n months from tbls date, with interest, to be paid at the rate of six per centum per annum. J. W. Webstek In presence of This is to be given up on payment of W.'s note of Jany, 2M, '47. 1845. July 10th—Interest Is received to date, by rent aii4 never, diillars of principal, leaving due ®383. Oct 10—Seventy-five dollars. Boston. Jany 23d, 1847—Value reed I promise to Pay t« Geo. I arkman or order twenty four Hundred fe thirty dol- lars within four years from date with inteicSt yearly, ft quarter of said Capl said sum being to be paid yearly. J. W. Webstbb. $2432 \ Witness) Chas f^unningham. i500 of the above is G. P'l X S32~833. Bal ree Mr Ohs C On part to G. Parkman of eight hundred & thirty-two dollars of this & Int. Dr. W's other mortgages & note to G. P. of June 2-7.d, 1842 is to be cancelled^ Copy W. has $831.83i corrected. 7. Nov 3d $17 57 as bv act. 1848, Apl 18th, reed a hundred & eighty-seven dollar 60-100 bv Chs Cunningham. 1 gave recit G. P .-;r;i|^ Hot tlth—a Hundred eighty seven dolls 60-100 by C. C I gave rect. The note for $400, of June 22, 1842, is scratched across its surface, by a broad cross of a pen, and the signature J. W. Webster, is also obliquely scratched by an ink mark, & quarter of an inch broad; not sufficiently so, however, to erase the signature. The follcvring statement or memorandum'wa8 next read: Mem.—The amount of the note given was $2,432 00 To cover the following sums loaned... .$1,600 00 , Due Dr. P., which agrees with your.acc't, 348 83 JjQ Mr. Preacott 200 00 :A A. & C. C 234 00 ~; And for am't of bills which exceed the $1,600, but allowed by several individ- uals (in settlement 49 62-2,4^! 46 Consequently th $348 83 is included in both your notes; and Dr. V. took his gecuritv in the note for $2,432, and mortgages tor that sum, because he did not consider the security be had eufdcient for the $348 73, and declinea surrende'ing the note until hia dabt is paid; he says, however, you hold a document fr.jm him, dated Jan., 1847, stating the amount of $2,432 covers both debts to bim— the note for $2,432 is in his favor, ai.d is held by him—your debt to him appears to be the old bal- ance of. $S48 85 Loaned vou of the $1,600 $500 00 Deduct paid him 376 00 126 00 $473 8S He says you paid him, Nov. 3A, '47, aad have a re- ceipt for, witlioiit interest 17 56 \ $456 37 After loan of $1600. Febraary, 1847, you owed Dr. P aa ibove $12i M Wm i-r?scoti advauc d $.500 00 I^aid him 187 50 812 M Mrs. P advanced 200 00 Paid her 7o 00 134 0» Mr Nve advance I 200 00 IVidhim in 00 50 60 i;. C. advanced IfO 00 Paid him 75 0© 25 0« SK37 50 I have seen Dr. P. this evenlag, »' reque te;i by you, aud trust th- above contains all the inufrmiiiion you wish. B .sioji, Ai.ril 2?. h, 1849. Yours, &c. 0. C. Dr. Webster. Bal. due Dr. P $45*1 27 2'/ 37 mt. 483 64 §483 64 Examination Resumed. The memorandum I hold in my hand I got on the 30th November last, from Dr. Webster in the jail office. He gave me his waiiet, in which it, and two smaller ones, were found. I marked them, and iden- tify them now. Mr. Bemis next read the following memoranda in Df. Webster's handwriting: [On the first fold.] Nov. 9 Friday reed 510,00 234,10 owd Dr. Big. Pette'g Cash 275.90 Dr. P. came to Lecture Room first left hand seat. Students stopped he waited till gone and came to me and asked for$

Licence and re-use

Contents