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
Licence: Public Domain Mark
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.
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![Money—Desired him to wait till Frl'^'ay 23d, as all the tickets Trere not paid for but an doubt vrould be then he Gooddeal Excited. Went away said I owed him 483,64. Friday 23d, called at hi* house about 1 A. M. Told him I liad the miney and if he wd. call soon after one wd. pay him. He aaUeu at i past & I paid him. 483,64 cts. [On the second fold.] 9th—Dae Dr P. who called at lecture, $433,64, by his act ©esired him to wait until Friday 23d Angry Friday i 1. Pd him he to clear mortgage Note Feb 13, 1847, including small ciie=$24,37. 125 due him on loan which the large note covers he agreed *• gire up tow'da Sale of Mini Balance due. 483,64 P.-iid and be gave up two notes had not the mortgage but said he wd. go and cancel it— had paid him 375 by Smith 125 due. \ 600 the loaa Kest from other oersons Mortgage 22a June 1842 Note 400, Jane 22d^2 Note 2432 Jany 22d—47 ' On one of the small memoranda were the figures in pen- til, $483 64; on the second was written in pencil, ale, molasses jug, in box, key, tin box, solder, paint. ResuKied. We received various reports through the Mar- shal that Dr. Parkraan had been seen in various parts of ttie city. On Tuesday I was directed to take certain offi- cers to look into the College, all vacant houses in the neighborhood, and the lands about the jail. I took Mr. Fuller and Mr. Rice, went to the College on Tuesday, No- vember 27, where we aVrived about 11 o'clock. We en- tered the east front, through Mr. Littlefield's apartments. We tried a door, and found it fastened—a door to get into the laboratory. We then went up the front entry to the door of Prof. Webster's lecture room. Mr. Littlefleld informed us that it was Dr.'s lecture day and that it would be but a short time before the lecture would begin. Mr. Littlefleld rapped but no one came, he rapped again and iu about half a minute Dr. Webster came. I informed him that we wished to look over the College. He said that the police had made a search be- fore, but if we wished to do so we could. Seeing Dr. Webster whom I had known by sight for a quarter of a century, (I did not know that he was a Pro- fessor then) I said to him, you can't believe that it is nec- essary to search your apartments for a moment. He ask- ed us to walk in. We did go down the stairs to his table. 1 inquired of him what time he saw Dr. George Parkman last. To the Court. I told him that we were about to search all the houses in the neighborhood, and we were about to search the College first, or some one would get up their backs about it. Went down to Dr Webster's table where he lectures. It was then I asked him the question. Resumed.—Have said that he said that he saw him on the last Friday, 23d, at IJ P. M.—he came there by ap- pointment. I asked him how much money he paid him on that day. He said $483, and I do not recollect he said any odd cents. He said he took the money and went Hp the steps iu a hurried step, out of the door, and he had not seen him since. He led us into his back room and pointed out his clos- ets and the room where he kept his valuables. We mere- ly looked into the room—did not search, and then went down to the lower laboratory. Passed round his tables and apparatus, which were in confusion. Saw nothing there to attract my attention. We were shown to the passage way to the dissecting room entry by the Dr. him- self. We went to the stairs and the door where the privy is, and then turned and went back again. Some one called my attention, and I returned and looked to the door leading out to the dissecting room. I don't know who it was that called my attention. I do not recollect of looking into the privy window. I did not expect to find any thing there. I made the excuse for look- ing at rue college as I stated above. Can't gay which door ■we went out. We carried a lantern and twine. I had no ideajr wa.', necessary to search the college, and the cir- eumftauce.< made no distinct impression. We searched the great vault. I held the light down myself. Could see wei; lound. We searched every inch of Mr. Little- field's ajiartments, 1 believe, drawers, clothing, pockets ©f male aiidfemale clothing, crockery ware; also searched the attics I did not go down the scuttle. I saw simie of my party go down. Searched all the houses in the neighborhood, and all the water-side along Chariea iireet. Friday night, the 30th of November, I was called to the College about 6 o'clock; found Mr. Littlefleld. Dr. Bigelow, the Marshal, and Mr. Trenholm there. Alter we got down under the building I was the first to put the light into the hole where the remains were found. After we took the body out we came up, and went into the laboratory; the door was open on the lower floor.— Mr. Trenholm, the Marshal, Mr. Littlefleld and myself were there. 1 went in first, I believe. I found a pan of sand on the right side of the furnace where the bones were found. I found the furnace, which was covered ever with a soapstone cover and minerals. I put my hand iato the furnace and took out a piece of coal, and some- thing adhered to it which looked like burnt bans.— The Marshal said, doa't trouble anything there. I was sent by the Marshal to Cambridge; I took a coach, and in company with oflSoers Starkweather and Spurr went out to Cambridge. We stopped the coach a few rodj from Dr. Webster's house. I went ahead, and as I gotta the gate I met the Dr. on the front steps, showing a gea- tleman out of his house. The gate was open; I passed in. I spoke to the Doctor before he got into his house, and told him that we were about to search the College over that evening, and wished him to be present. He went into his library, and put his boots, coat and hat on. W« were not in the house two minutes, when we passed out, and the Doctor said, I should like to go back for my keys. I told him it was not necessary, as we had enough to unlock the College. He said Very well, and we got into the coach. I don't recollect that Dr. Webster said any thing about the carriage being distant from the house. I told the driver to go over Craurie's Bridge. I tried to have a fre« conversation, and part of the time we conversed about the contemplated railroad to Cambridge. The first part of the ride we talked of the railroad; also talked of the ef- forts which had been used to find the body of Dr. Parkman. I told him what distances we had sent—the stories that had been told. He said that a lady over there, pointing towards the Port, a Mrs. Bent, knows something about it —suppose we ride over there. I told him that we had better postpone it to some other time. Dr. Webster said, 1 don't recollect what led to it, that he had called at Dr. Parkman's house about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 23d, requesting the Dr. to call at the College betwixt 1 and 2 PM. He also stated that the Dr. did call, stated that he paid him $483—that Dr. Parkman was to cancel a mortgage. I inquired of Prof. Webster if Dr. Parkman had done so. I think his answer was that he did not know. I then asked him if, in case it had not been done and Dr. Park- man was not found, he would be the loser. His answer was that he should lose nothing. When we arrived near the bridge the tide was down; I pointed it out to Prof. Webster, and told him that soundings had been had in all these waters, above and below the bridge. I told him that a hat had been found which was sup- posed to be Dr. Parkman's, and that it was found at tiia Navy Y^rd. I do not recollect that he made any answer. We drove until we got to Brighton street, and the Uoo- tor observed that we were going the wrong way. I re- plied that the driver might be green, but he would prob- ably find his way there in time. We arrived opposite the jail door at about 8:J o'clock. I got out on the off side to see if there were any spectators in the jail. There was none, I came out, opened the door on the'near side and said, Gentlemen I wish you would get out a moment. I did not hear a remark made by any individual. We then all got out and went into the jail-office. After W9 had all got into the outer office, I took the lamp and said. Gentlemen, suppose we walk into the inner office.'' Don't recollect a word being said until we got into the inner office. The first one that spoke was Dr. Webster. He turned half round to me and' said, What does all this mean ? Said I, Doctor Webster, you recollect I called your attention by the bridge that soundings had been had above and below the bridge. We have sounded about the College, and have done looking for the body of Dr. Parkman—we shall not look for his body any more, and you are now u custody on a charge of the , murder of Dr. Par;man. He articulated halt a sentence; I could not understand exactly what it was, and then said, I wish you would send word to my family. I recommended to him to have it postponed until the morning. I told him it would be a sad night spared to them. He seemed inclined to ttilk to me about the crime which was charged to him, and I said to him, Dr. I tliink you had better not talk to me on the subject.]'— tie wished me to notify some of his friends in the city. I told him it would not be necessary to do it that night,a8 he couid not see tliem if they came, and he had better let it remain until morning. I told him that I wished to see if he had any articles aoout him improper to carry into jail. I took a gold watch, wallet containing certain papers, $2,40 in money, an omnibus ticket case, and five keys.— [Witness produced the keys, one of which had a label on It marked privy.] I took all the articles, carried them to the Marshall's office, and locked them up in my private drawer,of which 1 had the key, and did not see them again until Sunday about 12 o'clock. 1 left Dr. Web.ster in the custody of Mr. Starkweather and Mr. Spurr in the back office. Made out a mitti- mus reque.sting them not to commit the Doctor until they heard from me, and requested Air. Starkweather to remain with the Doctor until he heard from nie. After I made the mittimus out, Mr. Spurr joined me, and we went to the Marshal's office. After locking up the articles I went in pursuit of the Marshal. Jailor Andrews was probably at his house. I did not find the Marshal or Mr. Parker. We then went down to the College and found Dr. Webster there in charge of two jail oi-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083629_0032.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
