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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![whether my vision is better in the biological state than it is now. I donot know that I am able to .«ee a great dis tance in a biological state. I never used a magnifying glass to see a great distance. Dr. Farkman did not speak to me; did not bow to me. I spoke to Mr. Blake on Sunday night. There was some further conversation about Dr. Farkman. I asked Dr. Webster how Dr. Parkmr.n appeared when he paid him the money. lie said he appeared augry and excited. He also informed me that Dr. Farkman hpd called on Mr. Pettee, the gentleman who sold his tickets for lectures, and enquired if he had any money in his hands belonging to Dr. Webster. He, Mr. Fettee, iniormed Dr. Farkman that he did have money in his hands. Dr Farkman wish- ed him to pay over the money in his hands to him. Mr. Pettee, he said, refused. Dr. Parkmau was very angry, and used an expression to Mr. Pettee that he (Prof. Web- ster) was a d—d whelp. Why I did not say this before is because I was interrupted, I wanted to go on and finish the wliole story. Itis no lauit ofmine. I have not stated the whole story now. When we left and got into the entry, Dr. Webster ac- companied us to the door and said ' gentlemen, I trust you will be successful in your search; any assistaLce iu my power I shall be happy to render you That is my handwritinir. [A paper shown to liini.] I did not state the whole afi'air to Mr. Andrews Mr. Andievvs said he merely wis^hed a rough outline, which I gave him. Dr. Webster spoke of the great feeling which had been excit- ed in the community. I think that Dr. vfebster used some expression to the effect that Dr. Farkman had been very insulting to him every time he met him. I did not use the expression that JDr. Webster Raid there were two men iu the room afc the time I paid the money. Mr. Andrews wished me to put this down. I told him that it was all an impression. He told me to giv<e a rough outline, and I did put it down. IU-examinfd.— M.r. Andrews came to the Registry ol Deeds and asked for tiie paper. I told him, in regard to the persons in the room, that it was only an impression, but he wished it put down. Samuel A. Wentworth, called and sworn. I reside in Vine street. I am in ttie provision business. I am ac- quainted with Dr. George Farkman; baveknoivn him for two years. 1 saw him last on the 23d of November, in Court street, between the hours of 2|- and Si P. M. I aie my dinner at 1 o'clock, came back, and my j oiing man went to dinner at 2 P. M I waited for him to come back at my sliop in Lynde street.- 1 then went down town. My shop is No. 1, corner of Cambridge and Lynde streets. My young maii was gone more than half an hour. I vvas going to the market to get my marketing for Saturday morning. Dr Farkman was near the head of Sudbury street, in Court street, opposite Mrs. Kidder's medicine shop, when I met him. He turned round and faced rile street. I was on the same-side of the street as Di-. Fark- man. He was going tow^ard^ Bowuoiii Square. When he got near Mrs. Kidder's shop, he stopped ail of a sud- den and turned. He had his hands beiiiud nira when he stopped; his hands were under his coat. When I went home on Satui-day evening at 10 or 10^ o'clock, my wife stated tiiat two men had been there afsei- Dr. Farkman. I imniediatel> made the remark, that -'I t^uess he hadn't gone a great ways, a-^ I saw liim yesterday afternoon in Court street. Dr Farkman stopped afie'r I passed him. Cross examined —^Tliere was a lady at tiie house at the time I made ttie remark. I communicated it to a man by the name of Foster the week after the remains weie found. I thought ot it at various times. No new circuni-tanees had occurred to fi.-c if in my mind. It wasabour 3 o'ciociv —after 2-^-o'clock I iim sure it was not Tinr, si.uy aitei- noon wlien 1 saw hUu. I never buy my marketing foi- Saturday .on Thursday. A gentleman, 1. H. Kusscll, was with me; 1 spoke to him aljout it. He recolkcts being with me when I saw Dr. Fiii kman, but he uoes not recol- lect the day. I did not see the t.A'o men. I did not say they were police. The n\>'i pej>oi. I spoke to, except my wife, of the fact ol meeting Dr. ParUrnan, was Mr. Fos- ter, the week alter the remair.s were found at the College I knew tliat rewards were offered. Samuel Clehnd. called anri sworn. I reside in Chel- sea. My place ot businei^s is No. 26 South Muiket street. I was acquainted witii Dr. George Pai kman ; t.ave known him about 11 years. In 1839 I was a tenant of his in West Centre street. I last saw him on Fiiday, Nov 23d. I saw liiin in Washington street, between Milk avid Frank- lin streets. It was bet ween 3f and 3i F. M., perhaps, as Dear2() minutes past as any ottier hour. I tix ttie hour as I went up to see the Rev. Geo. Wilde. I met him on the east side ofWashington street, going towards Roxbury. In calling on Rev. Mr. Wilde, as he ofliciated oCcaaiou- ally for us at f'helsea, I always called at 3 o'clock. He boards ;ii No. 18 Franklin street I was coming from there. On Wednesday, Nov. 21st. 1 addressed anote to the Rev. -Mr. Aileii df East Boston, to officiate at (Chelsea.— Not receiving an answer, on Friday niori:lng 1 sent an- Othei by a boy to East Boston, who returned, and said he coula not find .VIr. Allen. He gave me the note, which I have now in my pocltet. About 11 o'clock, I addressed a note to Rev. Mr. Woart of Christ Church, and .sent the boy with it. He returned with an answer, which I have in my pocket, stating he could not possibly preach all day. I then, about 3 o'cl'k, went up through Devonshire street, through Theatre Al- ley to Franklin street. After the call, I proceeded up to Washington street, where I saw Dr. Farkman walking as if with a laboring man. But I afterwards found that he was not walking with the man. We passed on the same side, nearly touching each other. I did not speak to him. I heard of his disappearance on the following Monday morning, Nov. 26th. Oross-exa-mined —I communicated the information to my partner first. I do uotknow whether the information got to Dr. Pa- kman's family. I mentioned it to Mr. William Knapp, of the Police Court, and he told me it was un- necessary to mention it to the Marshal, as Dr. Farkman had been seen at the South End, and it was of no conse- quence. I saw the advertisements for reward on Mon- day. I don't know that my information got into the hands of the family. I did not think it necessary to do so as the advertisement mentioned he was seen going to the South End. I should think it was very nearly half way between Milk and Franklin streets. The street was not crowded at the time. 1 might have seen him at first 4 or 5 rods ofl. I wa« on the inside of the str< et He was on the outer side of the street. I do not know that he varied his direction as he approached me. There were persons between us when I saw him. He was walking at his usual pace. We met—he passed one way and I another. I did not mention the fact of meeting until Monday morning. I am not aware of stating tliis to Mr. Lee, Su- perintendent of the Providence Railroad. I may have had conversation with him. I saw on Monday an adver- tisement in which it was .stated that Dr. Farkman was seen going to the South End. I communicated the fact to Mr. Bradley, of the Mail. If anything prevented my mentioning the fact, it was the fact that he was seen by others going in the same direction as I saw him. He-Examined. These are the notes I spoke of (exhibited to witness). Lucius R. Page, called and sworn. I am City Clerk of Cambridge. On Sunday succeeding Friday, Nov. 23d, I saw Dr. Webster not ^r from | to 5 o'clock, at my house. I was not at home when he called, but found him there viheu I came in. He said he called to ascertain if Dr. Farkman had been at my house since Friday to discharge a mortgage. 1 replied that I knew him, aiid that he had not been there. 1 think before Dr. Webster lelt I went and examined the records, and ascertained that the mort- gage was not discharged. Abby B. Rhodes called and sworn. I reside in Minot street. I knew Dr. George Parkman. I knew him tor twenty-five j ears. 1 saw him on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 23d, in Green street, near the coiner of Lyman Place, in fiout ot Souther's apothecary shop. I think tiiat it must have been a quarter to 5 o'clock—very near dark. There was a man with l.im. I was on the inside, my daughter on the outside. 1 was going towards Cam- bridge street; he towards Bowdom Square. We bowed as we passed, Dr. Parkman and myself I don't know which bowed first. I fix the day because there was nO either day in which my daughter and myself ueut home together. We were out once before, but did not go home together. We had been out shopping, and made some purchases. Went to Mr. Hovey's store in Winter street. 1 went into Hanover street after we made our purchas- es at Hovev's store in Winter street. My daughter took the bundles'. I bought a muslin de luine. lliere was no charge for it. I paid for it. Eleven yards at 2U cents per ard—the whole cost $2,20. 1 do not recollect the name f the man I bought it of. I aui po.-itive as to the day. I I.aie taken the fireatest pains to fix tlie day. I went to Dr. Francis Fiirkiayn and told him of it. 1 was at home un Saturday, I ki.ow. Thursday I was at luune all the day. I communicated with Rev. Dr. F^rancis farkman on fuesday^iternoon. I saw in one of the papers on Sunday morning that Dr. Parkmo). had dii^appeared. My daughter went to Le.xii.gtou on Siiturday, returned on Tue.'-day. I sa-^v her at dinner timo. Ttiere was some conversation about tlie dtsai-pearance, and my daughter asked me if I did not recoiJect meetinj^ Dr. Parkmau on Friday afternoon, and I immediately recalled it to mind. I have a memoraiula of my purclia'-e. I cannot he mis- taken in the day. I did not go out until after dinner, be- tween 2 and 3 F. M. Dmeatl;} or ^ I did my shop- ping and on my way back met Dr. I'ai kman. Cross Examined. I have been a parishoner of Rev. Dr. Francis Farkman—felt a grf at interest in the late of Dr. George Parkmau. I saw the notice of disappearance on Sunuay morning, i asked my son about the di>appear- ance, on Tuesday at dinner, and my daughter asked the question I have stated. I have never expressed any doubts or misgivings about this. I have no recol- lection ot i'xpres.«ing doubts to Mis. Harrison. If I did I did not intend to 1 have never said to my sis- ter within a day or two that if I had not said so often that I had seen Dr. Parkman on Frid;.y. I should think I might be mi>t<d<en. J never said so to my sister. Idon't know who was walking with Or. Parkman. Jt was not Dr. Webster, 1 know. It was a taller man. I should not know him again I saw Rev. Dr. Farkman on Tuesday afternoon, and told](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083629_0049.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
