The twelve days' trial of Dr. John W. Webster for the murder of Dr. Parkman : comprising the addresses of the counsel engaged, the examination of the 121 witnesses, the prisoner's singular defence, and the chief justice's charge to the jury, and his sentence on the prisoner.
- John White Webster
- Date:
- 1850
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The twelve days' trial of Dr. John W. Webster for the murder of Dr. Parkman : comprising the addresses of the counsel engaged, the examination of the 121 witnesses, the prisoner's singular defence, and the chief justice's charge to the jury, and his sentence on the prisoner. 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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![o'clock. I was let into the lecture-room door with Kingsley and Starkweather. The Doctor unbolted the door. We all went down into the laboratory. I looked round with them, and was seeing how Dr. Webster appealed. I can't say whether Dr.', Webster came down stairs with us ; nor whether I saw him after, though I heard him ., in his room. This night, I went down to Mr. Grant's dancing academy. I tried the Doctor's doors before I went down to Grant's. I wanted to do up the work, and thai was my only object, On Tuesday I did not see the Doctor go in ; but I went in and found the Doctoi at work at his table. And so on as in chief. I went out as I entered. About elever the examination was made. Dr. Webster let in the persons who came to examine the premises—Clapp and others. Mr. Kingsley was out towards the furnace looking ' about. At the time, I thought Dr. Webster led them from the privy. Wiiile Clap{ was looking at the privy door, Dr. Webster started right off and said, *' here is anothei room. This was after I told Clapp that the door lead to the Doctor's private privy I saw the Doctor no more until the afternoon. I went back to hear if the Docto] went into the laboratory. I wanted to know what he was doing. I can't say whethe; the upper or lower laboratory bell rung. I went up to the upper laboratory. It wai about four. This was the day I went to Foster's for the turkey. I never got into the windows before the time I thought the laboratory was on fire I might have said before the coroner's jury that I did not see the Doctor unti six o'clock that evening. That night, when I saw the Doctor, I told him I was going to the lodge, and h( asked me if I was a freemason. I did notgethome before eleven ; I can't say whethe; I tried the doors that night, after my return. I did not say before the coroner's inquest, that I saw Dr. Webster on Wednesday about one o'clock ; I tried the key-hole that day. I watched, because the Docto , usually wanted very warm fires, and I thought it strange that he should be tlierd r without. I did not watch long. I thought the Doctor heard me, because he stoppef moving something. 1 heard the coal-hod move on the floor before I saw him unde the door. The heat on the wall increased my suspicions. I got in at the window to see i the buUdmg was on fire. There did not appear to be much fire. As I walked aloni the dissecting-room entry, I felt the heat on the wall a little higher than my head The fire of the furnace is about three feet from the floor. The entry and the laboraf tory are on the same level. There had been no flre in the large furnace. 1 t.id no uncover the furnace, because Dr. Webster had told me never to touch things excep on the table. The fire was going down. The top was covered with crucibles am minerals. I cannot say that there was much fire, though it was hot. This wa %vhere the Doctor was carrying coal to in the morning. The hogsheads were for th purpose of making gas with. I put the broom into the hogshead to see if Dr. Park man was there. 1 thought the fire in the furnace was suspicious ; but I did not look iu I never tried to get into the privy that night. I do not think the lock of it ; common one. I staid there about ten minutes, but made no attempt to get a ke;| for the privy ; I went down to a cotillion party that night. I noticed the spots oi the staircase and on the floor; I thought it was blood, with acid put on ; I tastei and found that it was acid. I told my wife that night, and Dr.'s Bigelow and Jack son ou Friday. . Thursday morning I was in the building ; I tried the doors, but not tlie window I didn't know but that the Doctor might have gone in. I had communicated m; suspicions to Doctor Hannaford in Bowdoin Square, on Tuesday night; and to n( one else before Wednesday nighc; on that day I told them to George Thompson, anc] then the physicians of the college. The bricks of the floor are laid on mortar, bu none came through the crevices. When they were taken up there was no sand, excep what may have crumbled from the mortar. 1 do recollect that sand was spread upoi] the bricks and swept over.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083630_0032.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
