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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![tickets for Dr. Webster; thirty-eight were for the third course, and free tickets ; seven I have on hand. Since the 23rd of November, I have received from these tickets 30 dols. Two of the notes v^ere for half-pay tickets, and Dr. Webster received 15 dols. in all from these before the 23rd of November. One hundred was the number of the students. I delivered to Mr. Littlefield, on the verbal order of Dr. Holmes, one set of tickets. On the 23rd of November, Mr. Littlefield sent for me to come to the College ; I went there and filled out tickets for Uidgway; and I know of one other—in all three, besides what T sold. Five hundred and ten dollars, for tickets sold, was due to Dr. Webster, November 9th. The course begun on the 7th. I paid that in this manner. Dr. Bigelow gave me a note against Dr. Webster for 225 dols. 89 c, dated April 1st, 1849. The interest was 8 dols. 31 c. I gave Dr. Webster a check for 275 dols. 90 c, the balance and the note thus paid. About the 14th November, I credited the Doctor with 13 tickets sold, equal to 195 dols., by a check on the New England Bank. On the 16th, I credited Dr. Webster with two tickets—thirty dollars, which I paid by check to Mr. Littlefield on the Doctor's order. On the 23rd of November, I credited the Doctor with 6 tickets, equal to 90 dols. I drew a check for that amount, and paid it to him personally at the Medical College. This was the last I paid over to Dr. Webster. On the 12ih November Dr. Parkman came to the New England Bank, and inquired if I collected the funds for the Medical College. I had no funds of Dr. Webster's in my hands at that time, and so informed Dr. Parkman. I asked if Dr. Webster owed him. He said that I might judge from his manner. A few days after he called on me again—about the 14th. I then told him I had just paid over 195 dols. to Dr Webster. He said he thought he had given me a hint to retain the funds. I remarked that I had no control of them ; but ouly paid them over to the professors. He said I should have done justice to all concerned if I had retained them ; but now he should be obliged to distress Dr. Webster and his family. He then said that Dr. Webster was not an upright or honourable man ; and asked me to tell Dr. W. so from him. I did not see Dr. Parkman again. On the morning of the 23rd November, I went to the college to pay Dr. Webster 90 dols., for tickets sold. I passed into Dr. Webster's laboratory, where I found him. I excused myself for coming in at that time in the morning. He asked me to walk in, when I told him that Dr. Parkman had called on me several times to inquire whether I had any of his (Dr. Webster's) funds in my possession—that I had therefore come to pay over what I had, as I wished to have no trouble with Dr. Parkman. Dr. Webster said that Dr. Parkman was a curious sort of man, and had been subject to fits of mental aberration ; so much so, that he was obliged to put his business out of his hands, and Mr. Blake, a relative, attended to it. He then said, You will have no further trouble with Dr. Parkman, for I have settled with him. I went there again on the same Friday afternoon, about four or five, I went to the front door of the Medical College and rung the bell. A woman came and looked through the side light. I told her 1 wished to see Mr. Littlefield. She directed me to the east door, where I found Mr. Littlefield, without shoes. He said he had sent for me, and wanted to fill up a set of tickets for a student (Ridgway) who was going to leave town next morning. 1 filled up the tickets and gave them to Littlefield. He said I should have the money for them the next day. I called again the next day about three o'clock, and saw Mr. Littlefield. [The conversation was objected to.] I did not hear Dr. Parkman use any profane words at either interview, but he spoke harshly. I think I did not communicate Dr. Parkman's message to Dr. Webster, but told him I did not wish to have any trouble with Dr. Parkman. Cross-examined.—1 have no means of knowing how many tickets Dr. Webster may have sold. I keep only a record of the students who buy tickets of me, which was 107. Only ninety-nine took chemical tickets of me. Jno B. Dana (40th witness).—I am the cashier of the Charles River Bank, at](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083630_0041.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
