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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![Cambridge. Dr. Webster in November last, had an account with the bank. [The bank book fovmd at Dr. Webster's house, was put in by the government.] During the month of November, Dr. Webster deposited at the bank, 10th, 275 dols. 90 c. ; inS a check on Freeman's Bank, Nov. 15th, 150 dols.; Nov. 24th, 190 dols., a check on the Freeman's Bank. On the 23rd of JSIovember, the bank owed Dr. Webster 139 dols. 16 c. before the 90 dols. was deposited. On the 1st December Dr. Webster drew a check of 93 dols. 27 c. which paid rent. On Monday, he drew 5 dols. 10 c, and 19 dols. in checks. At that time 68 dols. 78 c. was trusteed, was the balance due Dr. Webster by the bank. Dr. Danikl Henchman (41st witness).—I am a druggist in Cambridge Street. I know Dr. Wetster. On the 2£rd November, Dr. Webster asked me if I could give him bills for a check of 10 dols. on the Charles River Bank. I did so, but have not received payment for the same. This was about ten o'clock on Friday morning. James H. Blake (42nd witness).—I am nephew of the late Dr. Parkman. The Sunday alter Dr. Parkman's disappearance, I went up North Grove Street, towards the college, about three o'clock. I was standing near the east end of the building, talking with the police officers, when I savv Dr. Webster come from the college. He took me by the hand, and said that on Saturday evening he saw in the transcript, that Dr. Parkman was missing; that he came in on purpose to notify the family that he was the gentleman who went to Dr. Parkman's house on Friday morn- ing, and agreed to meet him at the college at half past one. That was the first I knew that Dr. Parkman had gone to the college at that time. (Dr. Webster gave to the witness the same account of the payment of money in the lecture-room, as has been stated by other witnesses.) He then said he should go up and see the Rev. Dr. Parkman about it. That he had gone to church in the morning, and he thought he would wait until after dinner before he came in. He then went into the college. I approached the college from North Grove Street. I did not see Dr. Webster on that day. During the whole of our interview, he held me by the hand, but I noticed nothing peculiar in his manner. Cross-examined.—I was searching for Dr. Parkman at the time; but I don't think I told Dr. Webster of tliat fact. Dr. Francis Parkman (43rd witness).—I am a brother of the late Dr. Park- man. I have known Dr. Webster for many years. He once attended my church. I baptised his family. After he removed to Cambridge, I still maintained an intimacy with him. Within two months of the disappearance of Dr. Parkman, T was called upon to baptise the grand-child of Dr. Webster. On Sunday, after the disappearance of Dr. Parkman, we were in great distress. None of us were at church that day, but at my brother's house.—About four o'clock, as people were passing from church, Dr. Webster came to my house. Immediately upon entering the room, he said, I came to tell you that I saw your brother at half- past one, on Friday, and paid him some money. Some one of us then said, then you were the gentleman, who called at George's house, at half-past nine, Friday morning, and made the appointment? He said he was, but had not seen the notice until Saturday evening, and had waited until then, thinking the family might have been at church. I then said, Dr. Webster we are glad to see you, because we had some fears that one who meant him ill, had made an appointment with him at East Cambridge. Dr. Webster then said, I was the person. Your brother came, and I paid him 483 dols. and some cents. I asked him if he was certain as to the hour. He replied that he was ; that it was half-past one. i then asked if he had had papers in his hand. Dr. Webster said yes ; and that Dr. Paikman took one of these papers and dashed his pen through the paper. Dr. Webster represented the motion as one of suddenness and violence. That Dr. Parkman said he would see the mortgage dis- charged, and then went out very rapidly from the lecture-room. I then asked Dr.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083630_0042.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
