Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis.

  • Webster, John White, 1793-1850.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    reason, why he probably could not get in, though I think I did. Shortly after, I went to the door to get water, and found it fastened. I never tried the other door; only the one from the cellar to Dr. Webster's laboratory. I think that it was the same forenoon, though I am not so sure, that the express-man brought a bundle of grape-vines, a box, and a bag, and placed them on-our cellar-floor. He had never left things in our apartments so, before ; but had always carried them to Dr. Webster's apartments, himself. At other times, when Dr. Webster was out, the express- man would get in, by means of a key hung up near the door. This time, the articles were left in our apartments. I do n't know where the key was, that morning. I do n't recollect anything in particular, about going to the doors, though I tried them a number of times. I remember, that, on Thurs- day, the doors were locked. I then asked Mr. Littlefield to put the grape-vines into the laboratory. He said, he could not, as the doors were all locked up ; and he went to the door, and shook it, and said, You see, I cannot get in. The grape-vines, and the box were there : whether the bag was, or not, I can't say. The grape-vines were in my way, and the children were getting them all over the rooms. On Wednesday, I saw Mr. Littlefield listening, and trying to look through the key-hole. When he saw me, I told him to come away, and I asked him — [Further answer arrested.] Mr. Bemis. —Please to state, whether you have seen your husband attempt any other modes of gaining information about Dr. Webster, except by looking through the key-hole ? Mr. Sohier. — We object. Mr Bemis, — to the Court.—The inquiry was, whether the witness had seen Mr. Littlefield, attempt to do anything further, to ascertain whether Dr. Webster was in his labo- ratory. Mr. Merrick. — It would be to corroborate their own wit- ness ; which is not allowable, unless he has first been im- peached. We do not object to the Government offering evi- dence to show that Mr. Littlefield tried the doors ; but if they propose to show that he was lying down, we object. Attorney General.—I suppose, that anything which goes merely and exclusively to corroborate Mr. Littlefield, is not admissible; but that any fact which goes to show that Dr. Webster was in his room, or anything which Mrs. Littlefield witnessed, showing that there was a difficulty of access to his apartments, is proper. Mr. Bemis. — And we offer it no more to prove that Mr.