Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster : indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, before the Supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / Phonographic report, by Dr. James W. Stone.

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster : indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, before the Supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / Phonographic report, by Dr. James W. Stone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    than four or five fathoms in a ball. There is five cents difference in a ball, between the kinds; one being twenty cents, the dew rotted ; and the other, the green, twenty-five cents. In spinning, the furthest end will be the largest. I judge the specimens by the stock and manu- facture. | [The witness went on here to illustrate, in technical terms, the dif- ference of manufacture and of stock.] By the Government. The Russian is used on ship-board, but does not come in balls. NaTHANIEL Waterman, sworn.—lam a tin dealer, in Cornhill; have known Dr. Webster for ten or twelve years. He was in my store on the 30th of November, about ten o’clock in the forenoon — the day of his arrest. Seeing him talking with my foreman, I walked up, and said, “ Doctor, you must excuse me, but I must ask how Dr. Parkman appeared when he gave you the money?” He said he took the papers in his hand, and darted out in a peculiar manner. I said, if that was the case, some one, seeing the money, enticed him into one of his own houses, before he got a great way from the College. I said that if he was found, he would be found in a cellar of one of his own houses; for I did not believe the story of his going over Cam- bridge Bridge. Dr. Webster then said, “Dr. Parkman did go to Cambridge ;” and then said he was sure he went there. He said so quite energetically. He then said, “ Only think—a mesmeriser told the number of a cab, and Mr. FitzHenry Homer found the cab, and spots of blood on the lining of it.” That is all that was said about Dr. Parkman. [The Court here adjourned till half past three o’clock.] AFTERNOON. {The Court came in a few minutes past half past three, and the ex- amination of the witnesses for the prosecution was resumed. | NatuanizL WATERMAN, examination continued. — Dr. Webster stated that he wanted a tin box made. I inquired how he wished it made; and he said he was going to have a number of small things put into it, and the sides must come up straight. By the Court. What do you mean by straight ? Witness. I mean, with the edges not turned in. He said small things — say books, &c. He then spoke of having the handles very strong, and on the cover. He wanted it made so he could solder it up himself; for, he said, “ You know I can do such things myself.” I left him standing with my foreman; I had no further conversation. There was to be only one handle, and that on top. I didn’t hear him say when he would like to have it done. I have done business before with Dr. Webster. [Account with Dr. Webster was shown.] This account runs back to 1843. I have not made such apparatus, for any purpose, before. The Doctor wanted the handle made very strong. The box was completed Saturday morning, and labelled, “ to be called for,” and “ charged,” and has not since been called for. Cross-ezamination. My store is near to the Cambridge Omnibuses, and goes through to Brattle-street. The box was to be made as