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
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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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    after he was in a chair, “ This is no more Dr. Parkman’s body, than it is my body; and how in the world it came there, I don’t know.” He then said, “I never liked the looks of that Littlefield, the janitor. I opposed his co:ning there, all I could.” I think there was nothing more. He perspired very profusely the night before; that is, Friday night. I have a letter, which was brought up to be sent out. It is a rule of the jail, that all letters must be examined by the officers, and then laid on the table, and I send them. This letter was brought up Tuesday morning, Dec. Ist. It was in Prof. Webster’s hand- writing. Mr. Holmes, junior, turnkey, called my attention to it. Isaid I should n’t let it go till some officers called for those papers. I went to Mr. Clapp, and told him about the clause. Other notes of his went, but this I retained. I told Dr. Webster, if he had anything to communicate to his family, of a domestic char- acter, that he did not wish me to hear, he might communicate it to his daughter. I told Mr. Prescott, and Mr. Cunningham, the same thing. (The letter was here put in, by Mr. Bemis, which Mr. Andrews had stopped at the jail:—] “ Boston, Monday evening. My Dearest Marianne: —I wrote mamma yesterday, and Mr. C., who was here this morning, told me he had sent it out. Ihada good sleep last night, and dreamt of you all. I got my clothes off, for the first time, and awoke in the morning, quite hungry. It wasa long time before my first breakfast, from Parker’s, came; and it rel- ished, I can assure you. At one o'clock, I was notified that I must appear at the court-room. All was arranged with great regard to my comfort, and avoidance of publicity, and this first ceremony went off better than I anticipated. On my return, I had a bit of turkey, and rice, from Parker’s. They send much more than I can eat, and [ have directed the steward to distribute the surplus to any poor ones here. If you will send me a small canister of tea, I can make my own. A little pepper I may want some day, you can put up, to come with some bundle. I would send the dirty clothes, but they have been taken to dry, and have not been returned. I send a kind note, I received to-day, from Mr. Curtis. Prof. Peirce and Horsford called to-day. Half a dozen Rochelle powders, [ should like. Tell mamma not to open the little bundle I gave her the other day, but to keep it, just as she received it. > Hope you will soon be cheered by receipt of letters from Fayal. With many kisses to you all, Good-night, from Your afft. Father. My tongue troubles me yet, very much; and I must have bitten it, in my distress, the other night. It is painful, and swollen, affecting my speech, somewhat. e Had mamma better send for Nancy —I think so; or aunt Amelia. Couple of colored neck-handkerchiefs. One madras.” Cross-examination. I kept it because of the passage — “ Tell mamma not to open the little bundle I gave her the other day, but to keep it.” I retained the letter on that account.