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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    Dr Sir — You will find Dr Parkman Murdered on brooklynt heights. yours, M. — Captain of the Darts. [The next one read was one directed to “ Mr Tukey Boston,” taken from the East Cambridge post-office by the post-master, and handed to Mr. Tukey in advance of the mail. It was in a light. pink enve- lope, looking something like chemical filtermg paper. The address on the outside was done in italics, as large bundles are marked. ] “Dr Parkman was took on. Bord the ship herculun and this is al I dare to say as I shal be kild Est Cambge, one of the men give me his watch but I was feared. to keep it and throwd it in the water rigt side the road to the Cam bige to Bost.” [The last letter was written on both sides of a small scrap of white paper, with the edges roughly torn. ] Fisner A. Boswe tt, sworn. —I am a physician, and reside in Graf- ton, Worcester County. 1 attended Medical Lectures, two courses, in 1847 and 1848. I knew Dr. Parkman, and also Mr. Littlefield. The latter was janitor. I had occasion to go to Medical College 23d Nov., to seea student. It was between half past one and two—near two. I went up Cambridge-street to Blossom-street, then into Fruit-street, and down College-court. I went up'the front steps, the east stairs, and found the door a-jar; and from the position of the door, I concluded the lecture was notout. Iimmediately passed out, and went down towards the dis- secting-room entry, as I did not wish to disturb the lecture. As 1 passed the foot of the stairs, met Dr. Parkman right at the corner. He was going up the same stairs that I was coming down. As I passed round the corner, I saw the Dr. nearly at the top of the stairs. I soon came up into Court-street, and did an errand ; then went, about three o’clock, back again, and rang the bell. The janitor made his appearance at the front door, in three or four minutes. I recognized him. I inquired if a student named Coffrain was there. He said he did not know the gentleman; but if he was there, he was in the dis- secting-room. TI asked him if he would speak to him. He said he was busy, but asked if 1 knew the way. I said I did. I went down, and found Mr. Coffrain in the dissecting-room. I thought Mr. Littlefield was in his usual working-dress. I fix the time, because on the 21st of November I borrowed some money on my note, payable in four months. The next day I came from Grafton to Boston, and was too unwell to go out to do any business. ‘The next day, the 23d, I went to dine in the rear of 684, Washington-street,