The Parkman murder : trial of Prof. John W. Webster, for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, November 23, 1849 : before the Supreme Judicial Court, in the City of Boston with numerious accurate illustrations.

  • John White Webster
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Parkman murder : trial of Prof. John W. Webster, for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, November 23, 1849 : before the Supreme Judicial Court, in the City of Boston with numerious accurate illustrations. 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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    sois should get hold of ft, ft would malie trouble for him. After he mentioned this I recollected that the door by tlie laboratory stairs had been fastened ou Friday and Saturday. This was the only door|^ had anything to do with. At the commencement of the lectures, Dr. Webster asked me to get water from the laboratory, on account of the newness of the lead pipe; he did not want to keep the water running iu consequence of its spattering the floor. On Friday afternoon I sent a little girl to get water (here, and she returned, unable to get in. I w^ent to the door and satisfied myself that it was fastened. On Satvrday I tried the door several times, and found it fastened. I could get water in the cellar, but went to Dr. W.'s laboratory in consequence of his request. On Monday moHiing, Dr Samuel Parkman called at my kitchen door ami asked for Mr Littlelield, and then for Dr Webster; and wished to know how he should get into Dr Webster's rooms. I said I did not know, and went to the door by the stairs and found it opened. Dr. Parkman went up that way. 1 expressed my doubts to him because the door had been fastened. Afterwards I found the door again fastened. This door was the only one I generally tried. On this forenoon the Cambridge expressman brought a bundle of grape vines, a box and a bag,- which were left near our door. Usually he had taken every thing for Dr Webster to his rooms. If the doctor happened to be oat when any thing w^as brought, the man could generally get in, the key either being in the door or easily obtained. On Thursday, (Thanksgiving ■ I asked Mr l.ittlefield why he could not put those things into the laboratory. He replied that it was because the doors had all been locked. He then went and tried the doors, and said, you see they are fastened. I wanted the grape vines taken away because the children were scattering them about the floors of the house. I recollect seeing Mr Littlefield listening at the key- hole of Dr Webster's door, about that time. I did not see Mr Littlefield go into the laboratory of Dr Webster on Wednesday. I do not know that my husband built any fires in Qr Webster's rooms that week. I saw Dr W. pass through the entry on Monday, WeJnesday and Friday. On Wednesday momirg he came as early as 8 o'clock; he passed through our entry, and turned to the door which led up stairs. That was all I observed of him on that morning. On Friday morning he came to the College while I was at breakfast, not very early, o'clock, for I was unwell. He came in, took up a paper, and asked Mr Littlefield if he had heard any thing more about Dr Parkman. He replied, No. Then said Dr Webster, a woman has stated that she saw a large bundle put into a cab—the number of the cab was taken, and the cab proved to bloody.— Mr Littlefield replied, there are so many flying sto- ries, one does not know what to believe. I know that my husband attempted to break through the wall on Thursday. I know that he borrowed tools for that purpose. I saw him go down for that pur- pose. He was down there about an hour. About 3 o'clock on Friday he resumed the digging. I kept watch while he was engaged in the work, to see if Webster was coming. On Friday, after he had been at work about 3 4 of an hour, 1 thought I saw Dr Webster, and struck on the floor four times, when Mr Littlefield came up. While he was out talking with Mr Kingsley and Mr Starkweather, Dr Web- ster came in, went down into his laboratory, un- bolted the door, took in the grape vines, and left the door unbolted, as he usually had done before the dis- appearance of Dr Parkman. I know the door was unlocked, because 1 saw it a little ways ajar. Dr Webster immediately went out. I saw him pass through the entry. Mr Littlefield had been gone to his work under the building but a short time before he returned; appeared to be much affected, more than I ever had seen him before in his life. [Objections were raised against her relating to the interview between herself and Mr Littlefield on his return after the discovery of the remains. The dcf- scription of his maiuier and conduct were allowed by the Court.] When he came up he appeared much affectsd and burst oat crying. He went and fastened the cellar door, and told me not to allow any one to go in there. While Mr Littlefield was absent to Dr. Bige- low's, Mr Trenholm, the Police ofiicer, came in. t unlocked the cellar doo? with another key, and al- lowed him to go dovra. Lie was gone not more than five minutes. Here mained at the Collage until Mr Littlefield and Mr Clapp came. No one but Mr Trenholm went down cellar while Mr Littlefield was absent. Cross examined. I cannot tell what time I went to get water that evening. I recollect going for the water after the officers came; 1 wenthito the labor- atory for it because the water in the cellar was near where the otTicers brought up the remains. I re- member correcting Mr Littlefield about the date of getting the turkey; I suppose it was before the cor- oner's inquest, but do not know. JOHN MAXWELL called and sworn. I liv u Fruit St. place; know^r Littlefield; knew ;i'sli Dr Parkman, who lived in Wainut street. Recollect that Mr Littlefield wished me to carry h iiote to Dr Parkman. It was the fore part of the week, the same week the doctor was missing. It was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. JOHN HATHAWAY, called and sworn. I have charge of the medicines at the Massachusetts Gen- eral Hospital. I recollect an application was made to me by Mr Littlefield for blood, Thursday of the week before Thanksgiving. I did not furnish the blood. Cross examined. 1 fix the fact in my mind from the circumstance that there was to be bat one lec- ture more that week on Chemistry. It being 2 o'clock, officers were sworn to take charge of the Jury, who received more than their usual admonitions when the Court adjourned to Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Interior of Lio^ver Laboratory, show- ing entrance to the Vault.