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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    on the lecture room table. 1 tUd not assist in pre- pnring tliR Iiaiidhills. While I was present with Dr W., I looked in to the upper laboratory to see what kind of a room it was. CHAS. B. STARKWEATHER, called and sworn. 1 am a police olilcer; have been connected with the police four years. I took part in the search for Dr Parknian; commenced on Saturday after the disap- pearance. On the Monday following, went to the college with Mr Kingsley, at about 12 o'clock; went up the front steps; saw Mr Littlefit Id, Dr H. J. Big- elow, and afterwards Dt Ainsworth; told them the object of my visit—to look over the college in search of Dr Parkman. Mr Littlefield tried Dr Webster's lecture room door, which was fastened. After knocking, Dr W. came to the door. We told him what we came for and went in; went through the lecture room into ihe back laboratory, thence down stairs, Dr Webster following. We passed through the lower laboratory, stopping there not many min- utes. At the bottom of the stairs, Dr W. said this is all my department; we went out by the labora- tory stairs. We then searched the rest of the col- lege. I made one of the party who went out to ar- rest Dr Webster, on Friday night. In coming in the doctor talked very freely, about the railroad, and spoke of Mrs Bent's having seen Dr Parkman on Friday; he wished us to drive round by her house; we came in by Cragie's oridge. Mr. Clapp talked with Dr W. The Doctor [in passing Second street spoke of the driver's going the wrong way, and Mr. Clapp replied to it; there was conversation about the search. On getting into the jail office. Dr Webster spoke to Mr. Clapp, sayhig what does this meani' He replied, we have done looking for Dr Parkman, and you are in cus- tody for his murder. What, me.' Yes, you are in custody for the murder of Dr Parkman. IMr Clapp and Mr. Spurr left me to find the Marshal or S. D. Parker. Mr. Clajjp made out a mittemus which he handed to me, saying do not commit the doctor until we come back. Mr. Clapp had searched him before this time. Immediately after they went out, Dr Webster called for water and drank several times. He asked rae if they had found Dr. Parkman; I told him I wished he would not ask me any questions, as it was not proper for me to answer them. He said, you might tell me something about it; ■where did they find himi Did they find the whole ofthebodyi' How came they to suspect mei' O, my children, what will they do.' what will they think ol me? where did you get the information.'' I asked him then if anybody had access to his private apartments but hiniself. Nobody has access to my private apartments, but the porter who makes the fires. After a pause, he said, Oh, that villain; I am a ruined man! He paced the floor, wringing his hands; he then would sit down. I noticed him put his hand to his vest pocket, and then to his mouth. In a moment he had a spasm like a man in a fit. I asked him if he had taken any thing; he rephed no. I thought by his appearance, he had. I asked him if he was sure. He said he had not. I lifted him up, and he paced the floor. I was vjith him an hour, when Mr Clapp came back and told me to commit him. I ■went to the doctor and told him I must commit him. I took hold of his right hand, and he could not stand. I asked Mr Cnmmings, an attendant at the jail, to assist me. We led him to the lock up. I told Mr Cummings the Doctor had been taking something, and insisted upon sending for a physician. Mr Clapp thought it was not best, unless he grew ■worse; we might look to him every few minutes. We laid him into a berth; he could not get in him- self; we laid him on liis side, and he turned over on his face. lie a), peared like a nmn in a fit; never saw a man in just such a condition. In three quar- ters of an hour I met the Doctor at the Medical College. WHien we got there, there were several persons tn the laboratory. I was present at the breaking open of the back private room door, and the door of the privy. While in the lower laboratory, some one inquired where the furnace was. Mr Littlefield pointed it out. While hi the laboratory, the doctor appeared much agitated; more than while up stairs. I went down witli air Littlefield to help up take the remains. I do not recollect that Dr W. said any thing at the time of looking at the remains, except asking for some water. He look the water and spilt it over him in trying to drink. I remained at the College in the day time, but not nights. I have in my possession some fish hooka and twine. These were found just as they are, in Dr Webster's private room. There are three on one grapple, and two on another. I saw them fii-st on Friday night, and took them on Saturday. They were rolled up in a paper and laid on a shelf, in the back private room, adjoining the laboratory. There was a ball of twine in the same room. A sinker was also found with them. They were done up in a newspaper. [These articles were now submitted to the Jury.] On Saturday there was a general search. I was in the upper laboratory in the after- noon, when I heard my name called by some one in the lower laboratory. I went down, when I saw Mr Fuller carrying a tea chest to the back part of the room; [pointing out the place on the model.]— I saw the remains taken from the chest; on the thigh was some twine; Icut off a piece of this twine; [exhibiting it;] I had cliarge of certain keys—twenty f*ur—found on the premises. I found all but one in Dr Webster's back private room on a shelf, tied up tog(3ther. [Objections were here raised by the defence against the testimony proposed to be introduced that these ieys fitted other apartments of the Col- lege besides his own rooms. The Government claimed the necessity of admitting this testimony, because Dr Holmes had stated that Dr Webster's apartments were entirely distinct from the rest of the College, and because Dr Webster had accounted for the possession of these keys by stating that he found them in the street. Testimony allowed.] One of these keys fits the door of the dissecting room; another the front door of Dr Webster's lec- ture room, also the store room door, below. This last one has the marks of having been filed. Anoth- er key before me fits the outer door of the building above the steps, and the door below. This was also found in the Dr's private room. In this room, where there had been drawers, the drawers had been taken out, and a closet made. In this closet were the keys. [The government proposed to shovV that wine and liquor were found in this closet. Ruled out as inadmissible. ] When Dr Webster was brought' to the Police Court for examination, I said to him, I found some keys in your room. He asked, what, them that are filed? I picked them up in Fruit street ajid threw them in there. Cross examined. I testified before the Coroner's Jury; made records from time to time while in search of Dr Parkman. I finished my records before I gave my testimony before the Coroner. I don't think I testified about Dr Webster's putting some- thing in his mouth at the jail oti'ce. On Friday, Nov. 30th, when I went to the College, I asked Mr Littlefield if there was not some private place in the College not yet searched. He said, no place but Dr Webster's privy; I asked if we could not look in there; he said we could not, for Dr Webster had the key, kept it himself, and had gone away. I told him I would come again in the morning, and see it. I then went away; I first saw the fish hooks on Fri- day, laid on the shelf; the keys were under the shelf in a drawer. All of these keys were found in the same place. While about getting into the carriage at Cambridge I recollect the Dr wished to go back for keys, when Mr Clapp told him we had enough. •I have given the exact words in the conversation at the jail. 1 took the words down at the time, while the Dr was talking.