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
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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![h-mself. Mr Waterman told him if he was to sol- der it up himseli; he should have a holder made to hold the tin down while lie Soldered it. I told him I would have it done by Saturday night; he wished it earlier. I fiuallv promised to have it done by 12 o'clock on Saturday. Dr W. spoke as though he had no doubt Ur Tarkman went over to Cambridge. SAMUEL N. BROWN called and sworn. I am one of the toll gatherers on Cambridge bridge. 1 knew the late Dr Farkman; know also Dr Webster. On the day of the arrest of Dr Webster, Nov. 3U, I was in a grocery store at the corner of Cambridge and Grove streets about 4 o'clock; saw Dr Webster pass by the window; I went out and walked with him to the toll house: I asked him if he could recog- nize that $20 bill—referring to a bill I tofik in the morning. On the morning of this same day 1 was on the Cambridge side of the bridge, when an Irish- man came along and offered me this bill to take out one cent for toll. I changed it, and carried it to the other toll house. MrHadley said he had not money enough to keep it, and I went home for money for that purpose. Mr Hadley, in depositing the toll money, left word of this bill at the Marshal's office. The bill was on the Freeman's Bank. I asked Dr Webster if he recognized that bill; he said he could not; the money he paid Dr Parkman was some of it in large and some in small bills, received of stu- dents. I had not heard any suspicions made known in connecting' this with the disappearance of Dr Parkman. I had no further conversation with Dr W. I saw Dr Parkman last, before his disappearance, on Wednesday or Thursday. Dr Parkman came to the toll-house, between 11 and 1 o'clock, and asked if I had seen Dr Webster on that day. I told him I had not. In a few minutes Dr Parkman passed over the bridge in a chaise, with a white horse.— This was the last time I saw him. He had twice before, in a few days, been at the toll-house to in- quire if I had seen Dr Webster. Cross-examined. This conversation with Dr. Webster I mentioned to Mr Hadley, when I got to the toll-house. BETSEY BENT COLEMAN, called and sworn. I live at East Cambridge. I know Dr Webster; I saw him on Friday, the day of his arrest, at my house, at four o'clock in the afternoon. He called in reference to Dr. Parkman. I told him I thought I saw Dr Parkman on Thursday, the day before his disappearance. Ke had on dark clothes at the time. 1 asked Dr Webster if he had heard anything of him. He said there had been a coat picked up, thought to be his, which had spots of blood on it. A hat had also been found. I said, Oh dear, then I am afraid he is murdered. He also said something about a $20 bill which had been offered by an Irisluuan for toll, which was thought suspicious. He asked me twice or three times if I was sure it was on Thurs- day. It was in the afternoon when I thought I saw him. I accompanied Dr W. to the door, when he repeated the inquiry again, with the remark, was it not on Friday. SAMUEL D. PARKER called and sworn. I did go to the Medical College on the night of Dr. Web- ster's arrest. I was at home at 8 o'clock on the evening of the 30th Nov. The door was opened and ten or fifteen gentlemen came in. I recognized Dr. Bigelow, the Slarshal, and others. After stat- ing the object of their visit, and talking over the matter, I advised tliatsome one should make a com- plaint, when Mr. Kingsley said he would make it. Dr. Martin Gay, a chemist, was sent for at my re- quest. We went to the jail, when Dr. Webster was brought up. Dr. Webster recognised Dr. Gay and myself. Water was handed him, but he could not drink ; lie seemed much agitated, and expressed much fccJing for liis wife and children. He wished that Franklin Dexter and Wm. H. Prsecott should be sent for. When he spoke of the distress of his wife and children, I tsld him there was another fam- ily too in great distress. I said to the otlicers that Dr. Webster was not to be interrogated. We went from the jail to the College. While in the fabora; tory, Mr. Andrews, the jailor, called my attention to the bones in the furnace. On going in, we ])assed through the lecture room. • I remember Dr. Web- ster's asking for water, and the difficulty he had in drinking it. When the remains were brought up, Dr Gay was asked if the remains were those of a human being, and belonged to the same person ? He answered in the atraniative. When the door of the privy was forced, and the seat was taken up, Mr Andrews noticed some spots he thought to be blood. Mr Dexter was not sent for that night. 1 was pre- sent at the Police Court when Dr Webster was arraigned. No examination took place at the time. [The testimony of Mr. Parker was very unintel- ligible, and but a small part of it was heard by the reporters.] JOHN N. CUMMINGS called and sworn. I am a watchman and turnkey at the jail. 1 was present on the night on which Dr. Webster was arrested. I first saw him when Mr. Clapp came back and told me to commit him. When Mr. Starkweather took hold of him, he did not seem to have the use of his limbs. Mr Starkweather and myself led him down to the lock up, and put him into bed. When I wens down for him, subsequently, he seemed much agita- ted, and said, I expected this. He took no notice of me when 1 first spoke to him ; he afterwards threw his arms around Mr. Jones's neck as though he was fighting ; we carried him up stairs and set him down in the back office. Mr Leighton and myself lifted him into th^ coach, and, with Mr. Pratt, went down to the College. We lifted him out and heljjed him up the steps. We were detained a few minutes on the steps. At that time, I noticed he trembled very hard, and had a cold sweat upon him. While they were searching the little back room, the Dr, then standing in the other private room, said, when they took up a coat, That is the coat I lecture in. See- ingl them continue their search, he said, I do not know what they want there ; they will not And any thing. On returning to the carriage, we assisted him to get in, and rode backwith him to jail. While riding back, 1 noticed that his pantaloons were quite wet ; also noticed the same thing afterwards. We carried him down to the jail from the office. Twice in the ninht we went down to see him ; found him in the same distressed condition, lying on his back. I remember Mr Littlefleld's going after the hatchet while in the College, and returning with it. GUSTAVUS ANDREWS called and sworn. I am the keeper of the jail. I remember the night of Dr Webster's arrest. I first saw him at the Medi- cal College that night. I entered the College through the shed, and went to the lower laboratory, ftuite a number of gentlemen came down the stairs at the time, and one of them, Mr Parker I believe, called my attention to the furnace. 1 went to the furnace, and after taking out some pieces of bones, I turned round and saw Dr Webster coming in, with the oflicers in charge. While in the room where the remains were placed, he exhibited great distress. I asked Mr Parker if he wanted anything more of Dr Webster ; he replied he had nothing to say. I or- dered a carriage, and found Dr Webster was unable to get in—his limbs appeared to be stiff. The first words he said, after getting into the carriage, were, Why don't they ask Litltefleld ; he can explain all this ; he has the care of the College. They wanted me to explain, but did not ask me. Wliat will my family think of my absence. I tlien said. My dear sir, I pity you ; I am sorry for you. You pity me ; you are sorry for me ; what for i I said. To see you so excited ; I hope you will be calm. He said, Oh, that's it. On Saturday forenoon, when Dr Webster was able to sit u]), he said, that is no more Dr Park- man's body than it is mine; but how in the world they [the remains] came there 1 don't know. He then said, I never liked the looks of Littletield, the Janitor; I opposed his coming there, all I could. I noticed the dampness of Dr Webster's clothes -](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083617_0042.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
