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

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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$He had always devoted his attention to Chemis- try. It was no new thing lor Professor Webster to be locked up in his laboratory, days or nights. It was his common and ordinary practice. They shonld show that Prof. Webster left the col- lege at a reasonable hour; and how he passed the night. They might, also, introduce some testimony to contradict statements made by the government. This was the extent of tlie information they felt bound at present to communicate. [Mr Sohier spoke about two hours and a quarter, and was listened to with deep attention.] Covvect Po2-srals of Pa'wf- John W JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM called and sworn. I reside at Cambridge; am acquain ed with Prof Webster; have known him nearly 30 years; have lived uer him for 17 years; his general reputation as a man of peace and liumanity, I have never heard called ill question. JOHN G. PALFREY called and sworn. I have been ficquainted with Prof Webster for 15 years.— His character for peace I have never heard dis- cussed. [Objections were here raised by the Attorney Gen- eral against the manner in wliich the witness was questioned—he should be questioned upon his repu- tation, rather than his character, or the estimation in whicli lie was held by tlie individual.] MR PALFREY. I suppose Dr Webster has been esteemed as rather a petulant man; yet his passion was calm, and would exhaust itself in words. JOHN H. BLAKE called and sworn. I reside in Boston; have been acquainted with Prof Webster 25 years; was in his laboratory 5 years. His repu- tation as a peaceable man, I have not heard ques- tioned; have never heard of any acts of violence committed by him. REV. I)R WALKER called and sworn. I have been acquainted with Prof Webster 15 years. I have never heard that he was other than a peacable and humane man; never heard any imputations of acts of violence made against him. FRANCIS BOWEN called and sworn. I have been acquainted v/ith Prof Webster about 20 years. I have been acquainted in the society in which he moved; Iris reputation is that of a man quickly ex- cited, but lacking in depth of passion; he quickly gets over his passion. I have never known any acts of violence imputed to him. PROF. JOS. LOVERING called and sworn. I reside at Cambridge; am acquainted with Dr Web- ster; have been acquainted with him 20 years. His reputation is that of a peaceable, humane, and quiet man. GEORGE P. SANGER called and swoin. I re- side in Charlestown. I have been acquainted with Prof. Webster 12 years. Hi's reputation for peace and humanity is very good. I have never heard any acts of violence charged against him. REV. DR. CONVERSE FRANCIS called and swoni. I reside at Cambridge. I have been ac- quainted with Prof. Webster as a neighbor since 1842. His reputation as a peaceable, quiet and hu- mane man has been entirely honorable and satisfac- tory. ABEL WILLARD called and sworn. I reside in Cambridge. I have been acquainted with Professor Vvebster twenty years. His reputation as a quiet and humane man is good. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN caHed and sworn. I reside in Cambridge. I have been acquainted with Prof. Webster twenty years. His reputation as a peaceable, quiet and humane man has been very high as a neiglibor. I have never heard any acts of violence imjjuted to him. JOEL GILES called and sworn. I reside in Boston in winter and in Cambridge in sumn\er. 1 am a Counsellor at Law. I have known Professor Webster since 1629. His reputation as a peaceable, quiet and humane man has been good, so far as my knowledge goes. I have never heard any acts of vi- olence imputed to him. EDMUND T. HASTINGS, called and sworn. I reside at Meford. I have been acquainted with Prof. Webster since 1825; I lived in Cambridge till 1834; I never beard his reputation questioned, as a peaceable, quiet and humane man, until his arrest. JOHN A. FULTON called and sworn. I reside in Cambridge; am a painter hy occupation; I have been acquainted with Professor Webster for twelve years; I have never heard otherwise tlian that he was a quiet, peaceable, aimable gentleman. I never heard any acts of violence imputed to him. Cross-examined. I never witnessed any acts of violence by him. Never knew him to be a petulant man. I knew of the decoration of a Hall in which he took part; he was sorry that the decoration did not go on; I did not know of his manifestation of anger in putting down decorations. JAMES D. GREEN, called and sworn. I reside in Cambridge. I have been acquainted v.'ith Prof. Webster somewhat from fifteen or twenty years.. He has been regarded as a peaceable, quiet, and hu- mane man. C. W. HOVEY, called and sworn. I reside in Cambridge. I have known Prof. Webster twenty or twenty-five years. His character, I believe, has been high, as a peaceable and humane man. DAVID TREADWELL, called and sworn. I re- side m Cambridge. I was connected with the Col- lege many years. I have known Prof. Webster nearly tliirty years. He has been esteemed as a peaceable, quiet, and humane man; somewhat irri- table, but a peaceable and harmless man. NINTH DAY. TnuRSD»y, March 2?. NATHANIEL I. BOWDITCH called and sworn . I reside in Boston. I have known Prof. Webster about thirty years. His reputation is that of a mild, amiable man, but rather irritable. J. D. HEDGE called and sworn. I have known Dr Webster for a quarter of a century. I have knowta him as a nervous and excitable man, but not pas sionate. JAMES KAVANAH called and sworn. I lived three years witli Prof Webster; have known him 15 years. His reputation as a man of humanity is high, peaceable. ABRAM EDWARDS called and sworn. I reside in Cambridge; have knov.'u Prof Webster fifteea yeai's. I have never known to the contrai-y but that he was a man of peace and humanity. PELEG W. CHANDLER called and sworn. I have knowm Prof Wetster twelve years. His repu- tation is that of a man of peace, a mild man, defi- cient iu strength of nassion.$