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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![collecting his rents, &c. Saw him every day, and often three or four times a day; Dr. Parkman own- ed real estate around the Medical College; I live in Blossom street; my intercourse with the Doctor was upon business, and I would often call at his house. On the afternoon of the 23d, I wished to see him, and called at his house about 3 o'clock in the after- noon; the day previous 1 met him in Court street, but had no conversation with him. Vv hen I called Friday, was informed he had not been to dinner; did not find liim at home; he dined at 2 1-2 o'clock, and was very punctual in his habits. Think he nearly always dined at home. Not finding him, left ■word where I could be found by liim that afternoon. Called very early next morning, not having heard from him; he had not then returned. Kad conver- sation with Mrs. Farkman about making search; propositions were made to institute a search. Call- ed at his house at 1-4 before 8 in the morning, Sat- urday. Heard that he had an engagement th day previous, and 1 proposed to trace that engagement cut. I commenced to trace him from his house, and finally heard of his benig in Bromfield street at 1-2 past 12 Friday; next traced him into Washington street, tlien up Williams' cotirt to Court square, and from thence out through Cornhill square, by Joy's Buildings, and then to Washington, -Water and Devonshire streets to State street and the Post Of- fice. Thence into State and Court streets, into Green street, then to Vine street. Corner Vine and Blossom street found where he had left a bag con- taining lettuce; the boy in the store said it was left the day before (Friday) by Dr Parkman. I then heard of him in Fruit street, leading from Blossom to Grove. Traced him to the Medical College. Mr Trenholm, and some people in the neighbor- hood, assisted me in the search. The search was continued Saturday until about twelve o'clock at night. The police aided on Saturdaj', and continued to make the search. Think there were 12 or 15 persons, exclusive of the police, engaged in the search. Five or six houses were searched on Sat- urday evening. Advertisements were published in papers on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday fore- noon we searched through the city; in the afternoon a report that he was seen in East Cambridge called several officers in that direction. A great many houses were searched on Sunday. I went to East Cambridge on Monday forenoon; returned, and went to the Medical College. Mr Starkweather, police officer, was with me. We went all over the building, dissecting rooms, attic, &c.; looked into the large vault where they throw the remains of dissected bodies. Went into Dr. Webster's apartments; it was about 10 o'clock Monday forenoon; knocked at Webster's door; it was locked; some time elapsed before we entered; Littlefield said the Professor was in there. Two o'clock having arrived the Court adjourned till half-past 3 AFTEROON SESSION. Tlie prisoner came in at a quarter past 3 o'clock, attended by an olficer. After being seated, he enter- ed into conversation with his senior counsel. Judge Merrick. His appearance was perfectly self-pes- sessed, quiet and dignified. The court came in at half past three o'clock. Charles M. Kuigsley, resumed. After he had knocked once, Mr. Littlefield said the Professor was in there, and he thought he could make him hear; he then shook the door violently. After some minutes Prof. Webster unlocked the door; Mr. Littlefield said we came to look round, to see if we could learn any thhig of Dr. Parkman. It was the door leading to the lecture room. We proceeded through the lecture room, and down into the laboratory. The professor came down after us; he did not speak to either myself or Starkweather. He spoke to Littlefield. After leaving the College I went to East Cam=< bridge. Next day (Tuesday) officers Clapp, Rice and Fuller, accompanied me to the College. We knocked at the lecture room door as before, and the Professor opened it. We went into Littlefield's apartments and searched every room; Littlefield was out and in during the time; we made a thorough search; we thought we might find papers or some- thing. Leaving Littlefieid's ajiartments, we went through a traji door, beneath the College; Messrs. Fuller and Rice went down into the under apart- ment, and were absent about fifteen minutes. We were not kept waiting so long at the Professor's apartments, as the day previous; he came and un- locked the door; Mr. Clapp had some conversation with him; Mr. CIa])p told him we came to search all parts of the college, and should search the houses in the neighborhood. Mr. Clapp spoke very politely to Webster, and said they did not suspect any one about the college, but were obliged to go where they were sent. Mr. Webster said we could look. We walked through the next room, and then Mr. Clapp made a motion to enter the back private room, adjoining the labo- ratory; the principal laboratory is one .story below; when Mr. Clapp started towards the private room, Prof. Webster said there were valuable and dangerous articles there. Mr. Clapp put his head in and then returned; we then went into the lower laboratory; in the upper laboratory I stood near the furnace; my attention v.as directed to examine the furnace by a Mr. Fuller, who lived in the neighbor- hood; he told me to examine the ashes; in the low- er laboratory there was no fire, and the ashes ap- peared to have been just swept up. During this time, the Prof, was talking to Mr. Clapp; I went to the south west corner of the room, where there was considerable rubbish, a bar- rel or two, &c; saw a tea chest with tan in it, also a lot of minerals. A question was asked about the key of the privy; Dr. Webster's private privy, it was called. He, or some one else said the key was hanging at the other end of the room. On going- down stairs observed water on the steps; saw it the first day I went in, and this time it did not appear to have dried up at all; when we left, Mr. Webster remained inside, shut the door after us. The search was kept up till Friday. The officers had no sus- picions of any one in the college, and said they came in to look round in order to say that they had searched the college. I gave no orders, but only accompanied the officers; my suspicions might have been discredited by them. Wednesday and Thursday the search was not so active as it had been. Thursday was Thanksgiv- ing day. I believe 1000 dollars rew'ard was offered on Monday, and 3000 dollars on Wednesday; hand- bills were generally posted in the city and towns. On Friday night I wert to the Medical College in company with several others; previous, about four o'clock, I went with officerStarkweather, and called at Littlefieid's apartments; had heard that Littlefield had borrowed tools to break through the walls.— Soon after we called Littlefield came out from his apartments. There were marks of mortar en his overalls; I ascertained what Littlefield was about; before ringing the door bell I put my ear to the wall, and heard some one at work on the biick walls. I was not at the jail office when Prof. Webster was arrested. About 10 o'clock that (Friday) night, I went to the jail and saw Prof. Webster after his arrest. Mr Parker, the County Attorney, Dr. Gay, officer Starkweather, and others were present. On enter- ing the cell, under the jail ofiice. Prof. Webster laid upon a bench w iih his face downwards. He said he was not able to get up; Dr. Gay talked with him, and tried to soothe and comfort him; he seemed un- der great excitement, so much so that I thought he would not live; on carrjing him up stairs into the jail office, he called for water, but could not drink it; I held the tumbler to his li.ps; he apparently had no control of his anus and hands, and gnashed his teeth at the tumbler, spilling the water over him.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083617_0015.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
