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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![him. The officers accompanied me into the lal)ora- tory; it was the lower one; I saw pieces of cinders with bones mixed with it; Mr Clapp tooiv a piece in his hand. I directed the officers to leave everything Rs they were, aid left. I next sent officers to Cambridge for Dr Webster, and called ujion Mr Parker, the county atlorney. [A box containing the fiagments of bones, tee h, &c., taken from the grate, was here opened by Mr Tukey, and he testified to its having been in his pos- session since the coroner's inqnest; the knife found in the tea clu st was also shown. These things will be nnt into the case hereafter.] Witness continued. I did not go into the college again tliat night; was on the outside of the building during the evening. Cross examined. The flist handbill was written by me, 1 think Saturday night, but was not printed till Sunday. On entering the aperture made through the brick wall, we were about one foot from a line with tlie hole of the privy over head. The remains were lying a little to one side from a direct line with the hole of the privy; can't tell the precise distance. Can't say which particular piece of the remains was most directly in a line with the hole. They lay a little toward the north wall. I think the tide must ebb and flow through the outer wall of the building. The water might flow through the crevices of the wall, but no solid substances. I only looked through the hole. CALVIN IVIOORE called and sworn. I reside at corner of Vine and Bridge streets; I knew Dr. Park- man; saw him last on the 23d of Nov; he was at the corner of Vine and Blossom, in Mr. Holland's store. I went into the store to purchase something; it v/as between one and two o'clock, and while I was there, Dr. Parkman came in from the direc- tion of Vine street; think it was from 10 to 20 min- of 2 o'clock. I fix the time By oflicers calling upon me next day to ask if I had seen him;Jthis called my ■attention t© the matter. The Dr. bowed to me, and spoke to Mr. Holland about purchasing some -sugar; wanted to know if Holland had anything to put it in; he pointed to a biucket, and the Doc- tor t&ld him to put it up. While it was weighing, the Dr. inquired alxiut some butter; ordered some butter, which weighed 6 pounds. The Dr. came round and spoke to me about the weather. He ■was in there perhaps five or ten minutes. He left, going OLrt of the Blossom street door, and hesitated, and 1 thought stooped over the counter and spoke to Mr. Holland as he was going. Did not notice the direction he went. Cross examined by Mr Sohier. My house is near Mr Holland's store. I never saw the doctor slow ; he appeared as he always did, quick and prompt; it ■ did not strike me -that he appeared in a hurry. I fixed the time as near as I can; I was examined be- fore the Coroner's inquest; I fixed the time at 20 to 10 minutes before 2 as the hour I^saw him in the store, when Mr Kingsley and the' officers called on Bie the next day. It was Saturday afternoon, about 4 or 5 o'clock. .1 told Kirigsley I saw the doctor. I fixed the time after Kingsley left me. MRS MOORE called and sworn. (Wife of the previous wjuiess.) Reside at the corner of Vine and Bridge streets; knew Dr. Parkman by sight. Did not see him on Friday, 23d Nov. I remember send- ing my son George to school; it was ten minutes ■befor»2 o'clock. Fie was on the side-walk; told • George I was afraid he would be lat-e at school. I .just looked at the clock, and the time is fixed in my mind. My attention was called to the time about a '■week afterwai'ds. Cross examined by Sohier. 1 fix the time at ^Friday the 23d of November, because my attention •was called to it afterwards. George called my at- ■ tention to it in speaking of Dr. Parkman. It was in a simple conversation with George in my cham- •ber. I know it was Friday; I know it was the 2Sd • day of November, and know it wanted 10 minutes tto 2 o'clock. I The cross-examination was rather i-vexatious to the witness.] .GJEO. F. MQQRE, called and .sworn, (son of the previous witnesses.) Am 12 years old; live at the corner of Vine and Bridge streets; I known Dr Parkman; I saw him on the Friday, 23d Nov.; I heard Saturday he was missing and by this I fixed tke time; I saw him in Fruit street at 10 minutes before 2 o'clock; 1 was looking at a trucjv which was stuck in the mud; Dr Parkman was passing do-wn Fruit street towards Grove street. A map of the streets in proximity to the College, was here shown witness who pointed out the local- ity of the Iron Foundry. !t was 10 minutes before 2 o'clock, as my motlror called me, saying it was ten minutes to 2 o'clock, and I must go to school. I said to a boy named Dwight Prouty, Jr., a school-mate: There goes Dr Parkman. We then went to school, in Pinckney street. Got there just before the time. School be- gins at 2 o'clock. Cross examined by Sohier. Don't recollect when I saw Dr Parkman before; saw him frequently; he passed close by me. Next day in the afternoon I tuld my mother I saw him. Wednesday, March 20. 1850.- GEORGE PROUTY, jr., sworn. I am thirteen years old; go to school with George Moore. I saw Dr. Parkman on Friday, 23d of November, at 10 minutes before 2'clock. I lelt my home at 44 Bridge street, at fifteen minutes before 2; I frequently have seen Dr Parkman; he passed by us. George's mother told him it was time to go to school; we were looking at a truck. The Doctor went down Fruit street towards Grove. George's mother spoke to hini just as the doctor passed. The trucks was stuck in Fruit street, the horses heading towards the iron foundry. Cross examination not material. ELIAS FULLER, called and sworn. I carry on the iron foundry known as Fuller's Foundry/. It is situated on North Grove street, on the west sidej I knew Dr. Parkman, and saw him frequently; he had a claim on the land on which my foundrj' was built. I saw him on the 23d of November, between half past one and 2 o'clock. I stood in front of my counting-room in North Grove street, waiting to see a man who had made an appointment to mee; me at 2 o'clock. The man's name is .Joseph Annist saw the doctor a few minutes before 2 o'clock, aa near as I can recollect; I looked at a watch, or re- quested my brother to do so, while waiting to see Mr Annis; at one time when he looked it wanted 20 minutes of 2. After Dr Parkman passed he'looked at his watch again; I waited a very few minutes af- ter the doctor passed and then went oft' with Mr Annis; the doctor went towards the Medical Col- lege; a truck with a load of pig iron for us, was stuck in the mud in Fruit street about the time. The doctor bowed when he passed me. He crossed the street to the sidewalk wiiere I stood, and went in the direction of the college. Did not look after him. Cross examined by Sohier. He was walking very fast; wore a dark frock and dark pantaloons. ALBERT FULLER, called and sworn. I am en- gaged in carrying on the iron foundry; have known Dr Parkman some two years; on the 23d Nov. I saw him cross the street in front of our building, and go towards the Medical College; he came within about 12 feet of me; saw him bow to my brother. I stepped out to see if he was going into our counting room. He did not enter the counting-room, but passed on toward the college; I saw him when he was about forty or fifty feet from the college. It was between half-past 1 and 2, and near 2 o'clock. I remained there all the afternoon weighing iron. I have never seen the doctor since. My jilace is in front of Fruit street, and I think no one could leave the college without passing in sight oi' where I was at work. There are two ways by which you can leave the college, both in sight oi' my place. My brother Elias inquired the time of day of me. I heard next day the doctor was missing.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21083617_0018.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
