Newspaper Page Text
[ Concluded. ] ! ,
“it is strange that I can’t find those papers.” i
He got up and went to a trunk which was un- I
der the table in the front room, and then went j
back to the account book on the centre ta
ble. lie then had some conversation with :
Mr. Thompson. He then sat down in a chair j
and said, “my ticket man told-me that Dr. P. |
came to him and demanded what money he j
had in his possession for tickets sold. My i
ticket man refused to let him have the money;
thereupon Dr. P. told my ticket man that I
was ad and rascal and a scoundrel.” Says
Dr. w., “I thought hart! of it at the time, but
I don’t care about it now, as I have settled
with Dr. P., and it is all over.”
witness was present at the different search
es of the Medical College, and was the one
who discovered the remains in the tea chest;
all of which was miyutely described, and cor- ‘
responded with preceding testimony.
S. Parkman Blake, is a relative of Dr. P.,
and took active part in the search. Called !
on Dr. w. the Monday after his disappearance,
to learn the particulars of his interview with
Dr. P. Asked him to recollect what money I
he paid him, as it might lead to a discovery.
He said that he could recollect but one bill
—a 8100 bill on the New Kngland Bank.—
Asked him if lie had the notes of Dr. P. He
answered in the affirmative, but in a way to
make a strong impression on his mind. He
appeared confused, witness bad been ac
quainted with the Doctor for a good many
years. Noticed that his manner was singu- j
lar on first entering his room. He seemed to
want that cordiality and politeness that is usu
al to him.
His manner when speaking of Dr. P. being
angry, was singular. He made no expression
of sympathy; this witness thought strange, i
when every person you met in the streets ex- j
pressed so much sympathy with the family ol
Dr. P. Mad*? no inquires as to the search.
He said very little about it. He made no
inquiries at all about the family of Dr. Park
man.
Charles B. Starkweather, policeman, was
one of the party who went out to arrest Prof,
w. on Friday night, the 30th of Nov. Mr.
Clapp and Mr. Spurr were with him. The I
Dr. talked very freely while coming in, about
the railroad, and a Mrs. Bent who had seen
Dr. P. on Friday. And he wanted to drive
round over to the port to see her. while in
the back office of the jail. Dr. w. asked wit
ness if they had found Dr. P. Told him 1
wished he would not ask me any questions, j
as it was not proper for me to answer them. !
He said, “you might tell me something about j
it.” “where did they find him?” “Did they j
find the whole of the body?” “How cams ;
they to suspect me?” “O, my children, what
will they do ?” “O, what will they think of
me?” “when did they get the information ?”
I asked the Doctor if anybody had access to
his private apartments but himself,” “Nobody ;
has access to my private apartments but the
porter who makes the fire.” There was a
pause of a minute and a half, when the Dr. i
added, “that villain, lam a ruined man.”— 1
There was no further conversation. The Dr.
walked the floor wringing his hands, after
which he sat down.
I saw the ur. put his hand to his vest pock- ;
ot and put it up to his mouth; and in a mo
ment he stretched out in a spasm, as if in a
lit. I went to him and said, “Dr., haven’t
you been taking anything,” and he said he
had not. I then helped him up from the I
settee, and he walked the floor. I was with
him about an hour, and Dr. Clapp came
hack and told me to commit the Dr. 1 went *
to him and told him I must commit him. 1
took hold of his right arm and he could not i
stand. I asked Mr. Cummings, one of the j
attendants, to take hold of him. He did, and
we led him to the lockup. 1 told Mr. Cum- !
mings that I thought he had been taking
something, and 1 thought that he had better i
send for a physician. I said this to Mr. C.
in the presence of the or., when we got to
the lockup underneath the office. Mr. Clapp
thought he had better not send for a physi- j
ciau, but go down every few minutes and
look to him. We had to lay the Dr. in his |
berth; we laid him upon his side and I
he turned over upon his face. He appeared
like a man in a fit. I never saw a man in
such a state in my life. 1 have seen a great
many men in a fit, but never one like him. I
left the Dr., and saw him about three-quarters
of an hour afterwards at the Medical Col
lege. j
The w itness assisted in the removal of the
remains, and exhibited to the jury some twine
and fish-hooks, arranged as grapples, found
in Dr. W.’s private room. Also testified in
regard to the bunch of keys, found in the same
place. One of them fits the dissecting room
door. A second tits the door of Dr. w.’s lec
ture room and the store room below. There ;
are two locks on the lecture room door lead
ing out into the front entry. This fits one
lock. This bears the marks of being tiled.—
This, a third, fits the front door of the up-
steps, • and the one below the stairs.—
When Dr. webster was brought to the Police
Court,in the judge’s room and Mr. Andrews
was there, witness said, “Dr. webster, I have
found some keys in your room.” “what,”
says he, “those that are filed ! I picked them
up in Fmit Street and threw them in.” These
were his words.
Charles B. Rice, policeman, corroborated
the testimony of other witnesses, in regard to
the search at the Medical College.
Samuel Lane, Jr., hard-ware dealer, re
collects that Dr. webster called at his store and
inquired for fishhooks, a few days after the
disappearance of nr- Parkman.
Si B. Kimball, clerk in same store, corrob
orated the above.
Jas. w. Edgorly, is in the Hardware busi
ness in Union St. Remembered the time of
ur. Parkman’s disappearance. A person
came into the store on Tuesday afternoon
about night, and inquired for the largest fish
hooks. I showed him the largest that I had
and he purchased six. witness identified
the hooks found in Prof, webster s rooms.
I think I have seen the person who brought
them; thiuk it was Prof, webster.
win. w. Mead, hardware dealer, sold three
large size fish-hooks to a person the Friday
after Thanksgiving, lie said he wished to
make a grapple. Thinks it was Dr. w.
Truman M. Tyler, had
no doubt that the twine found around the
thigh of the remains, and that attached to the.
fish-hooks, is one and the same thing.
Natli. waterman, tin plate worker, has
known Dr. w. 10 or 12 years. Saw him in
his shop; Nov. 30th. He described to wit
ness or. P.’s conduct when he paid him, and
also told the story of the cab. Spoke of hav
ing a tin box made, which he could solder up
himself. Never made one like it before.
The box came down from the work-shop, la
belled as it is now, but it was never called for
by and. w.
Chas. r.-Lothrop, Mr.. waterman's fore
man testified that p. w. called at the store
Nov. 30th, and ordered a tin box, 18 inuljfc
square by 13 inches deep. He said it waiHP
hold “books and so forth,” and was to to be
made of thick tin, and strong. He said that
all that was to keep the air out. He spke
about pr. r. going to Cambridge, as if he had 1
no doubt of it at all.
Sam’l N. Brown, tollman on Cambridge
Bridge, saw or. w. Nov. 30th, and walked
from Grove street to the toll-house with him, j
if he could recognize a 820 bill which witness j
had taken of an Irishman in the morning, in 1
payment of one cent toll. He could identify j
it as the money lie paid n. parkman. Saw Dr.
p. on Wednesday or Thursday before his dis
appearance. He then drove his horses over
the bridge. He had been down twiee at the
counting house, within four or six days, in
quiring for Dr. w.
Mrs. Betsey Bent Coleman, has knows Dr.
w. several years. About 4 o’clock on the day
of his arrest he called at her home, to inquire
what day she saw pr. p. Told him it was
Thursday before Thanksgiving, and he asked
if it was not Friday. He said that a cloak
or coat had been fished up, which was thought |
to be his, that had spots of blood on it; and
that there was a hat found likewise, which was
supposed to be his. Witness said—“Oh Dear!
then he’s gone!” He said—“We are afraid :
lie is.” lie said there was a 820 bill left at
the toll house by an Irishman. Witness ac
eompained pr. w. to the door when he asked
if it was not Friday witness saw nr. r.
Sam’l D. Parker, county attorney, was at
the jail on the evening of or. Webster’s arrest,,
and accompanied the party to the Medical
College. I did not suppose that there was
any tiling that he could not readily explain, j
to see him at the jail looking as calm and com
posed as he is now here; and 1 could not but
believe that Mr. Cummings, the watchman of
the jail was deceived when he represented what!
nr. Webster’s condition was. Two officers
went down and brought him up. He could j
not walk without assistance, and was led to j
an arm-chair and placed in it.
Ills agitation was such lie couldn’t guide
the water to his mouth. nr. Gay had to hold !
the back of his head with one hand, and placed
the water to his mouth with the other. 1 think
he got some water into his mouth. He ap- j
peared to be very much distressed, and par- 1
ticnlarlv as to the effect upon his family. Ii
remarked to him that there was another fami- j
ly who had suffered much during the past j
week. I said we all had duties to perforin, and i
they must be performed, and that one of them :
was to enter upon the investigation now called I
for by the extraordinary discovery supposed
to have been made at the Medical College, j
The allusions to his family were given in ex
clamations, such as “0, my children! O, my :
family, what will they think; what will they
do!” I commisserated his situation. I had j
known him long, and also his father before ‘
him. I not only spoke to him i:i the most
friendly manner to calm himself, so as to be i
able to give his attention to what was going on ;
forward, but requested Dr. Gay to urge the
same thing upon him; and that gentleman ad
! dressed him in a most sympathising manner.
I begged him to be calm; told him we had not
i come to injure him, but to have further search
j made at the college. I told him I understood
, one or two of his private apartments had not
i been opened, and we wanted him to go with us
jto see them opened. He said he. wished to
have Franklin Dexter and Win. 11. rresseott
; sent for. I told him it was kite, but they
i should have early notice the next-day.
Ho was taken to the college. I remember
ed his asking for the water about the time of
forcing the privy door open. There was the
; same difficulty of drinking there that I had ob
served at the jail office. I saw Clapp, eratt,
Littlefield and others strip and go down the
scuttle for the remains. They were passed up,
and placed on a board, nr. w. was behind me;
and at a distance of 10 or 12 feet. Nobody
•spoke to him, nor did i hear him speak.
John M. Cummings. Was in the jail on the
night that Dr. Webster was arrested. I went up
and laid toy hand on his shoulder, but he seemed
unable to walk, and we carried him down stairs |
to the lock-up. lie was put into, bed by Stark
weather and myself. lie spoke much about his
wife and family. Mr. S. Darker came in and
asked if he could see him. I went down and
told him to come up stairs, as Mr. Parker want
ed to see him. He took no notice of what I said. ,
I pulled at him, when he got up and said—“l ex- !
pected this.” lie was not able to move up ;
stairs, when I went back and told 31 r. Parker so.
The party, consisting ot'Dr. Gay, Mr. Parker, and
Coroner Pratt. Mr. Leighton, and Mr. Jones, then ,
went down. Mr. Leighton took hold of Dr. W..
who made a spring as if to put his arm about his
neck. He looked as if frightened. Jones and I
took him up, carried him into the back office, and
set him down in an arm chair. Leighton and I
went afterwards with Dr. Webster to the college.
We were detained a few moments before the ,
doors were opened. Dr. Webster trembled
very bad, and had a cold sweat on him. His
face was quite red. The weather was very
cold at the time. I went round with the Dr. all
the time, and overheard several remarks.—
When in the private room back of the laborato
ry, they came across a coat lying there. He said, j
“that is the coat I lecture in.” They were
searching the drawers, when he made the remark
—"I wonder what they want there; they won’t
find anything there.” We came to the coach at
the door, into which Dr. Webster had to be help
ed. His pantaloons and undercoat were quite j
wet. He had to be carried down to his cell in
the jail. He was left on the coach, and laid on
his back, and his head was raised high on the
pillow. I went down about 1 o’clock, and about
half-past “2. Hi was then in the same condi
tion, and was much distressed.
Gustavus Andrews, jailer, was present when
the remains were shown to Dr. Webster at the
Medical College. The first words he said in the
carriage were—" Why don’t they ask Littlefield
he can explain all this; he has the care of the dis
secting room. They wanted me to explain but
they did not ask me anything. “O, dear! what j
will my family think of my abscencq?” I then
said, “My dear sir, 1 pity you; and am sorry.”—
His reply was, “you pity me, and are sorry for
mo ! what for’” I repeated what 1 had said, and
that I was sorry to see him excited, and hoped
he would be calm. He said, “O. that's it! ’ No
more was said in the carriage, and we arrived
at the jail and put hint in his cell, with a lan
tern beside him. I don’t think he moved all
the night from the position he held that time. —
In the morning he wanted to be raised up at 7
o’clock. In the course of the forenoon he was
able to sit up in a chair. 1 said nothing to him
next morning, but he said to mo—" That is no
more Dr. Parkrnnn’s body than it is my body;
and how in the world it come here I do not
know.” He then said—"l never liked the look
of Littlefield the janitor. I opposed his coming
there all l could"—meaning the college. On the
previous night he was in a very unusual state of
perspiration. I have a letter in the hand-writ
ing of Dr. Webster, which came up from Dr.
Webster’s cell to me. The rule of the jail is that
all letters received or sent out of the prison, are
to lie submitted to the jailor. They are laid on
the table and sent out as opportunity others. I
decided not to let it go until the officers had asx
ed certain questions regarding it. Ihe follow
ing is a copy ol the letter in question,
Boston, Monday evening.
My Dearest Marianne. —I wrote mamma yes
terday, and Mr. C., who was here this morning,
told me he had sent it out. I had a good sleep
last night, and dreamed of you all. I got my
clothes off, for the first time, and awoke in the
morning quite hungry, it was a long time be
fore my” first breakfast from Parker’s came, and
it relieved me, I can assure you. At one o’clock I
was notified that I must appear at the Court
room. All was arranged with great regard to
j my comfort and avoidance of publicity, and this
first ceremony went off better than I anticipated.
| On my return I had a bit of turkey and rice
from Parker’s. They send me much more than
I can eat, and I have directed the steward to
distribute the surplus to any poor ones here.
If you will send me a small cannister of tea, I
can make my own. A little pepper I may want
some day; you can put it up to come with some
bundle. I would send the dirty clothes, but they
were taken to dry and have not been returned.
I send.a note I received to-day from Mr. Curtis.
Professors Pierce and Harsford called to-day.—
Half-a dozen Rochelie powders I should like.—
Tell mamma not to open the little bundle I gave
her the other day, but to keep it just as she re
ceived it. Hope vou will soon be cheered by re
ceipt of letters- from Fayal., With many kisses
to Good night, from your asst. father.
M y tongue troubles me yet very much, and 1 i
must have bitten it in my distress the other night;
it is painful and swollen, affecting my speech
somewhat
Had mamma better send for Nancy? I think
so, or aunt Amelia. *
Couple of colored neck-handkershiefs,
One mattress.
Eli C. Kingsley, postmaster at East Cambridge j
was shown a letter addressed to “Mr. Tukey, j
Coston,” which he recognized as one that was
dropped into his office Nov. 30th. It was known
that a strange looking letter directed to Marshal
Tukey was in the office, and there was so much
excitement about it that witness took it over to
Boston himself.
Francis Tukey was recalled to identify three j
anonymous letters. The first received by him
with the Boston post mark, of the 2Gth Novem- I
her; the second, the one spoken of by Mr. Kings
ley, above, and the third not described.
Mr. Clifford next stated to the Court, that he
would put in the evidence of experts, concern- j
ing the hond-wfitting of these letters; but as it ,
was now near the close of the daily cession, and ‘
daylight would be desirable for the examination,
he would not propose doing it to-night. The j
court, took time to deliberate on the admission ;
of the evidence, and will decide in the morn- ‘
ing. i
Eighth Dvy. —The Court mot Wednesday j
morning at TO. Nathaniel D. Gould, professor
of penmanship, examined the three anonymous |
letters addressed to Marshal Tukey, and thought I
they were all written by the same person. —
Thought it was Dr. Webster’s hand disguised, j
The testimony was objected to by the defence, •
but the court, ruled that it was admissible. Wit- j
ness gave his reasons for the opinion he had ex- I
pressed, and pointed out peculiarities and re- 1
semblances in peculiar letters and words. The :
name of Francis Tukey was written on the inside j
of one of the envelopes, and erased, apparently i
not by a pen. One of the letters written was j
sure could not have been written by a pen.
Mr. Semis called his attention to the erasure
on the notes, which he said could not have been
made with a pen, far the same reason he had
given in regard to the letter. There was the
same trace of fibres. Another attempt was made
by the government to introduce the instrument
found in the laboratory—but the defendant's
counsel objected. The court again decided that
it was inadmissible. The article attempted to
be introduced was a piece of reed, with a cotton
tied on it, found in a little saucer of ink under
Dr. Webster’s table. Mr. Bemis also exhibited
to the witness the notes, to prove that the word
; “panl” across the face were the defendant’s hand
i writting, and he said he should think they were:
Also, certain pencil marks on the notes. He al
! so asked some questions as to the memorandum
at the bottom of the account signed by Mr. Cun
| ningham, which was answered in the same man
ner.
j George C. Smith, engraver, has given consid
i erable attention to penmanship, and frequently
! been called into courts to give his opinion of
writtin \ Knows Dr. Webster's hand, and was
1 quite confident he wrote the letter signed “Civis.”
Is not so confident of the other two letters, but
thought they were his. The East Cambridge
; letter was not written with a pen or a brush.
It looks as if done with some soft instrument,
from the peculiar maimer in which the shading
is done. The erasures on the two notes could
; not have been made with a pen.
Mr. Bemis here read the three anonymous let
ters addressed to Marshal Tukey, copies of
which we give below.
Dear sir! you will find Dr. Parkman murdered
on Brookling Heights, Yours, M.
Captain of the Dart.
j Dr. Parkmanwas toik o;i Board ship Hercu-
I lure and this is all I dare to say as ! shall be
! killed.
East Cambridge one of
the men
[On the second page:]
gave me his Watch but T was fraid to keep it and
threw it in the water right side the road to the
long bridge Boston
TF.SI'IMONY FOR THE DEFE.YCE.
Sixteen witnesses were introduced before
the court adjourned, all of whom were well
acquainted with Dr. Webster, and testified as
to the general estimation in which he was
held as a humane, peaceable and amiable
man. None of them ever hoard any act at
tributed to him which was incompatible with
this general reputation, though several testi
fied that he was of a hasty and irritable tem-
I per, but lacked depth or strength of passion,
t The testimony of these witnesses was so sim
ilar that it is unnecessary to repeat it, but we
give a list of their names; Hon. Jos. T Buck
ingham, Hon. John G. Palfrey, John 11.
Blake, Dr. Jas. Walker, Francis Powen,
I Prof. Joseph Lovering, George P. Sawyer,
Dr. Converse Francis, Abel M illard, Joseph
Chamberlain, Hon. Joel Giles, Edward T.
Hastings, John A. Fulton, James B. Greene,
C McHenry, and Daniel ‘Breadwell. •
Ninth D vy. The following persons were
called and sworn, and severally testified to
the peaceable and humane reputation which
Dr. Webster has hitherto sustained. 11. J.
Powditeh. J. B. Henry, James Cavanaugh,
Abraham Edwards, Peley W. Chandler, Esq.
Dr. Morris Wyman, President Sparks, and
Robert Apthorp.
Charles O. Eaton sworn. Is a sign and
ornamental painter, and has frequently made
diagrams for Dr. Webster. Often had occa
sion to call at the medical college to see the
: doctor, and frequently found his doors bolt
ed inside. The last time witness was there
Novembr 12.
Daniel S. Greene, of Cambridge—Was at
the toll house on Sunday evening. Two or
three men came there, and one of them said
he had f barge of the building, and Dr. Park
man had been there, and paid Dr. Webster
forty odd dollars. I was sitting back in the
; toll house. I understood him first that he
saw the money paid, but afterwards he said
he did not. I understood him to say that he
saw the man go out. He referred to Dr.
Parkman. The day he spoke was Friday.
■ * Judge S. P. P. Fay sworn. Ain well ac
quainted with Prof. Webster; for fifteen
years lived near him. Have always under
’ stood him to be an amiable man, somewhat
subject to nervous excitement. Recollect
the Friday of Dr. Parkman,s disappearance,
Saw Prof. Webster on that evening at Mr.
Tyler’s, a little south of Dr. W ebster’s house.
I came in about 9 o’clock. Professor
Webster appeared as usual. Had a good
deal of conversation with him. Saw him
during the weak following several times. I
was at his house on evenings—Monday and
Tuesday, in consequence of the disappear
ance of Dr. Parkman, to make enquiries.
Spent a portion of Monday evening; two or
i three hours there; was invited to play whist
and sat down with him.
Joseph Kidder —Druggist in Court street,
; testified that Prof. Webster called at his
store, about 4 or 5 o’clock on the afternoon
of Dr. Parkman’s disappearance, and pur
chased some cologne. It was previous to
j lighting the lamps.
Miss Maryanne Webster sworn. Am
daughter of Prof. Webster. My father was
at home at tea the Friday of Dr. Parkman s
disappearance’ a little before 6 o’clock. He*
was at home until 8 o’clock. He went to a j
neighbor’s house with us —mv sisters, my j
mother and myself. Father waited upon ustji
to a party , and then left us. W e got home j
about."half past 12o’clock, and he let us in. !
He retired to his room about 1 o clock; am
positive. We all went up together. W here j
he was while I was at the party I do not |
know of my own knowledge.
On Saturday I did not breakfast with the
; family. I first saw him at 1 o’clock. After
dinner I did not see him till towards night.
I was not at home in the afternoon. Saw
! him at tea. He was at home in the evening.
Spent the evening in reading. My father
read aloud. Am certain that he was at home
at tea. Saw him before he was called to
tea. Can’t call to mind seeing my lather
Sunday till I saw him at the college chapel.
He went from the chapel to take a walk. I
then saw him at dinner, earlier than usual;
usually dined at one —because my father
was going to ton'll. He then went in. I knew
that he was going in the morning. Under
derstood that he was going in tor the pur
pose of going to Dr. Francis Parkman’s to
inform him that he had paid Dr. Geo. Park
man a sum of money.
I My father was at home on Monday. \\ e
dine at 2, and he came home just at dinner i
time. I think he was not at home in the at- j
j ternoon. Saw him again at 6 o’clock at tea. j
He was at home that evening ; were playing
whist. 1 retired about 10. My father was j
in the house at the time.
He was at home to dinner on Tuesday, j
i He was at home a short time after dinner, i
! but after that I can’t recollect. lie was at I
home at tea, and he passed the evening at
home till about 10 or 11. We were playing
| whist. My father generally breakfasted at
, home with the family.
On Wednesday my father was at home at
j dinner. Saw him at home about 11 o’clock.
He came in at that hour. I was in the din
ing-room, and he came in and spoke to me
about a book I was reading. He then went
out in the garden, and worked till dinner
j time. lie was at home that afternoon till
20 minutes past. 0, when he went out with
me and my sister, and returned about half
| past 10, when I retired, and less him sit
i ting in his dressing room.
On Thanksgiving day, my father was at
home all.day and evening. He did not go
into Boston at all that day. First saw him
;on Friday at dinner. He was at home part
oi‘ the afternoon, about half an hour after
dinner. He was at home a part of the eve
ning ; he came home at sunset Have a sister
iat l’ayal; have pretty constant intercourse
between the family here and the family there.
| I keep a journal, from which I write to Fay
! al what transpires here, and I have refreshed
my memory from this journal. My father
: was in the habit of sending plants to Fayal
lin air tight boxes. lie was in the habit of
j having articles sent from Fayal, such as sub
marine plants. Did not know that there
! were any plants being got ready to send.
[Miss Webster is an interesting young la
day of about 17 years, and gave her testimo
ny in a very becoming manner. Her ap
: pearnnee in coart created some sensation.]
Miss Harriet P. Webster—daughter of
Prof. W., testified in reference to the pres
i once of her father at home for the few days
. j preceding his arrest, her evidence agreeing
‘j w ith that of her sister, received above. Wit
: ness is a young lady of interesting appear
ance, apparently about 15, and gave her tes
| tiinony with intelligence and propriety,
i Ann Fannigan. Sworn on the Bible, slie
being a Catholic. I live in Dr. W’s family.
1 went there on the 15th of Nov. of a Fri
| day. The Dr. usually breakfasted from 7 1-2
;to .8 o’clock. 1 had been there two weeks
when he was arrested. He usually dined at
! 2 o’clock. On Wednesday he came out ear
lier than usual from Boston; he came into
! the kitchen at 12 o’clock. I thought, seeing
! him, that it was 2 o’clock, and 1 looked at
! the clock and saw it was but 12 o’clock. He
i went out into the garden to work ; he got
his breakfast at home every day while I was
i ’ there. I first missed him from the breekfast
; | table tiie morning after his arrest,
! Miss Catherine P. Webster sworn. Am a
daughter of Dr. W. I recollect seeing my
father on Friday afternoon at between half
i past five and six. -Did not see him again until
about 10. On Wednesday lie came home at
about half past 11. He spent the evening
with me at Mr. Cunningham’s, in the city,
and we came out in the omnibus at half past
11. Saw a hand-bill offering a reward for
the discovery of Dr. Parkman, at the omnibus
office, and my father read it. On the prece
ding Sabbath 1 saw my father at dinner, and
understood he was going into the city to tell
Dr, Francis Parkman of the interview he had
j with Dr. George Parkman on Friday. He
i left the house for the purpose of coming to
i Boston. Heard my father’s voice about
• dark in the evening. Saw him in ids study
between 9 and 10.
[Miss Catherine Webster is about 19. She
, ; gave her testimony in a becoming manner,
. but she was more deeply affected than her
[ sisters, and was indistinctly heard.]
j Dr. Winslow Lewis recalled. Have been
acquainted with Prof. W. for about thirty
years. Should think his character the oppo
site of violence. When I was in the college
it was almost impossible to get into his
rooms. The hole in the side of the remains
1 was anything but a clean cut; it was very
ragged. That does not show that it was
made after death. There was an appear
• ance of the lower part of the body, as it’
[ they had been soaked in water.
Dr. George R, Gray recalled. The cut
■ was ragged. A clean cut could be made be
; fore or after death. The limbs looked as if
■ they had been wet a good deal.
I Dr. O. W. Holmes recalled. There are
• two principal authorities on the subject of
. the quantity of blood in the human body.
j One says one filth of the weight of the sub
• ject, 27 or 28 pounds. The other between
i one-fourth and one-fifth, about 34 lbs.; about
17 quarts, something less. I eould not say
t whether a bone was fractured during life. I
examined the bone which Dr. Wyman hand
. ed to me, and which lie thought might have
. been fractured during life. I gave rnv opin
. ion.
Prof. E. N. Ilorsford sworn. lam an in-
I structor in the Lawrence Scientific School
i in Harvard University. Have delivered a
part of a course in Chemistry in the Medical
l College in Boston. It is a common thing to
• have nitrate of copper in labaratories. It is
. not the best article to remove stains of blood.
- I have made experiments with nitric acid
t and also with potash, for dissolving bones.
I made an experiment with the back bone of
, a beef. The muscle and tendon were not
> i all removed. In the course of a little more
t than four hours, the bone disappeared with
■ the exception of little scales. The flesh dis
’ appeared before. In five hours the whole
had disappeared. That was the nitric acid, i
i The fleshy parts disappeared in between three I
’ and four hours. The liquor was clear. I
- have dissolved human muscle in a very short
time, less than beef; have made- no experi- j
meats with human bones.
I took Prof. W’s laboratory. There are ■
l\vo instruments used in chemical lectures, j
in which solutions of copper are contained. ;
These were in Prof. W’s laboratory. I have
used blood very frequently, for experiments !
in chemical lectures. I know that gasses
are formed in anatomical vaults. 1 sent out
to Prof. W’s house, after 1 took his laborato
ry, some clothing and old blankets. There
were, 1 think, two pair of pantaloons, one
or two coats, and a pair of overalls. There
was also a little light colored cap. I did 1
not observe any thing on them. I examined ;
the overalls very cursorily before I sent them, j
1 have seen them since; and examined them
more closely. So I could see, they ‘
were in the same when I sent them
out. Found of nitric acid in
the laboratory tell how strong it
was, Should wmld take rather
more than the werjht yf (inhuman body to
dissolve it. Th<P®most nPnvenient vessel
would be an iron one lined jvith porcelain.
It would act on an iron kettle. In the ex
periments I made, there were no noxious
gasses given oil’. There is no odor except
when the temperature is considerably raised,
and the body is nearly decomposed. There
was no aparatus about the laboratory that
I discovered sufficient to contain one hun
dred and fifty pounds of nitric acid. The
salt of copper is spilled about the laboratory
in various ways, and it is in my mind a
matter of no importance. Pure nitrate of
copper could not immediately act upon
clothes, but in time 1t would. I do not
thiuk it impossible to destroy the flesh and
bones in an iron kettle. The identity of
the body would be destroyed in a very
short time. Have known Prof. W. for sev
eral years: have never hoard anything of him
in opposition to his being a man of kindness
and humanitv.
Dr. T. G. Morton dentist. Examined the
teeth, and did not see anything at all about
them, by which they could be identified more
than any other. He compared the working
plate with the mould, and said it fitted no bet
ter than what lie could pick out of a refuse
lot; he thought he could find some that
would fit better. He also fitted on a block
of his own on the right side of the mould,
and said it fitted as well as he could make
one, except that it was a little too short; he
did not think he had any that would fit the
other side, more than the general outline,
which was generally alike: he exhibited a
model which he said was a very striking one,
with a much larger absorption than had tak
en place with Dr. Keep’s. These were all
moulds that he had used with patients: he
exhibited a jaw with the same number of
teeth, in the same position as that of Dr.
Keep—not quite so much absorption. There
were two or three with the same number of
teeth. The jaw bone found in Dr. W’s lab
aratory was shown him : he was asked how
one of the blocks would fit it. Said it would
fit very well: was shown a block of mineral
teeth found in the furnace, and was asked if
there was any hone on it. Said there was
something on it besides mineral. It looked as
his teeth did when the muffle broke and let
them fall into the fire. Examined the mod
el of Dr. Parktnan’s with reference to the
projection of the lower jaw, and exhibited
several of his own in which he said the pro
jection was greater. So far as the projec
tion goes, it was nothing very remarkable.
The block of teeth found in the laboratory
was shown him, and he said that he could
judge anything from its fitting the mould. It
might have been twisted or warped by the
fire. He argued from the fact that the block
connected with it was warped and fallen ov
er, and from the fact that the lower one had
been in the same fire, he thought there was
a liability that the lower one might have been
warped also. He had seen a good many
jaws like Dr. Parkman’s. Mr. Clifford in
quired if he Jjad had a jaw submitted for
some time to bis inspection and operation,
whether he would not he able to identify it?
He answered that if he had taken a model,
and had discovered any peculiarity about it,
he might be able to identity it ii’ the time
were not long.
Prof. Treadwell recalled. I saw’ Dr. W.
in the evening of Friday, Nov. 2d, at my
house, at about 20 minutes past 8. Came
with his wife. Dr. M. wyman and his wife
were there; Judge Fay came in afterwards.
It was nearly 10 o’clock when Mr. and Mrs.
w. left. There was nothing unusual in his
appearance at the time; he was cheerful,
perfectly self possessed, and did not wander
in the least. lam on intimate terms with
him. I saw Prof. w. on Tuesday eve
ning, near the corner of tiie burial ground.
It was after 6 i*. m., but not so late as seven
o’clock. no stopped, and we recognized
each other. I have a strong impression that
I saw him again in the evening of another
day. 1 talked with Prof. W. about the dis
appearance of Dr. l’arkrnan. Nothing un
usual in his manner.
Dr. J. W. Stone recalled. Examined the
hole in the ribs of the remains. It was not a
clean cut. There is not the slightest difficulty
in making a clean cut on a dead body, espe
cially where the ribs, as in this case, remain
ed tense.
Philena D. Hatch. Knew’ Dr. Parkman 11
years. Saw him on Friday, Nov. 22d in
Cambridge st., between Blossom and North
Russel sts.; he was going towards Court st.
I was going to mv house in Vine street. Up
on going into my house, I noticed that it
wanted 12 minutes of 2 o’clock. I looked
at the clock for the purpose of seeing how
long I had been gone from the house. I know
the day, because the day before, which was
the 22d of Nov., ray husband went on a
journey, aud on the day he went away, mv
sister came up from Maine. I noticed Dr.
Parkman, because the only person I met
w’ho I knew. I heard ot his being missing
Sunday, and I said to my sister, he could not
have been missing long, for I him
on Friday. 1 do not know wffiere he went to,
or whether he turned round. It was after
I went out of the house that I first mention
ed seeing Dr. P. to my sister. She was kind
of down and low spirited, and for the pur
pose ot drawing a smile on her face, I said 1
had just seen “chin,” meaning Dr. P. I sup
posed it would amuse her.to mention such a
name; I called him by the name, because
every body knew he had a very long chin.
Wm. V. Thompson. Am clerk in the reg
ister of deeds, East Cambridge, went with
officer Fuller to Prof, w’s house, Camridge,
to ascertain the date of the mortgage on
which he paid the money on Friday. lie
looked into a trunk on the floor, and said it
was strange he could not find the papers,
ne then remarked that he could find out in
another way, and read some memoranda
from a book. Gave me one date for a mort
gage, and then said, that is not the one you
want. I told him I wanted the date of the
mortgage he paid the money’ on; he gave
me the date, which proved to be on person- |
al property, and I told him I would go to the :
city clerk’s. I supposed the mortgage was j
on real estate “hen I went there. After I
found what the mortgage was, and saying l
would go to the city clerk’s, we had consid
erable conversation, in the course of which j
he said he had called over to see Dr. Francis 1
Parkman, to tell him that he was the person
who called at his brothers house on Friday
morning. He also said that he had called at*
the office of Mr. Page, the citv clerk, to see
if the mortgage had been cancelled. Said j
he did’nt find Mr. P. at home. Said he as- j
certained that the mortgage had not been ;
cancelled. 1 left the house then. 1 saw no- j
thing peculiar, except his giving me the
date of the wrong mortgage.
I knew Dr. Geo. Parkman very w’ell; saw
him on the 23d of Nov. in Causeway street, j
It was on Friday, about ten minutes or a
quarter past two o’clock. I was going down
Causeway street, heading towards Charles
ton bridge, and he was going towards Lev- ;
erette street. I have some means of fixing
the day. I paid for this coat on that day.
I also made a short examination of a title
for a gentleman in India street, and the per
son who I made it for w’as not in his office,
and I took a copy of the receipt I gave when
the young man paid my hill. I went to car
ry the memorandum of the title to the gen
tleman. I had not been in the city for nine
days before. I came over again on Thanks
giving day. I made the memorandum at the
i gentleman’s store, at the request of the young
| man there, and left it. I fix the hour from
j the time of starting from East Cambridge;
I by one clock it wanted four minutes of two ;
jby the court house clock it was 2. The first
| place I stopped at was the corner of Elm
j and Hanover streets, at Mr. Orrin Tow le’s
to leave some deeds. I took out my watch
there, and saw it was 20 minutes past 2.
It was after 1 had passed Dr. Parkman.
He was dressed in a dark frock coat, dark
pants and dark hat. When I saw him he
had his hands behind his back, and appear
ed to he excited, I thought. He was walk
ing. I never wear spectacles for nearsight
edness. Do not think 1 am near-sighted
My eyes are weak sometimes and at some
parts of the day I wear glasses, which are
slightly colored. I copy records, which tends
to weaken my eyes, but not to make me
near-sighted. 1 carry a magnifying glass,
which I use in examining fine writing. 1
have never said I write in my mesmeric
state finer than in my natural state.; I nev
er used the term mesmeric. I told Mr. An
drews that when in the biological state I
had written finer than I could write in the
natural state. I have lectured on biology.
I told Mr. A. that I had written so fine in the
biological state that others could not read it.
I do not carry the magnifying glass to read
!in that state. I carry the glass for the satis
faction of others. 1 cannot say whether I
can see better or not, in the biological state.
I asked Dr. W., when at his house, how
Dr. Parkman appeared when he paid him the
money. He said he appeared angry and ex
cited. He also mentioned that Dr. Parkman
had called on Mr. Pettee, the gentleman who
sold his tickets tor his course of lectures, and
enquired if he had any money in his hands
belonging to Dr. Webster ; that Mr. Pettee
told Dr. P. he had money belonging to Dr W.;
that Dr. P. w anted Mr. Pettee to pay the mo
! ney over to him, and he would give a re
ceipt; that Mr. P. refused to do this, and
then Dr. Parkman suit! that he, (Dr. Web
: ster) was a damned whelp. W hen we w’ere
| coining from the house, Dr. W. followed us
I to the door, and said, gentlemen, 1 hope von
! will he successful in your search, and said
he would be happy to give us any assistance
in his power. He said his disappearance
must be very distressing to his family and
friends. Said it had created a good deal of
feeling in the community. I think he used
j some such expression, that Dr. P. had insult
j edhim almost every time he met him. Said
he had told Dr. P. he would pay him when
jhe got his money for th tickets to his lec
| lures, and that Dr. P said he would not be
| lieve his w ord. I cannot swear that he said
j there were two persons in his room when he
j paid him the money. It might have been,
that t vo young men had just gone out when
Dr. parkman came in.
Sam. A. Wentworth. I keep in Lvnd st.;
have known Dr. P. two years. Saw’ him last
on the 23d Nov. in Court st., between the
j hours of half past two and half past three. 1
j fix the time by my dinner, which is one
j o’clock. It was after I had been to dinner;
i when my young man had returned from din
ner, I went down town, and then it was l
saw Dr. I’. My young man was gone more
j than half an hour. A man was waiting for
j me. 1 was going towards the Hay market.
; I got my marketing for Saturday before 1
j got hack, it was near Sunbury street; 1
| saw hi in right opposite Mrs. Kidder’s store,
j He stopped all of a sudden and turned half
j round facing the street and looked up as if
I he were looking over the houses, 1 thought.
I His hands were behind his hack. He was
; going towards Bowden square, when I went
home on Saturday night, about 11 o’clock,
my wife said that two men had been there
looking for nr. Parkman. I immediately
made a remark to her, that I guessed he had
not gone a great ways, for 1 saw him yes
terday in Court street. He stopped after 1
had passed him. After I had passed him, 1
crossed the street towards Sudbury street,
and as I was crossing, I noticed that nr. P.
had stopped. 1 know it Was Friday and not
Thursday, because it was the day 1 bought
my marketing for Saturday. I was going to
Haymarket square first, and then to the mar
ket. 1 was w ith J. H. Russel. He recollects
; seeing nr. P. hut not the day.
| Samuel Cleland. I reside in Chelsea. I
had known nr. Geo. Parkman 11 years; was
j :l tenant of his in west Centre street, in 1839;
i I last saw him Friday, Nov. 23d, in washing
! ton street, between Milk and Franklin sts.
! It was between quarter past three and half
past three. As near as I can put it, it
: was 20 minutes past three. He was on the
; east side, going towards Poxbury. I fix the
I time by the fact, that I had been to call on
i the Rev. Geo. Wells, No. 18, Franklin street,
! who occasionally preaches for us. The hour
j for meeting him is three o’clock ; I w’as com
ing I'rom there.
When first 1 saw Dr. Parkrfian, he was
walking with an Irishman, 1 supposed. That
: eirsumstance struck me as singular, and I rc
| marked upon it to myself, that a man of his
| position should be walking with a common
‘ laboring man ; but when I approached him
I perceived he was not walking with a labor
ing man but was alone. I did not speak to
him. I had not spoken to him for several j
; years.
I communicated the fact to mv partner on j
Monday morning. I did not mention it to I
any of the family of Dr Parkman. I commu- j
nicated it to Mr. wm. Knapp, of the Police !
Court iic said it was not necessary for me i
to mention it to the City Marshall, as it
was well known that he was seen at the south
end that afternoon.
Lucius R. Page, City Clerk’of Cambridge.
—On the Sunday following the disappearance
of Dr. P. Dr. W. was at my house ; it was 1
about 5 o clock. I found him there when I
returned irom the church after communion.
He asked me if or. Parkman had been there
since Friday to discharge a mortgaga. I told
him Dr. P. had not been there : but to make
sure, I went to my book, and ascertained that’
the mortgage was not discharged.
Mrs. Abbey B. Rhodes. lam acquaint
ed with nr. Geo. Parkman, and used to bow
to him whenever I met him. Saw him last
on the afternoon of Friday, .Nov. 23d, in
Green street, corner of Lyman Place. It
must have been quarter to five, for it was
very near dark. There was a man with him.
As we passed, my daughter was between him
.and me. I was going towards my home in
Minot street, and he was going towards Bow*
doin Square. He bowed to me and I bow
ed to him. I fix the da}*, because there was
no other day that week that my daughter and
myself went home together through Green*
street; we had been shopping; went to Mr.-
Hovey’s store in Winter street. I bought
some mouseline d’laine, and my daughter
took the bundle. I went to the store after
wards to see about about the day, and
made sure of it. I had 11 yards,; cost 20
cents a yard, and came to* 82 20. Recof
j leet the amount. I was at home all day on
j Thursday.
I communicated that I had seen nr. P to 5
his brother, Rev. Dr. Parkman, on Thursday,-
1 First saw it that he had disappeared in one”
I of the papers on Sunday. My daughter left
: town on Saturday afternoon for Lexington.-
j She got back on Tuesday, and asked me*
if I recollected that we met the Doctor on-
Friday, and that we bowed to# him. It then’
j came fresh to my mind that I did see him. I
cannot he mistaken as to the day. I knew
what all my engagements for the week had?
been.
M iss Mary Rhodes. I have known nr.
Parkman about 10 years; saw him last on
Friday, 23d of Nov., in Green street, op
poosite Mr. Souther’s apothecary’s shop;
there was a man with him. In passing Dr-
P. I moved my bundle, so that he should
not hit it. First heard that lie was missing
;on Saturday night at Lexington. Have ta
-1 ken a good deal of pains to fix the dav.
First spoke to my mother and brother when
: I got home from Lexington. It was about a
j quarter to 5, and was growing dark,
i The man with Dr. i* .had a frock coat on,
and was rather stouter, hut not so tall. I was
not in Green street going home with my
mother that week, except on Friday.
Mrs. Sarah Greenouh. Reside in Cambridge;
have known nr. George Pakman many years;
knew him personally in early life, but have not
known him personally }br many years past.
Saw him last on Friday, the week before
Thanksgiving, between llelknap and South,
Russell streets. It was about 82 minutes before
three. I fix the time by an engagement out to
; tea. After dinner-I had a horse harnessed to
bring me out to the bridge. I wanted to he in
the city to see my son, before lie would start to
come out. When I left the carriage at the bridge,
I took out my watch to see what time it was
and be sure I should be able to get to Boston
soon enough, and when I go! over the bridsre, I
looked at my watch again, and saw that I had
been just ten minutes walking over the bridge-
Re ached my son in Temple street just as he was
getting into the chaise. Knew it was the Fri
day before Thanksgiving that I had an engage
; ment to take tea w ith a lady in the city, and that
( it was Friday I wanted to see mv son!
l)r. P. was passing down the right hand side
ot the street, and I was going up the other side,
i Merely saw him across the street. Had eot
nearly abreast of him when I saw him. (To
j the Chuff Justice] I can’t be positive; hut its
my belief that I saw him.
.Mr. Sohier now stated that he believed
that all the witnesses which it had been
intended to call for the defence, had been ex
! amined ; but until the counsel had had a little
time lolook over their minutes, they would not
be able to say that, the evidence on this side was
closed.
j Court adjourned.
A party of Californians, in crossing the Isth
! mus, came across a tremendous Anaconda.
, His snakeship was basking in tlie sun, and on
; sight of him the natives left, but the Americans
| took a good look at hitn. He was eighteen feet
: long, and as large round as a big snake ought
to be of that length. Not having anything larger
! than a pocket-pistol to attack the monster w ith,
they concluded to let him slide.
Letters of Introduction.
Originally, letters of introduction were intend
ed to secure to merit the civility and good offices
of those at a distance, who were not familiar
with the character and attainments of the
stranger. They were mutually beneficial, se
j curing hospitality and friendshipon the one side,
: and the gratification of personally knowing a
: man of worth on the other. But these were
given with great caution, and were guarded by
certain conventional rules. They could not be
attained by all promiscuously. The parties must
i ha\e the warrant ot a strong character to re—
j commend and receive. These safe lines of de
maikation, however, are now r but loosely regard!-
j ed. Mere letters of business and credit are
! quite different from those which introduce a nere
j son to your acquaintance, civility, confidence,-
and hospitality. The one pays his respects to
! your counting-house—the other becomes an oc
: casional inmate in your family. Men in pubiic
life, however, become acquainted in this way
with the greatest variety of characters. They
I are, in a measure, considered public servants,
j and bound to be civil to all; and yet of all occu
pations an editor has the least time to spare in
discharging such agreeable duties. He, of all
| others, cannot’ spare time to show the lions of
the city ; to visit w ith them galleries of paintings,
balls, theatres, and public institutions. Thou
sands depend upon his daily labors, and he can
not disappoint them without serious conse
quences. Yet it is amusing to see, occasionally,
the salons of reception attached to an editor’s
office, who has been long before the public, and
■is known for his desire to be useful to all. One
wishes for his good offices to obtain some public
’ situation, or an engagement at a theatre, or to
: listen to the reading o 1 anew play, or to inspect
1 a fine painting, or to attend a balmasque, or to
read anew novel, or to be present at a beneyo
lent or charitable meeting; to give advice, to
give instruction, to afford necessary aid and la—
bor to all who may require it; so that his time
is not his own, and his labors, from their variety
and rapid transitions, becotyie really onerous..
In reference to letters of introduction, we were
much amused last week. One gentleman from
the West Indie§, whom we knew, presented us
a letter of introduction written by an entire
stanger. A minister of the gospel" was recom
mended by another, to talk over the possibility
of getting up a literal translation of the Bible,,
and in the probability of its reception by the re
ligious world; and his reverence had scarcely
left us when we received a letter commending tb’
om kind attention a \ er\ capital equestrian rider
of grace and address. We do not complain of
this—they are all complimentary, all living pic
tures. 1 here must be some merit in those who*
can be of such general service. But miseries
dia. is a supplication which most editors must
pur up to those who will consider the conductors
ot the pub,ic press all potent, influential, and’
omnipresent.—Abaft.
| “Now, girls,” said our friend Mrs Bigelow
to he daughters, the other day, “you must get
husbands as soon as possible, or they’ll; ail
| be murdered.”
“Why so, rna ?” inquired one.
j “Why, 1 see by the paper that we’ve got
j a'most fifteen thousand post offices, and near
ly all on ’em dispatches a mail; every day—
the Lord have mercy on us poor widows and
orphans!” and the old lady stepped briskly
to the looking-glass to put on- her new ‘jap..
Salt Injurious to Poultry.*—Do not
gi\e poultry suit, nor suit food. It is poison
ous to them;