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22 TRIAL OF JOHN `V. WEBSTER.
have called on him at least fifty times a year during my fourteen years'
agency, at that hour,
Not finding him at home, I left word where I could be bound that
afternoon, if he. wished to see me. Not hearing from him that night, I
called again at ,the house, early next morning. I found that he had
not returned, and that the family were very anxious about him. They
requested me to make search for him. One or two modes of making
general inquiries were talked of; but it was concluded not to make a
public search, till after the morning railroad-trains would generally
be in:-about two o'clock. I made an appointment to call at the house
at that hour; went there at a quarter before two; and the Doctor not
having returned, I commenced inquiring for him immediately.
I was told that he had made an engagement with somebody, (it was
not known whom,) for half-past one; and I commenced by .finding out
who that person was.
I supposed that it would be the best plan to trace the Doctor from
the time of his last leaving his house, at twelve o'clock, Friday. I
accordingly commenced inquiring of everybody whom I met, who I sup-
posed would be likely to know him, when they last saw him. I first
got trace of him in Bromfield street, at half-past twelve. Thence I
traced him into Washington street, up Williams' Court into Court
Square and Massachusetts Block, thence down Cornhill Avenue by Joy's
Building into Washington street again, thence through Water and
Devonshire streets to the Post-Office, thence up State through Court
street into Green street, down through Eaton street into Vine
street, at the corner of Blossom street. There, in Paul Holland's
grocery-store, I learned that he had left a bag of green lettuce the da-
before. When I went in to inquire there, he boy asked me to take
away the lettuce. He told me-(The further statements made by the
boy checked.) I next heard of Dr. Parkman in Fruit street, leading
from Blossom to Grove street, and then traced hiin as far as the Medi-
cal College.
By this time there was great excitement in the neighborhood. Many
of the neighbors, and officer Trenholm assisted in the search. We con-
tinued our search till eleven o'clock that night. I cannot say when the
police were called in to aid, but think it was as early as two or three
o'clock that afternoon; as I remember that I was told that two of the
police had called at my house before I got back, after going up to Dr.
Parkman's house. As many as twelve or fifteen of the neighbors ac-
companied and aided me in making inquiries, &c. In the evening the
police searched a great many houses in the neighborhood of the college;
particularly the cellars and rear apartments of empty tenements. I
aided in searching five or six, myself.
The first advertisement in the newspapers was published that after-
noon, Saturday. I saw it in one paper, the Evening Journal, I think.
On Sunday, we searched about, the city all the forenoon. In the after-
noon, we heard a story of his being at East Cambridge, and the officers
went over there about half-past four. I did not go over till a half an
hour or more after they had gone. Sunday afternoon, many persons
searched about the new-jail lands, and the Doctor's vacant houses.
Monday, I again went over to East Cambridge, and stayed there,
making inquiries, &c., till ten or eleven o'clock. When I returned, I
went down with Mr. Starkweather, the police officer, to examine the
Medical College. We went all over the building, into the lecture and
dissecting-rooms, and up into the attic, but did not go into the cellar.
We looked into the large vault or receptacle used for the: purpose of the
dissecting room. I thing it was locked, and that Mr. Littlefield, the
janitor, got the key and opened it for us. Dr. Ainsworth was also pres-
ent. We came to Professor Webster's lecture-room, about quarter or
half-past eleven, after looking over the other apartments. We found
the door locked, and knocked. Mr. Littlefield was there at the time, I
believe; he was there, at any rate, while we were, waiting, and when
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