Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 68   Enlarge and print image (66K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 68   Enlarge and print image (66K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
68 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. before; and' went down to the door leading to the back room, but found it locked. I never had a key to that door. In summer time, when the. lectures are not held at the College, the Doctor had been accustomed to come out that door, and leave all fastened behind him; but this had had not been his practice in lecture time. After finding this door locked, I went back to my rooms, and soon after, Dr. Webster came to the Col- lege. He came into my entrance, at the east door. I think that he had a small bundle under his arm. He went, up the same stairs, that he came down the night before. I followed him up into his room, he unlocking the door. He then took his keys, and unlocked the door leading from his lecture-room to his private room. After he had unlocked his door, the first thing that he said to me, was, " Mr. Little- field, make me up a fire in the stove." I made the fire in the stove. I asked him if he wanted anything else done; he said, he did not. I then started to go down the stairs that lead into the laboratory. He stopped me, and told me to go out the other way. I turned round, and went out the same way that I went in. I don't recollect of getting into his back room, or laboratory, again, that day. I saw Dr. Webster again that forenoon, before eleven o'clock, I think. I met him in the lower entry, coming into the College, the same entry that he went out, the night before. He had a bundle under his arm, done up in a newspaper. I gave him fifteen dollars, in gold half-eagles, for Mr. Ridgeway's ticket. The balance of the money which I received fro-m Mr. Ridge- way, eighty-five dollars, I paid over to Mr. Pettee. I could not get into Dr. Webster's rooms, any more the rest of that day, than I could, Friday afternoon. Saturday, was my sweeping •day. I tried the doors a number of times. I heard some one in the lower laboratory, walking, and moving round, but could not get in, nor could I tell, what the person was doing. I heard the water running, every time that I passed through the store-room. It had not usually been allowed to run. I cannot say .that I saw Dr. Webster, again that clay, after I paid him the money. I did not see Dr. Webster in the College, all day, Sunday, but his doors were fast all the time. About sunset, Sunday night, I was stand- ing in North Grove street, abreast of Fruit street, and facing up the. street, talking with Mr. Calhoun, one of the foundry-men. We were talking about Dr. Parkman; how suddenly he had disappeared. (I heard of the disappearance, first, on Saturday afternoon: pretty late.- Mr. Kingsley told me of it.) While we were talking, I looked up Fruit street, and saw Dr. Webster coming. I said to Mr. Calhoun, " There comes one of our Professors, now." As soon as Dr. Webster saw me, he came right up to me. The first words Dr. Webster said to me, were, " Mr. Littlefield, did you see Dr. Parkma.n, the latter part of lash week? " I told him, that I had. He asked me, At what time I saw him? I said, " Last Friday, about half-past one." He asked, " Where, did you see him?" I replied, "About this spot." He asked, which way he was going? I told him, " He was coming right towards the College." He asked, " Where were you, when you saw him?" I told him, that I was standing in the front entry, look-. ing out of the front door. He had his cane in his hand, and he struck it down upon the ground, and said, " That is the very time that I paid him $483, and some odd cents."-He gave the exact cents, but I don't remember them. I told him that I did not see Dr. Parkman go into the lecture-room, or out of it, as I went and laid down on the settee, in Dr. Ware's room. [In reply to an incidental question. " Whether Dr. Parkma.n might not have entered the College through the lower front door?"-Mr. Littlefield interrupted himself, to say:- The lower front door, underneath the steps, is never opened, except to throw out ashes or dirt.]