TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. 99
Mr. Clapp, resumes.-We received various reports through the Mar-
shal, that Dr. Parkman had been seen, in various parts of the city, on
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. On Tuesday, I was directed
to take certain officers to look over the College, all vacant houses in
the neighborhood, and the lands about the jail. I took Mr. Fuller, and
Mr. Rice, and went to the College, on Tuesday, November 27th, where
we arrived, some time after eleven o'clock. We entered the east front,
through Mr. Littlefield's apartments; found him there, and went in his
company, to Dr. Webster's apartments. We tried a door, and found it
fastened; -a door to get into the laboratory. We then went up the front
entry to the door of Professor Webster's lecture-room.
Mr. Littlefield informed us, that it was the Doctor's lecture-day; and
that it would be but a short time, before the lecture would begin. Per-
haps it was half-past eleven o'clock, then. Mr. Littlefield rapped, but
no one came; he rapped again, and, in about half a. minute, Dr. Webster
came to the door. I informed him, that we wished to look over the
College. He said, that the police had made a search, before, but if we
wished to do so, we could.
Seeing Dr. Webster, whom I had known by sight, for a quarter of a
century, (though I did not know, that he was a Professor,) I said to
him, "We can't believe, for a moment, Sir, that it is necessary to search
your apartments." (At that time, thoae persons had not discovered
their mistake, who reported, that they had seen Dr. Parkman, in the
city.)
To the Chief Justice.-I told him, that we were about to search all
the houses in the neighborhood, and we thought that we would begin
with the College; or some people might get their backs up, about it.
Mr. Clapp, resumes.-He asked us to walk in; and we went down
the steps to his table. I there inquired of him, "When he had seen Dr.
Parkman?" He said, "That he saw him there, last, on Friday, the 23d;
that he came, there, by appointment" He also said, on an inquiry from
me,-"How much he paid him, that day?"-That he paid him $483:-
and I don't remember, whether any odd cents. He said, that he took
the money, and went up the steps, in a hurried manner, and went out
of the door, by the way he had come in; and that he had not seen him,
since.
He led us into his back room, and pointed out his closets, and also
opened the little back room, and said that, that was where he kept his
valuable, and dangerous articles. We merely looked into the room; did
not search:-the whole was a mere passing movement through the
premises; and then went down, to the lower laboratory. We passed
round his tables, and apparatus, which were in confusion, but saw
nothing to attract attention. We were shown to the passageway, to
the dissecting-room entry, by the Doctor, himself. We went to the
stairs, and the door where the privy is, and then turned, and went back
again. Some one called my attention, and I returned, and looked to the
door, leading out to the dissecting-room entry.
I don't know who it was, that called my attention. I do not recollect
of looking into the privy-window. I did not expect to find anything at
the College, at all; and hadn't the most distant idea, that there was any-
thing wrong about the Professor's apartments. I made the excuse for
looking at the College, which I stated above; can't say, by which door
we went out.
We searched the great vault. I held the light down, myself; could see
well around. We searched every inch of Mr. Littlefield's apartments, I
believe; drawers clothing, pockets, male and female clothing, crockery-
ware, also searched the attics. I did not go down the scuttle, or trap-
door; though I saw some of my party go down.
Friday night, the 30th of November, I was called to the College, about
six o'clock; found Mr. Littlefield, Dr. Bigelow, the Marshal, and Mr.
Trenholm there. We went to the scuttle, under the front entry, and
went down underneath. After we got down under the building, I was
|