Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 105   Enlarge and print image (67K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 105   Enlarge and print image (67K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
TRIAL OF JOHN «'. WEBSTER. 107 " We all know Dr. Parkman to be an honest man, and I trusted him with it." These were his very words. 1 inferred from them, that Dr. Park- man had the mortgage~deed with him. He then said - that he should go up and see the Rev. Dr. Francis Pas kman. Dr. Webster said, that he had been to church in the morning, and that he thought that he would wait until after dinner, before he came into town. After the conversation he went into -the College. I came up North Grove street, from the jail-lands, in company with a number of the police. I presume that the Doctor came out of the College: he came from that direction at any rate. I did not see him afterwards. I did not stay about the College any considerable time. It must have been between half-past two and three o'clock: it was not after three o'clock. The Doctor might have come up Grove street, while I was standing there and I might not have seen him: but he seemed to come from the direction of the front steps. [Witness pointed out to the jury, upon X plan of the grounds, the spot upon which he stood.] We had not been there more than two or three minutes when Dr. Webster came up. He might have seen us coming up North Grove street, or not until we stopped. Dr. Webster took me by the hand, rather suddenly, and, during the whole of the conversation, he held me by the hand. I never knew him to do it before, -but I have not had much intercourse with him. He did not say anyhing about the search for Dr. Parkman. He was rather earnest in his manner. Dr. Wo_bster said, "I kept the note, and I trusted him with it, to go over to Lechmere, Point and discharge the mortgage." Cross-examined by Mr. Sohier.-Dr. Webster said -that he came in, purposely, to inform the family of Dr. Parkman, about the unknown man. He did not tell me, how he came in. I don't think that I men- tioned to him that I was engaged in searching, then. I commenced the search, on Saturday afternoon, after dinner. Francis Parkman, sworn,-examined by Mr. Clifford. I am a brother of the late Dr. George Parkman. I have known Dr. Webster a great many years. While a resident at the North End I was his pastor for several years. After he removed to Cambridge, I knew him, as all gentlemen did, who are acquainted with the College. After he went to Cambridge, I was called to perform cer- tain pastoral offices in his house; within two months of my brother's disappearance. I was called to baptize his grandchild, the last Thurs- day in September, I think; the child of his daughter, and son-in-law, who reside at Fayal. On the Sunday, after the disappearance of my brother, we were in great perplexity and distress. None of us went to church that day. I passed the morning with my brother's family. About four o'clock in the afternoon, just as people were passing from church, Dr. Webster came to my house, and was let into the parlor. On entering the room., almost without customary salutations, he said, "I come to tell you, that. I saw your brother at half-past one o'clock, on Friday, and paid him some money." It was, then saia, by Mrs. Paxkman, or myself I don't recollect which, "Then you are the gentleman who called at George's house, at half-past nine o'clock, on Friday morning, and made the appointment." He answered, that he was; and, that he should have come and told us so before but that he had not seen the notice of his disappearance, until Saturday evening, and he had waited until now, thinking the family might be at church. I then said "Dr. Webster, we are very glad to see you; as it is a relief to us, to know who called at my brother's, on Friday, to make the appointment; we feared that some one, who meant him ill, had called, and had beguiled him over to East Cambridge." Dr. Webster said, "I was the person; and, your brother came to the College at half-past one,