Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 108   Enlarge and print image (70K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 108   Enlarge and print image (70K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
110 TRIAL OP JOHN W. WEBSTER. on real estate. I made the remark, that we should have to go, chen, to the City Clerk's office, and see if Dr. Parkman had been there; and thereupon turned, and left the room. I did not see Dr. Webster again that night. I was searching for Dr. Parkman, out of doors, until the Tuesday following. On Tuesday forenoon, at about half-past eleven, I accompanied officers, Clapp, and Rice, and Mr. Kingsley, in the search of the Doctor's apartments. We went to the laboratory-stairs door, and found it fas- tened. We also found the store-room door fast. We then went up to the front door of the lecture-room. Mr. Littlefield knocked, waited a few moments, and then knocked again. Then Dr. Webster came to the door. I asked Dr. Webster, Who was with him, when Dr. Parkman paid him this money? He said, "No one, but myself." I asked, At what hour Dr. Parkman was there, when he paid the money? He said, "Between half- past, one, and two o'clock." We passed down through the lecture-room, and around the end of the table. I asked Dr. Webster, Where Dr. Park- man stood,, when he paid him the money? and he answered, "Here," pointing to the left-hand end of the table:-on Dr. Webster's left hand, as he would stand, when lecturing to the students. We passed into the back laboratory; and, turning to a little room, he said, "This is where I keep my valuables." We then went. down stairs, Dr. Webster going near me. Mr. Clapp, turning to the privy, asked, "What place is this?" Mr. Littlefield answered, "This is Dr. Webster's private privy."-Dr. Webster saying, apt the same moment, "Gentlemen, here is another room that you have not looked into." Upon that, we passed .to the store-room, and out; taking very little notice of what was in the laboratory. I did not notice what the others were doing,-Mr. Kingsley, or Mr. Rice. I know that Dr. Webster led off to another door. He seemed to be hurrying us through the.room. After we had looked at the main vault, I then passed to the scuttle, that leads under the main building. I took my lantern, and went down underneath, with Mr. Littlefield, and crawled as far as we could, for the walls. [Witness pointed out upon the plan, .the route that he and Little- field pursued.] We crept on our hands and knees until we got against the place where the privy is. There was no hole in the wall at the time. There was a conversation between Mr. Littlefield and myself, while we were out there, in relation to the position of the privy. I have since been through the hole made by Mr. Littlefield, three separate times, and have thoroughly examined the cellar-walls, twice. There is no access for the flow of the tide, except through small crevices. I am the officer who discovered the remains in the tea-chest. I had been searching, from half-past eight, A. M., until four, P. M., of Satur- day, December 1st. I had seen the chest once before, but did not touch it. Others were searching with me,-some six-or eight persons. I told them that I would search that side of the building, and go through it thoroughly. I looked over some things on the shelves, until I came to the tea- chest. I thought, ,that it was where Dr. Webster kept his minerals; but that, as I was searching, I would look into it. I took out some minerals which were done up in papers. The writing on them appeared to be fresh. After getting out the minerals, I. found that there was tan in the chest. I ran my hand into the tan, and took out a hunting-knife, which I opened, looked at, and placed in my pocket. I then put my hand in again, and feeling something wet and cold, remarked, that I thought .there was more than tan, in the chest. I took the chest out to the back side of the room, and turned it over, when the trunk of a human body tumbled out, with one of the thighs placed inside of it; the thigh being tied round with a piece of twine at one end. I stood on the right side, and saw a hole in the left breast, just under the left nipple. The tan was scraped off only with the hand. I forbade an officer to use a stick, and it was not used. Remarks were made about