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136 TRIAL OF JOHN WT. WEBSTER.
cause the body to rise to the surface of the water. This, I think, will
be the last resort, and it should be done effectually.
And, I recommend, that the cellars of the houses in East Cambridge
be examined. Yours respectfully,
CIVIS.
[Mr. Bemis here stated, that the prosecution would call a single
additional witness, of whose testimony they had only recently been
apprised, and who had arrived in town from the interior of the State,
since last night's adjournment.
The Chief Justice having directed that he should be sworn, the
witness took the stand.]
Fisher A. Bosworth, sworn,-examined by Mr. Bemis. I am a
physician; now, a resident of Grafton, in Worcester county, in this State.
I attended the medical lectures, at the Medical College, in Boston,
during the winters of 1847 and 1848. I knew Dr. George Parkman, and,
also, Mr. Littlefield, the janitor of the College.
I had occasion to call at the Medical College, in Grove street, on
the 23d day of last November, toy see a medical student. It was between
half-past one and two o'clock, of the day, and nearer two. I approached
the College, through Fruit-street Place, and went up the east steps to
the front door. I found the door a-jar; and, looking in, concluded,
from the position of the door, that the lectures were not aver. I imme-
diately passed out, down the west flight of stairs, towards the dissecting-
room entry, thinking that I would not go in to disturb the lecture. As
I passed the foot of the stairs, I met Dr. Parkman coming round the
corner of the steps, very fast, on his way up to the front door. I came
directly against him; and, as I passed farther on, I turned my head,
and saw him neaxly at the top of the stairs.
I came on, upon my way up to Court street, and did an errand;
and, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, went back again 2o the
Medical College. I rang the front door-bell, and, in three or four
minutes, Mr. Littlefield made his appearance. I recognized him, and
spoke ~to him; I inquired, if Mr. Coffrain, the student whom I wished to
see, was there. He replied that he did not know him; but, that, if he
were there he was probably in the dissecting-room. He asked me, if
I would not go into the dissecting-room, myself, to see him, as he was
busy; and I consented, and went and found Mr. Coffrain there.
Mr. Littlefield came to the door, in his usual working-dress, such
as I used to see him wear, when at work about the College.
I fix the day when this occurred, from my borrowing some money,
an the 21st of that month, for which I gave my note on four months.
The next day, the 22d, I came to Boston, but was too unwell to go about.
But the next day, the 23d, after taking my dinner at a friend's house,
in Cottage Place, far up the "Neck," towards Roxbury, I started to walk
down towards the College. We dined at half-past twelve, and after
dinner, which I ate with convenient despatch, I walked directly to the
College.
I stayed in the dissecting-room entry, talking with Mr. Coffrain,
some ten minutes, I should think. The next day, Saturday, I was over
at my brother's, in South Boston, the Rev. Mr. Bosworth; and, in the
afternoon of that day, I first heard of Dr. Parkman's disappearance.
I heard a gentleman speak of it, in the Worcester Railroad depot, as
I was going to take the cars for Grafton. I also saw the notice, myself,
in an evening newspaper. I called to mind, then, the circumstance of
having met Dr. Parkman, at the College, the afternoon before, and
mentioned it in the depot.
I was first apprised, yesterday, at about eleven o'clock, at my house,
in Grafton, that my testimony might be wanted, here, in Court.
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