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TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. 283
had some knowledge of the Latin tongue. Who would be likely, in a
matter so interesting to the public, to have undertaken to communicate
with the City Marshal under an anonymous signature? If it were Dr.
Webster, and he were innocent, would he not have done it openly or
personally, making such suggestions as he considered important?
The other letters are not testified to so positively; namely the " Dart,"
and, what I have called, the " Sanscrit " letter. But you will find that
the letter is written on a fine, delicate note-paper. It was not written
with a pen. That there was an instrument found in Dr. Webster's
laboratory which is fitted to make this, is proved; and that instrument
is such an instrument as might have made those erasures upon the
notes, which were not made with a pen. But I submit this part of
the case to your judgment, without pressing it upon you.
Gentlemen, I do not know but I have said all that is necessary for
me to say with regard to Professor Webster's conduct prior to his
arrest. I now propose to add a word respecting his conduct afterwards.
On the night of the discovery of the remains, he was waited upon
at his own house by three police-officers, after his premises at the
College had been searched for the missing body of one whose disap-
pearance had excited the entire community. They informed him that
they wished to make a further search of the College. He made no
objection. He called their attention to the fact, that Mrs. Coleman had
seen Dr. Parkman. Did he suggest this in the hope, that, upon calling
on Mrs. Coleman with these police-officers she might modify her state-
ment? They stop at the Leverett-street Jail. Mr. Clapp goes in and
upon returning requests him to get out. Submissively, and without
inquiry, he follows them into the prison. Who is Dr. Webster?-and
who are they? He, a Professor of Harvard College! and they, police-
officers of the City of Boston! He follows them; and not till they reach
the inner office of the jail, does he ask what it means. Mr. Clapp
replies, not that Dr. Parkman's body is found, but, " Dr. Webster, you
remember I called your attention to the soundings which have been
made above and below the bridge. We have been sounding about the
Medical College; we have been looking for the body of Dr. Parkman.
We shall look for it no more; and you are now in custody, charged
with the murder of Dr. Parkman. " "He articulated half a sentence," con-
tinues Mr. Clapp-" I could not understand it; and then he said, ` I wish
you would send over to my family.' I told him they would better not
learn it till morning. He seemed inclined to speak a word or two, and
I told him he had better not say anything about it."
What was his conversation when he was left alone there with Mr.
Starkweather? And remember, that not even in the cross-examination
was it attempted to be shown that this conversation was not reported
exactly as it took place. The appeal is then made to you, to consider
him as an irresponsible person; that he was in no condition to know
what he was about; and that you ought not to regard his declarations
any more than you would those of a raving maniac.
Gentlemen, he had intelligence and malevolence enough to endeavor,
then and there, to make a groundless accusation against an honest and
innocent man. He had sufficient self-possession to make inquiries; and,
from that time, what evidence is there, that he was not master of
himself? He says to Mr. Starkweather, " You might tell me something
about it." " He asked ` if they had found him.' " I told him," says
Mr. Starkweather, " not to ask any questions for it was not proper for
me to answer them." This, Gentlemen, was but one of the many instances
of forbearance shown towards him that night; and I venture to assert,
that no prisoner ever received more considerate treatment than Dr.
Webster did from all who were brought in contact with him that night.
He was expressly cautioned by the officers in obedience to the instruc-
tions of Mr. Parker, not to say anything that might implicate himself.
Yet he voluntarily said to Mr. Starkweather, " You Might tell me some-
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