New York Globe report of the Webster Case, 1850,
Image No: 56
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New York Globe report of the Webster Case, 1850,
Image No: 56
   Enlarge and print image (111K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
55 anythibg against him before his arrest; he is a very nervous man ; I remember the day of Dr. Parkman's disappearance. I saw Prof. W. on the evening of Friday, the 23d Nov., 1819, at about 9 o'clock, at the house of Mr. Treadwell, in Cambridge, where I had called in; I noticed nothing in the peculiar behavior of Prof. W. on that occasion ; the conversation turned upon scientific subjects ; think that Dr. Morrill Wyman was there; saw Prof. W. two or three times during the next week; was there I think on Sunday evening, to inquire for news of Dr. P., as the Professor was much in the city. I supposed he would have all the news on the subject of the disappearance of Dr. P. ; I spent three or four hours at Prof. W.'s house on the Monday evening next succeeding the disappearance of Dr. P. ; was invited to sit down and play whist with Prof. W. and his wite and daughter, which I did: 1 was at Prof. W.'s'house on two evenings, on Sunday and Monday, or Monday and Tuesday; don't recollect exactly which. Cross-examination of this witness declined. Twenty-eighth witness-JossPH KIDDER, sworn.-Am a druggist in Court-street ; am acquainted with Prof. Webster; remember distinctly the day of the disappearance of Dr. Parkman. Prof. Webster called. at my shop a little before 6 o'clock on that afternoon ; it was before lamp-light. Cross-examined---He came to purchase a box or six bottles of cologne ; he stayed but a few moments ; he took the box away with him; I have referred to the bill of sale of the cologne, and find it dated 23d Nov., 1849. Tenty-ninth witness-MARY Aver WEBSTER, daughter of the accused, sworn.-Am the daughter of the prisoner; have endeavored to call to mind the conduct of my father during the week before his arrest; on Friday, the 23d November, my father came home about five minutes before 6 o'clock P.M. He drank tea at home, and remained at ome until 8 o'clock, and then went to a neighbor's house with us, where we remained until past 12 o'clock; I mean by us, my sister and mother; my father and mother did not go into the neighbor's house, but went off together ; my sisters and myself returned to the house at half-past twelve o'clock at night; my father came to the door and let us in ; he went up to bed at one o'clock. I saw my father on Satuday, the day after the disappearance of Dr. P. ; he tools dinner at home that day ; I was not at home in the afternoon of that day, but came home to tea, and saw my father there • he was at home all that evening; we passed it in reading together ; he read to me. The first time I saw my father on the succeeding day (Sunday) was at church in the College chapel ; he attended church the whole of the forenoon; we had dinner that day earlier than usual, in order that my father might go to Boston; he said he was going into the city to infrm the Parkman family that he had paid Dr. P. some money the day of the doctor's disappearance. Don't recollect whether I saw him again on that day ; my father camp home just at dinner-time on Monday afternoon ; he was not at home in the whole afternoon ; I was not at home, likewise, during the whole afternoon. My father came home just at tea-tide on that evening, and remained at home. I went to bed that evening at ten o'clock, and when I went to bed my father was still at home. On Tuesday my father was at home at dinner, and remained at home during the evening: we bad a whist party, and there was a fire in the direction of Porter's Hotel ; we played whist among ourselves that evening. Did not have company; my father usually breakfasts at home ; father was at home on Wednesday; he came into the dining-room at about 11 o'clock A,M., where I was reading. He went oat into the garden and pruned the grape-vines, and remained until dinner-time,; lie went away after dinner, and returned at twenty-minutes past 6 to tea; that night we went to Mrs. Cunningham's to a party, and did not return until 10J o'clock P.M. I left my father sitting up- when I retired to bed; he was in his dressing-room reading a paper; he was at home Thanksgiving-day, Thursday, all day, as far as I know. He spent the morning.in the garden; he was also at home on iFriday, the 30th Nov.; he was at home at dinner, and all the evening until about 10 o'clock ; I have a sister married at Fayal. We keep up a con- stant intercourse, and I keep a journal of events to inform my sister of in correspondence ; my father often sends things to Fayal, such as plants, &:, They are sent in air-tight boxes; he has flowers often sent to him from F ayal ; don't remember whether my father was preparing anything to send to Fayal at that time. Cross-examination of this witness declined. Thirtieth witness-HARRIET P. WEBSTER, daughter of the accused, sworn.-I saw my father on Friday evening, the 23d November, 1819, between 5J and 6 o'clock ; I went with my sisters to a party at Mr. Treadwell's and did not return until 121 o'clock; he came to the door and let us in; I saw him in about an hour afterwards; he went up to bed before I did; saw him home on Saturday at 1 o'clock ; he spent the afternoon at home ; he went out for half an hour, and returned with a book ; he remained A home all that evening; he read to us from a book the first part of the evening; a Miss Hodges was at the house that evening ; don't remember seeing him at breakfast on Sunday ; he was at church with us in the forenoon ; he went to Boston in the afternoon; think I retired at ten o'clock on that even.-ig; I left my father still up; saw my father again on Monday at tea-tirne ; there was some company at the house on that evening; I retired very early in the evening, and my father was still sitting up ; on Tuesday I saw him at tea-time and he spent the evening at home, reading ; saw him at breakfast Wednesday, and at tea; in the evening he went with my sisters to Mrs. Cunningham's party, in Boston; 1 had retired before they came home, and did not see my father till next day (Thursday), Thanksgiving-day; he remained at home all the day; on Friday, the 30tb of November, my father was at home, at breakfast, tea, and during the ;realer part of the evening ; on the day after big arrest, a number of articles were sent out from the laboratory to Cam- bridge; there was a cap, pair of overalls, pair of pantaloons, and coat. Cross-examination of this witness declined. Thirty-first witness-ANN FINNIGAN called.-Live in the family of Prof. W.; went there on the 16th of Nov., 189; we breakfasted at that time at from half past 7 to 8 o'clock; we dined at 2 o'clock ; on Wed- nesday, the 28th of Nov., he breakfasted earlier than usual, and came home at 12 o'clock; I thought-it was 2 o'clock on seeing him come in, and so looked at the clock and found it to be only 12; after he came in, he took a key and went. into the garden; he breakfasted at home every morning from the time I went there until the morning after he .vas arrested. Cross-examination declined. Thirty second witness-CATHERINE P. WEBSTER, daughter of the accused, sworn.-On Friday afternoon, the 23d November, 1849, I saw my father at home between 4 and 6 o'clock ; he spent the evening at home be had retired before I went to bed that night ; on the next Wednesday I did not see him at breakfast, but saw him a short time afterwards ; he was at home at the uma4 dinner hour; that evening the family came to Boston and went to Mrs. Cunningham's party; we came down to ty'~,e toll-house to wait for the omnibus; while at the toll-house my sister saw the notice offering a reward fOTthe recovery of Dr. P.; she pointed it out to us, and my father read it aloud; on Sunday, the 25th, my father was at home in the morn-