|
28
pose of breaking through the wall of the vault. We talked a few
minutes together, and he said enough to satisfy me what was his in-
tention. I had heard a noise while I stood at the door, that convinced
me sorne one was to work on the wall. He went back again to where
I understood he had been so at work, and we left for the Marshal's
office. I was not present when Dr. Webster was arrested. I saw
him, however, that night.
The first intimation I had of the finding of Dr. Parkman's remains
was at ten o'clock, when I went to the jail with Dr. Martin Gay, and
others, including 3-Ir. S. D. Parker, and two of the men employed in
the prison. When I went in, Professor Webster lay on the bed in
the cell, with his face downwards. He was asked if he was not able
to get up, and he said he was not. After a few minutes, they lifted
him up. He had hardly strength to hold up his head, and was so
much excited that I thought he would not live. He was brought up
stairs into the jail office, when he asked for water, but could not drink
it. The tumbler was held to his face, and he bit at it. He tried' to
take hold of it once, and thxew the water all about him. I am not
aware that he hurt himself in the act of drinking. He sat in the
chair alone ; only once or twice requiring any support from the by-
standers. Ile trembled, and was so much convulsed that I would not
wish to see the like ,gain. I cannot say the affection was like delir-
ium tremens. I have never seen a case of that. He cried out to
have word sent to his family, as they did not know where he was,
and also that others should be sent for. He mentioned his family a
great many times ; when Mr. Parker said there was another family,
who also had been in great distress for a week; that we were going
to the Medical College, where there were some things he could per-
haps explain. He said he had nothing to explain, and would go to
the College with us. The officers helped him into the coach. He
was perspiring greatly in the lock-up, and, on Mr. Parker saying he
would be cold, he answered, 1° his extremities were freezing." I am
sure that Mr. Parker was in the lock-up. I ran- down after the coach
to the College, and arrived just as they had got into the small labora-
tory up stairs. Professor Webster had an officer from the jail on
each side, supporting him. When we got in, they proposed to open
the inner room door, and asked for the key, which he said Clapp had
taken from him when he was arrested; and the door was broken open.
When they examined that room, I asked for the key of the privy.
Professor Webster said it would be found on the end of the shelf. A
key that was found hanging against the door would not fit. Those
who went down came back and told us of this, when Mr. Webster
said that some one had taken the key away. We then went down
to the lower laboratory, and broke the privy door open.
Officers helped Webster down stairs. Was in the laboratory down
stairs, when something was said about the bones found in the furnace.
Was requested to let the bones in the furnace remain till the coroner's
jury should assemble. Went from thence to the trap-door ; there
were parts of a body taken out and lying there; the pelvis, right
thigh and right leg down to the ankle. Thought it was right thigh
and leg. Dr. Webster leaned on an officer; said-nothing. Did not see
that he appeared any different from what he had before -was a
great. deal excited -stood eight or nine feet from the body. After
|
