Dr. James W. Stone. Report of the Trial of
Professor John W. Webster ...
, 1850
,
Image No: 88
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Dr. James W. Stone. Report of the Trial of
Professor John W. Webster ...
, 1850
,
Image No: 88
   Enlarge and print image (51K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
79 Sawin, the express man, came with a bundle of grape-vines, a box, and a bag, and left them in our part of the cellar, where he never left anything before, because he always took them into the rooms of Prof. Webster. When the Professor was out, there were keys by which he could get in. I don't know why he could n't get in that morning. On Thanksgiving.day, I asked Mr. Littlefield why he did not take those grape-vines and carry them into the laboratory; and he said he could not get in, for the. doors were all locked. Mr. Littlefield took hold of the door, and shook it, and said, °' You see I cannot get in." The grape-vines were in my way, and I wanted them removed. Mr. Bemis. Have you seen your husband attempt any other mode of gaining information about Dr. Webster, except looking through the key-hole ? Mr. Sohier. We object. Mr. Bemis. The inquiry was, whether she had seen Mr. Littlefield attempt to do anything further to ascertain whether Dr. Webster was there. Mr. Merrick. It would corroborate your own witness, which can- not be done, except with reference to the search for the body, or un- less the witness be impeached. We do not object to offering evidence to show that Mr. Littlefield did try the doors; but if you propose to show that Mr. Littlefield was lying down, we object. Attornev General. I suppose that anything which goes merely and exclusively to corroborate Mr. Littlefield is not admissible ; but that any fact which goes to show that Dr. Webster was in his room, or anything which she witnessed showing that there was difficulty of access to his apartments, is proper. Mr. Bemis. And we offer it. no more to prove that Mr. Littlefield did this, than to prove that any other independent person was looking through the key-hole. [The Court ruled, that anything she observed might be stated by the witness, but not her conversation with other persons.] Mr Bemis. Did you see Mr. Littlefield attempt to do anything, in order to get into the building ? Mr. Merrick, We object. Mr. Bemis. Supposing that Mrs. Littlefield had seen Mr. Little. field go round and try to get into the room, I think it could be testi- fied to. Chief Justice Shaw. What was done or seen, can be testified to. Mr. Bemis. Did you see Mr. Littlefield lying on the floor, near Dr. Webster's door ? Mrs. Littlefield. I did not see him lying down. I only saw him listening at the key-hole; and when he saw me, he came away. Did not see him go into Prof. Webster's rooms on Wednesday. Mr. Littlefield was in the habit of making fires in Prof. Webster's rooms. I do not know that he built any fires there after the disap- pearance of Dr. Parkman till Dr. Webster's arrest. Know that. my husband goes out to build fires, but do not follow him. I saw Prof. Webster pass through the entry Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday morning, he came quite early, as early as eight o'clock. I saw him pass through the entry. He did not go through into the laboratory. On Friday morning, Dr. Webster came to the College, I cannot say