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building in some incomprehensible way, and hence the door was found
unbolted in the morning. You remember how impressive the Counsel
was about that unknown person, who might thus and then have effected
his entrance into the building. This, of course, is utterly subversive
of the other theory, if it has anv foundation in the proof. But I
think there is another suggestion worthy of your attention. On that
Friday night after one o'clock in the morning, and up to one the
next day, who testifies of the whcreabout of Dr. Webster? Who,
beside him had a key to that door, except Dr. Leigh? The facility
with which Dr. Webster flitted between the Medical College and
Cambridge has been made apparent to you by the testimony of his
own witnesses. I, too, think the unbolted door had some connection
with these remains, but not that it bears upon any other person than
the prisoner. I cannot imagine that there was some murderer out-
side who carries these remains there, because suspicion had begun to
breathe upon Dr. Webster. That would imply that this body had
been put there at a very late period in the week.
But, in point of fact, Gentlemen, until these remains were found
on the premises, and until that startling discovery was communicated
to the police, there was no evidence of a general suspicion against
the prisoner- none whatever, until Friday, the day of his arrest.
Then, undoubtedly, it was a matter of remark. There is no doubt
but that, with regard to the College, public sentiment had been decid-
ed before that date. But, let me say that the public are not prompt
to entertain an unfounded charge, of a great crime, against a man
who is set so far beyond the reach of suspicion as to make it require
proof upon proof to connect him with the transaction. But what
foundation is there for any such theory as this? There has appeared
nothing yet, nothing whatever, to point at, or implicate, any such
third person. And upon what are you to try this cause. Gentlemen?
"° Hearken to your evidence," was the admonition with which you
commenced your patient and protracted labors in this trial; and you
are to take it all. I shall consider how much has been added to it
by the defence, by and bye.
Four months have now elapsed, and neither time, place, mode of
death, nor any other circumstance, has directed attention to anv third
person ; nobody else is suspected. It is idle, it is absurd, to suppose,
in a state of evidence like this, that anv one else committed the act
which all that evidence tends to fix and fasten upon this prisoner.
There is a further suggestion- and Iwill answer it now-that the
remains were carried to the Medical College with a view to get the
reward. Did ever a reasonable man listen to, or did ever wise men,
who were tittering their own convictions-
[Judge Merrick here interposes, and holds a private consultation
with the Attorney General.]
Mr. Clifford. I understand, may it please your Honors, and
Gentlemen, from my learned friend-to whose argument, to whose
efforts, I am certainly disposed to do entire justice that be used the
matter of the reward in connection only, with this consideration: that
it might be remarkable that the offering of the reward was coincident
with Mr. Littlefield's commencing the search for these remains. The
fact is not so; but, if it were so, what an absurdity it would be, con-
necting it with anybody ! That a person should deposit there. and
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