|
268
were present when he paid the money, or two persons, one of whom
was the janitor, had just left, were both fabrications. On Tuesday,
he- wanted no fires-his lecture would not bear the heat. Is it
true, that, with the knowledge of this fact, the Counsel can turn
round and say that the Counsel for the Government have not shown
that it would bear it? Dr. Webster could show, by the students,
what his lecture was that day; and then the chemists here could tell
whether it was a matter to bear heat or not. This is for him, and
not for the Government, to show.
Then, Clapp's search ! It amounts to nothing, except the leading
away from the privy, and opening of another door, through which
Dr. Webster led them. Mr. Kingsley saw a fire in the assay
furnace on that Tuesday. That fire was burning, and Dr. Webster
was there, and the tea-chest was there, also,-the tan and the min-
erals in it - on that d;y. Then, Gentlemen, he gives that turkey to
Mr. Littlefield! If there was an .attempt at conciliation, it was not
an attempt of Littlefield's, but of Dr. Webster, so far as it amounted
to anything. And is it consistent with the fact, that he stated that
he had such a horror of this man ? If you believe Mr. Littlefield, on
Wednesday, Dr. Webster was at that furnace. He was away from
home, by the testimony of his own daughters. Fire was burning.
He locked up everything fast - covered up this fire in the. furnace,
and left it to burn and smoulder awav.
Then, his other object, that of keeping up the alibi, was to be at.
tended to. He was at home at dinner on Tuesday; but he came
into town on the afternoon. For what purpose ? So far as it appears,
to give Mr. Littlefield this turkey ! Nothing else!
On Thursday, Thanksgiving day, he was at home after eleven
o'clock. On Friday, in the morning, at eight o'clock, he was at home.
At nine o'clock, on that morning, he was at Mr. Waterman's shop,
ordering the tin box. It is said, by one of his daughters, that they
were in the habit of sending plants to Fayal. If that had been the
purpose of this box, never needed before, would it have required the
strong handle ? If, too, plants were to be sent in it, would it have
been soldered up tight? Who ever heard of sending across the
water live plants in a box so soldered up as to exclude the moisture
and the air?
More decisive than this, his daughter tells you that she does not
know as there was any intention of sending plants at that time, and
Mr. Waterman tells you he never made such 'a box for him before.
But that interview with Mr. Waterman is very significant. ~~Dr.
Parkman," he says, very energetically, °1 did go to Cambridge; " and
then he tells the story about a man's having seen, in a mesmeric state,
a cab, the number of which was obtained, in which Dr. Parkman
was oarried off, and blood was found in it!
I do not know how it strikes your minds; but that a teacher in
Harvard College should be here, in the city of Boston, in the shop of
a mechanic, trying to impress upon this man the truth of such a story
as that, strikes me as singular. He followed up that day, telling
that same story to Mr. Littlefield and his wife. Then, in the course
of that day, he buys the fish-hooks, and, in the afternoon, goes over
to Mrs. Coleman's, and has that striking interview with her. What
was he trying to ascertain from her, or to make her say? Why, that
|
