Report of the Case of John W. Webster, master of arts and doctor of medicine of Harvard University; member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of the American Academy of arts and sciences, of the London Geological Society, and of the St. Petersburg Mineralogical Society; and Erving Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy in Harvard University; indictd for the Murder of George Parkman, Master of Arts of Harvard University, Doctor of Medicine of the University of Aberdeen, and member of the Massachusetts Medical Society before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts; including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published. By George Bemis, Esq. One of the counsel in the case. Boston: Charles Little and James Brown, 1850.
119: Littlefield- "I was asked where the key of the privy was? and I told them, "That they must ask Dr. Webster; as I never saw the inside of it, in my life." Dr. Webster said, "There the key hangs, upon the nail." Mr. Starkweather handed the key down to me. ..." [but the key did not fit and it could not be found]
120: [Webster asked for water] "When he took the tumbler in his hand, he trembled, and snapped at it, as a mad dog would; he did not drink any."
122: court adjourned at 6:30 p.m. until Saturday Morning;
124: [Littlefield probably was caught gambling in Webster's rooms by Webster and had access to his rooms]
126: [Reward: re: conversation with his wife on the 25th of November, 1849] "I told my wife, that night, that I was going to watch every step that he took. I went into the bed-room, and told it to her there, after I had told her about the conversation. I had been hunting round that day, for Dr. Parkman; in the empty houses, &c. I never thought of the reward, then. I did notknow that one was offered. I knew, during the week, that rewards were offered. I never told any one, that I meant to get the reward; never told Dr. Webster so, and I defy any one to prove it."
133: [states that he will not seek the reward; disavows all claims to the $3,000 & $1,000 rewards]
2) fish hooks; grappling apparatus (INTENDED to be used to retrieve body parts from Webster's private privy?) was purchased/made by Webster (not disputed)
3) key to privy found by Police in Webster's pocket
4) notes in Webster's possession: $483.64? paid? How did Webster come to have the larger note in his possession? Judge Shaw suggests it was not yet paid, not yet due; But the Judge and prosecution seem to be misleading. The account found was one drawn up by Charles Cunningham, and possibly not the one that Parkman would have had as his record copy? curious. What ever happened to Charles Cunningham? Why did he not testify? Prosecution produced evidence that the $90 in fees were deposited the next day by Webster (11/24?); but there was no validation that the accounts found were the originals Parkman would have kept until the debt was paid. Note that when Governor Briggs denied clemency, he referred to the two notes as the ones Webster had no right to possess ("signed by him"), p. 588.
560: On April 24, 1850, in his own hand, Webster declared his total innocence to the Governor and Council; On May 23rd Rev. Putnam purportedly took down his confession and submitted a second petition to the Governor and Council on July 2. It was not in Webster's hand, but notes were submitted that were in his hand that did not admit quilt.
580-81: curious letter? re: Cochituate water pipe; signed by Webster? If so, seems to admit guilt, BUT not clear how the communicaton came to the Lt. Governor; Putnam? Actually signed? (dated 7/6/50)
Phone: (o) 410-260-6401
Email: edp@mdsa.net