Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 23   Enlarge and print image (69K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 23   Enlarge and print image (69K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
1RIAL'OF JOHN W. 'WEBSTER. 23 we got admitted. We knocked a second time; and then Starkweather and I turned to go down the stairs leading into the lower story occupied by Mr. Littlefield, Littlefield said that the Doctor was in there, and that we could get in that way, and he would try to rouse him. He ac- cordingly took hold of the door and shook it severely. At this point, at two o'clock, P. M., the court adjourned till half-past three, P. M. Tuesday, P. M., March 19th. The Court carne in at half-past three o'clock, pursuant to adjourn- ment. Charles M. Kingsley, resumes.-After knocking at Professor Webster's door, perhaps two minutes or so, the second time, he came to the door and unlocked it. I think that there is but one lock on the door. Mr. Littlefield told the Professor, that we had come there to see if we could get any clue to Dr. Parkman. I did not hear any reply from Professor Webster, if he made any. We went into the lecture-room, thence into the back room, and then down into the lower laboratory. We made but little examination; didn't move anything in the labora- tory. I don't know whether Dr. Webster accompanied us down stairs, but think that he did, following us. He did not say anything, or if he did, it was to Littlefield, behind us. I went back again to East Cam- bridge after getting through the visit at the Medical College, and stayed there till about dark. The next day, Tuesday, the 27th, Officers Clapp, Rice, and Fuller, accompanied me on another visit to the Medical College, at about ten A. M. Mr. Littlefield was with us. I think we had inquired for him be- fore searching his apartments, which we did before going into Dr. Web- ster's. We made a thorough search in Mr. Littlefield's part of the build- ing, of every room and the closets. He was in and out while the search was going on; but when his back was turned, I took occasion to look into private places, such as between the leaves of. books, &c., to see if I could see any papers in Dr. Parkman's hand-writing, or any money; also into his pantaloons pocket, hanging tip in a, clothes-press. We looked under the beds, also, and into them. After leaving Littlefield's apartments, we went down through a small trap-door into the cellar under the building. Messrs. Fuller and Rice went with Mr. Littlefield out to the back wall, but I did not. go with them, and do not know what they saw or did. We then went up to Dr. Webster's apartments and knocked, as we had done the day before; but he did not keep us so long a-waiting, as then. Mr. Littlefield tried to get in, but could not. I don't remember whether he tried his key in the door and found it bolted, or why it was that he couldn't get in. Dr. Webster came to the door. Mr. Clapp made excuses for calling on him. He said, that we had come to the College first, so that we might say, when we went to houses in the neigh- borhood, that we had been there. Mr. Clapp was very polite to Pro- fessor Webster; gave him to understand that nothing would be removed; that there was no suspicloln of him; and that we were obliged to come and look into his apartments among the rest. The Doctor said, that we could " look round if we wished to," or something of that sort. We walked through the lecture-room into the back room, and then Mr. Clapp made a motion as if to go into the back private room. (The witness here explained to the jury, as well as he could, the rela- tive position of the different apartments occupied by Professor Web- ster.) When Mr. Clapp made this motion, Professor Webster told him that he kept his valuable and dangerous articles in that room; and Mr. Clapp, after having just put his head inside the door, said he shouldn't go in there to get blown up. We. then went down into the lower laboratory. Before going down there, however, while Mr. Clapp was talking with Professor Webster, I put my foot into the ashes of a small furnace in