Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 30   Enlarge and print image (60K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 30   Enlarge and print image (60K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
30 1 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. have been led to suppose that the parts of the body found, were his. The fact of his disappearance had as much to do with my opinion, as the color of his hair. Direct, again.-I received the mortgage which I produced, from Mrs. Parkman, a day or two before I testified to the coroner's jury. It being now seven o'clock, the Court directed an adjournment; and at the same time signified that the jury would be permitted to take, a view of the Medical College, attended by two officers, and one counsel an ,each side; and that this view might be had, previously to the hour of meeting to-morrow morning. It was arranged that Mr. Bemis should attend on the part of the Government, and Mr. Sohier on the part of the defence, and that the jury should reach the Medical College, (distant about half a mile from the Court-House,) at eight o'clock, and return into court as soon after nine as might be. SECOND DAY.-WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20th. The jury having returned from their view at a quarter of ten, this morning, and answering to the call of their names, the trial proceeded. Francis Tukey, sworn,-examined by Mr. Bemis. I am the City Marshal of this city, and as such, have partially the superintendence and direction of the police. I was first made acquainted with the disappearance of Dr. George Parkman, on Saturday, Nov. 24th. Mr. Edward Blake called at my office, that day, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and requested me to have inquiries instituted for him. At, Mr. Blake's request, I went to his office, and there met Mr. Robert G. Shaw, to concert the best measures which could be taken. I ad- vised to have the police officers at the west end of the city informed of his disappearance, and to make such inquiries for him as they could, without making unnecessary publicity. If they should hear nothing of him before two in the afternoon, then I could communicate word to the police generally, and have investigation made throughout the city. I accordingly sent for the police officers on the west station, and directed them to make ,inquiry, in a private way, for Dr. Parkman, and to in- stitute such search as they could, in his unoccupied houses, by pretend- ing an errand about drains, nuisances, and the like. At two o'clock, I got no further information,. than that he was last seen, Friday, in the neighborhood of the. Medical College; and Messrs. Blake and Shaw called to tell me, that no intelligence had been obtained of him, and that they wanted the whole police notified of his absence. I did so, and at the same time advised the insertion of an advertisement in the. evening papers, of his absence. It was, accordingly, inserted in the Transcript and Journal; I know, at least, that it was inserted in the Journal, for I remember telling the reporter of that paper of it, who happened to be in my office at the time. (The Court here intimated, that it seemed unnecessary to go into more extended proof of the fact of the disappearance of Dr. Parkman. The counsel for the prosecution stated that they did not propose to press that point further, but that they were desirous to show, in a gen- eral way, by this witness, who had the more immediate superintendence of the search for the deceased, how extensive and minute that search had been.) I should say that it would have been impossible, with the means which I had at command, to make a more extensive and particular search, than was made, to discover the whereabouts of Dr. Parkman;