Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 81   Enlarge and print image (70K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 81   Enlarge and print image (70K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. 83 the bolt on. I was mistaken, in saying that I did not see the Doctor, again, Tuesday afternoon, after he gave me the order for the turkey; the conversation about my being a free-mason, was the same after- noon. I saw him, about six, again, that afternoon. I may have said, that it was as late as six, before the coroner's inquest, as I got the day wrong about the order. I cannot say now, positively, whether it was before, or after, six: it was some time after I had got home with the turkey. I am positive, that the conversation about my being a free- mason, was after I received the turkey. I may have tried the doors, after I got back from the lodge; I can't say, It was as late as eleven o'clock, when I got back. I had no occasion to try the doors. I had had no glasses to wash, since the Friday. previous. I guess there were not many glasses there, after Friday, as Dr. Webster only delivered one lecture, after that day. There were some, after his arrest, which I emptied of water, to prevent their freezing. I don't recollect saying before the inquest, " That I heard some one in Dr. Webster's rooms, about one o'clock, Wednesday afternoon," I did say, " That I returned with my wife, about one." I don't recollect hearing any one there, at that time; and don't think, that I swore so. Before I went out with my wife, that morning, at nine o'clock, I tried to look under the door. I saw Dr. Webster when he came in, that morning. He had told me, the night before, that he shouldn't want any fires that week. I knew that he always wanted a good fire, being a cold-feeling kind of a man, and I thought it very strange, that he should be in there without a fire; especially, as I thought that it was a cold morning. I don't recollect hearing any one in his laboratory, at four o'clock, that afternoon, and did not state so, before the coroner's jury. When I tried to look into the laboratory, in :the morning, I did not watch any great time. I heard Dr. Webster stop, when I was at work with my knife, and this was why I thought he heard me. This was before I heard the coal-hod. I heard him move it on the floor, and this was after I laid down on the bricks. I said, that I saw him go to the furnace. The cylinder did nod lay upon the furnace when I went into the laboratory, in the afternoon, but upon the sand-bath. The heat of the wall, I thought very strange, as I never knew any "seat to be there before. I went into the room, but I did not uncover Ue furnace. I went in, because I thought that the building was on fire. There did not appear to be much fire there. When I put my hand to the wall, it was an a place about half a foot higher than my head. The furnace is about three feet high, and the heat I felt, was above my head. The flue runs up. When I got into the laboratory, there did not appear to be much fire in the furnace. There had been no fires in the large furnace, since Friday. I did not uncover the-furnace, because Dr. Webster had told me never to touch articles, except placed upon a particular table. The soap-stone cover, had some crucibles and mineral stones upon it: there were none of the stones in paper. I know that the furnace was pretty hot; and the bricks were hot; but I can't say that there was any fire in the furnace. I did not look at the ashes. The hogsheads were made for the manufacture of gas. They had never been used. I took the broom from the corner of the coal-bin. I did not know but that Dr. Parkman might be in the hogshead. I found two-thirds of the water gone. I did not think of finding anything in the furnace. I can't say what kind of a lock was on the privy; I never saw it. I believe, that Mr.. Clapp has it. I believe, that I had under my control, sixteen keys. I id not try to get into the privy, that, (Wednesday,) afternoon; I had no key to it. If I had had a key to it, I should have tried to get in. I should not think, that the lock to the privy, was a common one., I made no attempt to find any keys to fit the privy-lock,