Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 118   Enlarge and print image (64K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
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Bemis Report of the Webster Trial, 1850 [1897], Image No: 118   Enlarge and print image (64K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
120 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. I have done business for him, before. This is the account, (pro- duced by the witness,] of different articles, which Dr. Webster has ordered from me, since the year 1843. I had never made any such apparatus as this, for Dr. Webster, before, nor anything precisely like it, for any one else. The Doctor wanted the handle made very strong. On Saturday morning, it came down from the shop, labelled. It has not since been called for. I don't know, whether Dr. Webster was to call for it, or not. The label has upon it, " To be called for," and, " charged." Cross-examined, by Mr. Sohier.-My store is near the Cambridge- Omnibus office. The box was made, as though it was to be filled with small things. I introduced the conversation, in regard to Dr. Park- man. I went to Dr. Webster, of my own accord. Charles B. Lothrop, sworn,-examined by Mr. Bemis. I work for Mr. Waterman, the last witness; am his foreman. I remember the occasion of Dr. Webster's calling for a tin box. He came, on Friday, the 30th of November, about ten o'clock, A. M., and wanted a square tin box. I showed him some, and he said, that they would not answer. He said, he wanted one " to pack things in." I asked him, What he wanted it for? and he said, " For books, &c." I asked him the size; and he gave me a piece of paper, with the dimen- sions, eighteen inches square, and thirteen inches deep. He said, that he wanted it made of thick tin. I told him, that we generally made them of light tin, as that was all that was necessary to keep the air out.. He wanted it made strong, with the handle, so that it would not slip out. He wanted to know, if I could not make a groove in it. I told him, the best way would be; to have the edge turned over, one-half, or three- quarters of an inch on the top; that it would be easier to solder, so. About this time, Mr. Waterman came along, and made some apology, or remark, about interrupting him. " How did Dr. Parkman appear, when you paid him the money? " he asked. The Doctor replied, " He took it in his hand, and darted off;" that, was his expression. Mr. Waterman, said, that he did not believe that story, about his going to Cambridge; that he did not believe, that Dr. Parkman got beyond the vicinity of his own tenements, in Grove street. The Doctor replied, "Oh, there is no doubt of that; he was seen going over the bridge." Dr. Webster stopped a minute, and then said, "Oh, Mr. Waterman! a woman that was mesmerized, named the number of the cab, which took Dr. Parkman off, and Mr. Homer has found the cab, with spots of blood on it." I asked, If it was Fitz Henry Homer? and Dr. Webster said, " Yes." After we got through, I spoke to Mr. Waterman, about the box. Mr. Waterman told him, that if he would send the box in, after he got his things in, he would solder it up for him. " No, Mr. Waterman," said the Doctor, " I have got to send it out of town, and I have got soldering- irons and will do it, myself."-As I understood him, he had got to send it out of town, to be packed. Mr. Waterman told him, that if he was going to solder it, himself, .to have a holder made, to hold it down, as he could solder it, so, a great deal easier. I told him, that I would have the box done for him, to-morrow might, (Saturday.) He said, that he wanted it sooner; and I then told him, that I would have it done, by eleven or twelve o'clock, or noon; and he said, that, that would do. He spoke as though he had no kind of doubt, of Dr. Parkman's having gone to Cambridge. Samuel N. Brown, sworn,-examined by Mr. Bemis. I am one of the toll-gatherers on Cambridge Bridge,-West-Boston Bridge. I knew Dr. George Parkman. I also know Dr. Webster. On the 30th of November, I was at a grocery-store, at the corner Of Cambridge and Grove streets, at a little before four o'clock. I saw