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122 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER.
quite suddenly, upon me. I recognized, among them, Dr. Henry J.
Bigelow, Mr. Edward Blake, Mr. Robert G. Shaw, Jr., Marshal Tukey,
and others.
They.stated, that they had come for advice, and directions; that,
certain discoveries had been made at the Medical College, supposed
to be connected with Dr. Parkman's remains, and that, Dr. Webster
was then lodged in jail. I told them, that, if they were satisfied that
the remains were human, the coroner should be sent for, to take charge
of _them. The matter of holding Dr. Webster, was next talked of; and
I told. them, that a complaint must be made before a magistrate, and
that Judge Merrill, of the Police Court, would be the nearest, to send
for. Some one went for him, and he came. He declined to act, at
first, on account of a distant relationship to Dr. Webster; but, finally,
considering that that circumstance, could not interfere with his dis-
charge of a, ministerial duty, consented to issue a warrant, if I would
draw the complaint. A difficulty then arose, about the person who
should make the complaint; and, after some ten minutes' delay, Mr.
Kingsley volunteered to assume the responsibility. The complaint was
'duly made out, and sworn to, and the warrant signed, and issued.
I supposed, that all proper care had been taken of the remains that
had been found. But, on some statement being made, that they were
in an exposed condition, I recommended, that gentlemen of chemical
and anatomical skill, should be sent for, to examine them; and Dr.
Martin Gay, and some other physician, were sent for. Dr. Gay came;
and it was proposed, that we should first go down to the jail, and see
Dr. Webster. Mr. Blake urged my presence, and I consented to go.
When we got to the jail, I inquired for Mr. Andrews, the jailer, and
found that he was not there.. Mr. Leighton, the clerk, however, was
present, and we .inquired of him for Dr. Webster. Understanding that
he had come, cheerfully into town, I expected to find him as usual. I
had not the least idea, that there was any real cause of suspicion against
him. I mean, that I did not suppose, that there was anything, that
he could not readily explain. I asked Mr. Leighton, to send for Dr.
Webster, to come up from the lock-up, where I understood he had been
placed. Mr. Cummings, the 'turnkey, went down, and came back with
word, that he could not stand, and was not in a condition to come up.
I then asked Dr. Gay, if he would not go down and see him; he con-
sented, and went down. I did not accompany him, but remained
up-stairs with Mr. Spurr.
In a short time, the officers came up, with Dr. Webster; Mr. Leigh-
ton supporting him under one arm, and Mr. Cummings, under the other.
They placed him in an arm-chair. He was very much agitated and
convulsed, and asked for water. He recognized me, and called me by
name, and also Dr. Gay. Water was handed to him in a tumbler; but
his agitation was such, that he could not hold it. I asked Dr. Gay to
assist him; and he supported his head, with one hand. while he held
the glass to his lips, with the other. In this way, I believe, that he
succeeded in getting some water into his mouth. He appeared to be
in great distress; particularly, .in regard to his separation from his
family. I begged him to be calm; told him, that we had not come to
harm him; and expressed my commiseration for his condition. I had
known him personally before, and also, his father, for a, long time.
I also asked Dr. Gay, to try to soothe him; and he did so, in a most
sympathizing manner.
I told Dr. Webster, that, we all had duties to perform, and that they
must be performed; and that one of them, was, to enter upon the
investigation, now called for, by the supposed extraordinary discov-
eries, made at the Medical College; that, these discoveries required
explanations, which, perhaps, he could give; that, as further search
would be requisite, and some of his apartments, under which the
remains had been found, had not been opened, I wished that he would
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