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2211 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER.
one o'clock was the time talked of in the presence of McGowan at the
house of Dr. Parkman in the morning when the appointment was made;
it is the time uniformly declared by Dr. Webster. He had no possible
motive to state it erroneously. If you knew him to be innocent of the
homicide, you would not hesitate to believe him in this particular state-
ment; if he were guilty, do you not perceive that he would be even
more cautiously accurate where it was so easy to be correct, and so
dangerous to expose himself to the hazards of contradiction? But in
fact he is fully confirmed, not only by McGowan, but by Dr. Bosworth,
whose testimony effectually distinguishes the time when Dr. Parkman
ascended the College steps from the occasion when he was seen in Grove
street by Littlefield and the Fullers. These considerations are decisive
of the time; or at least, in the disposal of a momentous accusation sup-
ported only by probabilities deduced from collateral circumstances, they
ought to be held sufficient to satisfy the mind of every rational man, that
Dr. Parkman went to the College at half-after one o'clock, completed
his business there, and departed from it before he was seen, at ten
minutes before two, by Littlefield, Fuller, and others, as he was passing
through Grove street towards it.
This conclusion is not only perfectly compatible with all the other
evidence, but affords a satisfactory explanation of circumstances which
otherwise it would be difficult to account for. Mr. Holland says, that Dr.
Parkman came into his store, at the corner of Vine and Blossom streets,
about half-after one o'clock. Mr. Moore, who was there, thinks it was
a little later; and probably he is correct. Both of them say that he
remained there some ten or fifteen minutes, arranging for some incon-
siderable purchases of butter and sugar. Now, it is quite inconceivable,
if he had not already seen Dr. Webster, that he should have been linger-
ing in that shop for such trifling purposes. It is not reconcilable with
his motives or purposes, or former conduct, that he should have done
so. He who had before been in such earnest pursuit of his debtor, who
had watched with untiring vigilance the highways and by-ways to track
his course, who was heated with such feelings as he had exhibited to
Mr. Pettee, would not have loitered in a grocery in petty purchases of a
few pounds of butter and sugar, when on his way to fulfil an appoint-
ment which was to consummate a purpose he had vigorously followed up.
and upon the accomplishment of which he had so earnestly resolved.
But, on the other hand, if the interview were over, there would
be nothing in it unnatural or improbable. The time is just
what might be expected. The interview with Dr. Webster at
the College, being terminated almost immediately after half-after
one, would bring him to the store of Holland very nearly, if not exactly,
at the time testified of by him and Moore.. This again would correspond
with the statement of Mrs. Hatch, who saw him in Cambridge street at
fifteen minutes before two, from whence he could easily have returned
to be seen in Grove street near the College by Littlefield, the Fullers,
and other witnesses, at ten minutes before two,-the time mentioned by
them.
It is thus that all the testimony can be reconciled, and consistently
explained; leading on, by a. natural and not distant connection, to the
evidence of those witnesses who saw Dr. Parkman at later hours during
the afternoon, and rendering it quite certain that they might, and highly
probable that they did, meet with him in the various localities they have
particularly described. While I forbear from all repetition of that evi-
dence, I cannot but recall its vital importance to your attention, and
ask you to consider how it is sustained, confirmed, and strengthened by
the considerations I am now submitting to you.
But, beyond the information which this evidence discloses, it must be
conceded, that there is a darkness which cannot be penetrated, and
mysteries which cannot be explained. There are but few and faint traces
of Dr. Parkman, after he left the Medical College: and then all are lost.
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