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TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. 259
gence and its humanity, that such a man as Dr. Webster could remain,
not under suspicion only, but under an accusation like this, for four
months together, and no hope-giving trace or indication of his innocence
be discovered? Why, Gentlemen, what interests have been involved in
making his innocence to appear, if that were a possible thing? What
anxiety and solicitude have been felt on that score by all the friends of
good order and of education, as well as by the friends of that beloved
University,-the cherished child of our Pilgrim Fathers? If one of the
officers of that University were charged with crime, he would have had,
(until proof of his guilt compelled conviction,)-as this prisoner has had,
-not only the sympathy, but the repelling disbelief of the accusation
of every man in the community. Do you suppose that suspicion cast upon
such a man could ripen into accusation, and that accusation into an
indictment, and that indictment into trial, in a community like this,
and the world would sit down quietly and let it all go on, if he were
innocent?
But it is further urged by the counsel, that, before suspicion had begun
to be aroused, even as early as the Friday night of Dr. Parkman's dis-
appearance, the person who carried the remains there entered into that
building in some incomprehensible way, and hence the door was found
unbolted in the morning. You remember how impressively the counsel
alluded to that unknown person, who might thus and then have effected
his entrance into the building. This, of course, is utterly subversive of
the other theory, if it has any foundation in the proof. But I think there
is another suggestion worthy of your attention. On that Friday night,
after one o'clock in the morning, and up to one o'clock of the next day,
who testifies of the whereabout of Dr. Webster? Who, beside him, had
a key to that door, if we except Dr. Leigh? The facility with which Dr.
Webster flitted between the Medical College and Cambridge has been
made apparent to you by the testimony of his own witnesses. I think,
too, that the unbolted door had some connection with these remains; but
not that it bears upon any other person than the prisoner. I cannot
imagine that there was some murderer outside who carried these remains
there, "because suspicion had begun to breathe upon Dr. Webster." That
would imply that this body had been put there at a very late period in
the week.
But in point of fact, Gentlemen, until these remains were found on
the premises, and until that startling discovery was communicated to
the police, there was no evidence of a general suspicion against the pris-
oner;-none whatever, until Friday, the day of his arrest. There is no
doubt, that, with regard to the College, public sentiment had been decided
before that date. But let me say, that the public are not prompt to enter-
tain an unfounded charge of a great crime against a man who is set so
far beyond the reach of suspicion as to make it require proof upon proof
to connect him with the transaction. But what foundation is there for
any such theory as this? There has appeared nothing yet-nothing
whatever-to point to or implicate any such third person. And upon
what are you to try this cause, Gentlemen? "Hearken to your Evidence,"
was the admonition with which you commenced your patient and pro-
tracted labors in this trial; and you are to go by nothing more. I shall
consider how much has been added to it by the defence, by-and-by.
Four months have now elapsed, and neither tune, place, mode of
death, nor any other circumstance, has directed attention to any third
person; nobody else is suspected. It is idle, it is absurd, to suppose, in
a state of evidence like this, that any one else committed the act which
all the proof tends to fix upon this prisoner.
• There is a further suggestion,-and I will answer it now,-that the
remains were carried to the Medical College with a view to get the
reward. Did ever a reasonable man listen to, or did ever wise men, who
were uttering their own convictions-
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