Dr. James W. Stone. Report of the Trial of
Professor John W. Webster ...
, 1850
,
Image No: 98
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Dr. James W. Stone. Report of the Trial of
Professor John W. Webster ...
, 1850
,
Image No: 98
   Enlarge and print image (55K)           << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
89 quired what that was. The top of the furnace was covered up with pieces of freestone. On top of these were minerals. I inquired what was there. I reached down my hand, and took up a piece of hard coal. There was something that adhered to it, that looked like burnt bone. The Marshal said, °° Don't meddle with anything there." I was soon directed by the Marshal to go to Cambridge. I took a coach, took Mr. Starkweather and Oliver H. Spurr with me, and went to the house of Dr. Webster. We stopped the coach within five or six rods, before we got to his house. I left the officers there, and met the Doctor on the front steps, showing a gentleman out of his house. The gate was open, and I passed in. I spoke to the Doctor before he got into the house, and told him we were about to search the College over that evening, and wished him to be present. He went into the front entry, and from there into the library, and put on his boots, his hat, and coat. When he got out, he said, ~° I should like to go back for my keys." I -told him it was not necessary, as we had keys enough to unlock the College; and he said, °° Very well." I walked with him from the house to the carriage. We got into the carriage, and I tried to have a free conversation with him. We came over Craigie's Bridge. Had some conversation about the railroad; also, with regard to the efforts that had been made to find the body of Dr. Parkman. I told him what distances we had sent to trace out the re- ports of his having been seen. He said there was a lady over there, (pointing towards the °° Port,") who knows something about it- °'Suppose we ride over and see her." I told him I thought we had better postpone it to another time. Dr. Webster said he bad called on Dr. Parkman about nine o'clock on the morning of the 23d, request- ing the Doctor to call on him between the hours of one and two. He also stated that the Doctor did call. He also stated that he paid him 8483, and that Dr. Parkman was to cancel the mortgage. I inquired of Dr. Webster if Dr. Parkman had done so. I think his answer was, he did not know. I then asked him, in case Dr. Parkman was not found and it was not cancelled, whether he would be the loser. He answered that he would not. When we arrived near the bridge, I told him that soundings had been had about these waters, all above and below the bridge ; that a hat had been found near the Navy Yard, supposed to be Dr. Parkman's. We drove on till we got to Brighton st., and the Doctor observed we were going the wrong way. I told him I thought perhaps the driver might be green. We arrived at the jail, and I got out and went to the jail-door, to see if there were any spectators there. I then requested the gentlemen to get out, and we walked into the jail- office. The Doctor got out and walked in, without peaking any remark whatever. After we got into the office, I opened the door to the rear office, and said, " Gentlemen, suppose we walk inhere; " and they all walked in, without saying a word. Dr. Webster now turned round to me, and said, « What does all this mean?" Said I, °' Dr. Webster, you recollect I told you, at the bridge, that soundings had been had above and below the bridge. We have been sounding in and about the College. We have done looking for the body of Dr. Parkman. We shall not look for his body any more; and you are now in cus- tody on the charge of the murder of Dr. Parkman."