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istry - whatever accumulated wisdom he may have - we do not
claim for him.
In reference to dealing with the world, he is not a shrewd man. On
the contrary, he may be considered the reverse ; that is his character,
so far as we know it. But it is not a new thing for him to be locked
up in his laboratory, days and nights. It is no new thing for him to
exclude the janitor, or anybody else, when he is conducting his
experiments. It is a safe and necessary practice, in all laboratories.
True it is, that, at the time when these pipes were new, certain persons
had access to them, for the purpose of keeping them clear ; but, for
certain very good reasons, he stopped that use of it, and let the water
run off.
All this is, and this alone, the head and front of his offending.
The interview took place precisely as Dr. Webster has stated, and
Dr. Parkman left the College; and Dr. Webster left the College at
quite an early hour for him, on that Friday afternoon.
We shall show you how Professor Webster passed the rest of the
week; that he was at home almost every day, at dinner; almost every
night, at tea. These are all the peculiar circumstances under which
we are prepared to produce evidence, excepting that we may introduce
evidence directly contrary to what the Government have put in, upon
certain points. This is the statement, and all the statement, that we
intend to make to you, upon the opening of the case.
Horn. JOSEPH T. BBcKINGHAM, (Senator from Middlesex,) sworn.-I
reside in Cambridge, and have known Prof. Webster for thirty years.
It is seventeen years since I commenced living in Cambridge. I never
heard that he was guilty of any act of violence or inhumanity.
In regard to his general reputation, in that respect, I have never heard
him charged with any act of violence. We have been on familiar
terms, and have met very often.
HoN. JOHN G. PALFREY, sworn. -I have known Professor Webster.
In regard to his character for violence, I have never heard it discussed ;
but have never known, myself, of any act of violence committed by
him. I have known Dr. Webster to be considered a petulant man,
but one who would exhaust his sudden fits of petulance in words; but,
in general, he is a peaceable man.
JOHN H. BLAKE, sworn.-I reside in Boston, and am acquainted
with Professor Webster. At one time, I was very intimate with him.
This was twenty-five years ago,.
I was with him, the first year of my acquaintance, in the laboratory.
Never heard of any acts of violence being committed by him.
DR. JAMES WALKER, sworn. - I reside in Cambridge, and have been
acquainted with Prof. Webster fifteen years; ten years of which
was since I resided here. I never heard anything against his
peaceable character. I never heard of any acts of violence.
FRANCis BowEN, sworn. -I reside in Cambridge. Have been ac-
quainted with Prof Webster about thirteen years. He has moved in
the same society with myself. He is quickly excited, but very quickly
forgetting the cause of his excitement. A hasty and irritable man,
but lacking depth of passion. Never knew of any act of violence
being laid to him.
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