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with a pen. But I submit this part of the case to your judgment,
without pressing it upon you.
Gentlemen, I do not know but that I have said almost all that is nec-
essary for me to say, with regard to Prof. Webster's conduct, prior to
his arrest. I now propose to add a single word, respecting his conduct
afterwards. I have spoken of his meeting Mr. Littlefield. He had
spoken to Mr. Starkweather of Mr. Littlefield, before he met him face
to face--but that conversation with Starkweather is too important
not to have your attention called to it for a single moment. Here is
a man, certainly, of intellectual culture - of a certain degree of
self-discipline, such as you would expect to find in an educated man.
He is called upon, at his own house, after his own premises have been
searched for the missing body of one whose disappearance has excited
the entire community. He is waited upon by three police officers.
They say they wish to make a further search of his premises. He
makes no objections. He calls their attention to the fact, that Mrs.
Bent had. seen Dr. Parkman. He knew that story. Did it impress
his mind that nothing was discovered ? Did he suggest this in the
hope that, on going to Mrs. Bent with these police officers, she might
modify her statement ? They stop at the Leverett-street Jail. Mr.
2lapp!.es in, and, upon returning, requests them to get out. He,
bmi ively, and without inquiry, follows them into the prison. Who
is Dr. Webster? -and who are they? He, a Professor of Harvard
College ! and they, police officers of the city of Boston ! He follows
them, and not till they reach the inner office of the jail, does he
ask what it means. Mr. Clapp replied, not that Dr. Parkman's body
was found, but, '° Dr. Webster, you remember I called your attention
to the soundings which have been made above and below the bridge.
We have been sounding about the Medical College; we have been
looking for the body of Dr. Parkman. We shall look for it no more;
and you are now m custody, charged with the murder of Dr. Park-
man. He articulated half a sentence," continued Mr. Clapp-III could
not understand it; and then he said, ' I wish you would send over to
my family.' I told him they would better not learn it till morning.
He seemed inclined to speak a word or two, and I told him he had
better not say anything about it."
What was his conversation, when he was left alone there with Mr.
Starkweather? And remember, that, not even in the cross-examination,
was it attempted to be shown that this conversation was not reported
exactly as it was taken down. The appeal is then made to you, to
consider him as an irresponsible person-that he was in no condition
to know what he was about, and that you ought not to regard his
declarations any more than you would those of a raving maniac.
He had intelligence and malevolence enough to endeavor, then and
there, to make a causeless accusation against an honest, though a hum-
ble, man. He did make inquiries, and, from that time, he was master
of himself. He says to Mr. Starkweather, °' You might tell me
something about it." Immediately after Mr. Clapp and Mr. Spurr
went out, he asked for water. A pitcher was brought, and he drank
several times. °° He asked, ' if they had found him.' I told him not
to ask. any questions, for it was not proper for me to answer them."
No man ever hzd more consideration, from Mr. Parker down to Mr.
Starkweather, than Dr. Webster had that night. He was expressly
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