The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-07
THE B0ST TON TRAGEDY.
.NNNNNN|No~N>~oNNyNoSNo~
How the Remains were Discovered.
.-~~~~e>>~yN0-~N~~O~NN-S
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
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The Exclusion Of the Press,
&c, &c, &c.
~, Mc., MC.
From the Ro.tnn,Ersu,ng Herald. Dec

The way In WHOM LittlVheId WAS hrst inddced &c
search in the vault Of Professor Webster's
water closet far as we have been able to elicit
any reliable Information, as follows:-Dr. Bigelow
when he understood that the medical college was in
process Of being searched made 1t point to be pre-
Gent and after the of the building had undergone
a thorough Investigation, he turned to Lttleneld and
AIDED II there was not another connected with
the establishment Lttlefsld answered in the affirm
stive, that there was such a vault. which
ceptaeie from the water. closet Of Mr.. Webster's
ROOM but that there was no way to enter 1t OK.
eept by digging and entering through the wall -
DR.. Bigelcw then inquired II he knew in which place
to commence operations; no stated, that ne did
not himself but would find the architect of the
building. who could inform him of the proper
place This WAS accordingly done. and the architect
pointed out the spot whrreupon Littlehed under the
orders Of Dr. Bigslow commenced operations and dug
for nearly two entire nights Ia mason with bis proper
tools would have done the job in four hours and
finally succeeded In sfecng entrance and discov-
sring part Of the reInans IL Is said by Littlefed
thst wnsn the u truth burst upon him in that lone
aud horrible vault his sensations oyerpowering
and he nearly tainted II will be recoectea that this
feeling ust have resulted In pure horror Of the deed
IL IL veil known hat Litteheld has been much
plcysd, aud 10 frequently In the habit Of handling and
carrying kcdieH nEd fra nents Of bodies In all stages
OF decomposition W, nay, from this fact form som
ides Of the re,otDs nature Of this black and damnabs
from the Boston Evening Journal, Dec ST.
TIE jury Of inquest summoned by Coroner Jabez
Putt, TO Investigate the circumstances connected
with the mysterious death Of Dr.. George Parkman,
st hall past 10 o'clock this forenoon In the ward
OF ward 7, Ia Court square The usual procama-
ton was made by constable Jones officer TO the in
quest strong effort has been made this morning by
parties interested TO prevent the publication, at least
Tor the present Of the testimony to be given before the
jury u inquest On this point ID. Parker. Esq, Dis
trict Attorney made the following address,
Ma. CORONER AND GEsTLEMEs JuRY-I
called upon this morning by Mr. Brewster the fore
OF this jury, who propounded this question:" Are
the Investigations Of coroners' inquess necessarily
public or may th.y by law, be priyate' My answer
was that thought 1t was proper that the opinion Of
Hon. j. H. Clifford the Attorney General, shoald be
taken that sub ect that lie the high law officer
of government and matters Of such vast nome mt az
Ii "a he Glfl Y %
ramouDt jurisdiction; that 1 supposed be now at
hts residence In New Bedford; that would endeavor
to ascertain from Col Hatch er some person from New
Bedford; that II he could not be found would pre-
pare myself to give an opinion
have since seen Col Hatch, who was of opinion
that the Attorney General not in New Bedford =
Ny advice, therefore TO the jury now Is to send tee-
graphic comm unioaton TO New Bedford and II the At
orney General A. to be found there get his opinion
in this matter. would go farther and say that in
the jntermediat time, have consulted With six emil
rent legal gentlemen the Mayor Of the city and three
OF the Aldermen who happened TO be present an ex-
Nsyor and p sd the matter before the Judges Of the
Supreme Court After a private consultation, the
Judges stated that they had arrived at the conclusion
that It not proper for them to express opinion
on the subject accidentally met the Hon. Robert @.
Shaw subsequent 10 this who expressed urgent de-
upon the subject fosbear for the present to
press my own opinion.
The Jury then adjourned to meet at Il o'clock, NJ
Just after the adjournment IL ascertsined that
the Communication with New Bedford, by telegraph,
was interrupted
Ttoelre o'e!oes M-The inquest met agreeaby to ad-
jourDmsnt, when Mr. Parker sroee and addressed the
inquest ms follows
Ma CososrR AM GrSrLEMsS 1T being now ascer-
tained that the Attorney General Is where telesra-
phic comm uneGtion cannot be made to him, | will
express my opinion upon the points proposed to me.
upon the statute law and very diff
fesent here fresh what they In England by the CON-
law. The is0th chapter Of the revised ststses Ia
very explicit In many particulars, but is silent upon
subjtcts Mach l. lett 70 the discretion OF the
coroner and am Of opision that IL is wholly within
The exercise Of the sound discretion OF that officer
whether the testimony Of witresses should be taken
before the jury ofiE1uest publicly or privately:
In come cases, pubic examination Of the witnesses,
aud publication OF their Testimony, might defeat the
ends Il public justice The 10Th section provides that
If any ptrson charged by The inquoot shall not be in
cutody tho Coroner thh have power TO Issue process
for bis al prehenfion AZ soon any evidence is pub
lsaed teIdipg 10 inplicats persou he would have
mort eases opportunity 20 escape In respects
She inquest tf CoToners jury resembles analogous
Inquiry by the Grand jury II the Criminal Court,
which is always secret
Rlany other evils ay Be suggested which may arise
N cares Of great impression and excitement from
publication II the testimony progresses before the
Co-cner's jury, and which would De detrimental t. the
ruto justice In pre- occupying and, perhaps, msdi-
I.ctrg public opiRlon, crrstiog great diculty In got
iii In partial psuo 81 Srors at the trial. exposing
ghs matId witnesses IN personal attacks or attonpts
TO thmp,r with theot or Inducements 20 avoid sc
bare no doubt of the power Of the Coroner 90 decide
Nhtihsr the examination ~ witnesses shs b. public
private n I. within his Official discretion 20 be
cised IN each particular case, according 20 the Circum
stances 81 that ose and In this u Is his privilege
ind duy 90 decide the mode u proceeding II IL is his
wish the Inquest desire that should express my
opinion UPON the question Of expectancy the present
occasion do not beiate TO advise that the proceed
irgs before ths CorOper jury be private to the time
OF The signing q the verdict.
have &C nsuited several eminent gentlemen Of the
bar aud several persons ia high oihsial station and
there Il no difference Of opnonthey all concur In the
fsme opinion have asked the friends of the deceased
aud some u tho friends a person supposed 20 be In
fsTosttd in those proceediugs have stated the mat
the eminent counsel Of that person lie has
desire 60 have the examination private. and expressed
desire 20 have IL public. aud thought that hs should
net 'er,rs 10 any ~'y g saee' the Gg52ne5' deS
Att'y II the Common eath,
IN the County Of Suf0iH.
Coroner att hen and stated In substance, that
during ucariy GftesB yesrs he had served Coroner
ir The county Of Suffolk, De hais subject which
caused him % t1uch pain the present, which he
allied ppcp 10 leeds lie had aiuays eutertsiuaa the
highest TeTsct for the gentlemen Of the press ard tor
The ptss itsef and on every oocson hsi endeav9red
vor the regular reporters for the various papers In
the city s in his power consistent with hs duty aud
ne believed that the gentlemen q the press would
with him in that statement But IN the present extra
ordinary case alter ains hesrq the opinion o ssversl
eminent men. aud the case being one in which the
public take the greatest Interest he felt in justice to
ell parties aud persons. however Immediately or re.
motely interested IN the matter, under the painful
necessity c deciding that hencsforth, for tbs present
at least the proceedings Of this Inquest should be
one Of the reporters uow stated that there were per-
injected With the press present other than re-
porters aud that their object vss possible, 70 eve
such accounts ct the proceedings IN thsr journals
they could make from memory They could also get
loose apd general reports Nv conversng with wit
possibly result frcm any publications which the re-
rulsr reporters would make The papers supplied with
report, obtained In this manner would also have an sd
vantage those whose known representatives we're
EXCLUDED from the examination
Col Pratt. in reply said that even the vitnesses
would not be examined In each others presence, and
that they and also the jurors would be requested not
20 make any revelstioos Of the testimony lie thought
A. probable that the reporters might be admitted
before the inquest closed. IL would depend ON
circumstances. over sixty witnesses have been sum
mcped
Thus 70 will he seen. that proceedings OF the In
quest can possibly be made public BY any fair means
RE community. therefore, must await the issge Of fur
ther leg al proctsdings.
From the Boston Dee, Dec
We heard. last night. On good authority, that the
papers Of Or rarkman had been discovered By the In.
yeftigators Of THE opposed tragedy.
Fuf ker-thet tho souny nous letter which has been
spoken Of sent to Msrsha rukey has been compared
With 20 per found in Professor Webstsrs desk and
responds exactly with IL These rumors from so
high source that believe them true a. present.
They may be false, ho~eVer.
The wife ofDr Webster " u SAID, is niece to Mr..
Preecott, the celebrated historian