Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-12-06

without argument, and the jury rendered
verdict of $50 fine and costs against
Frs. Levin, and fine Of $40 against the
servant who held Mr.. Fite's horse.
The Boston Tragedy-SuppOsed Muir
der Of Dr.. Parkman---ArreSt Of
Prof. Webster.
The astounding disclosures relative to
the mysterious disappearance of DR..
George Parhmon, which have just been
made in oston, have fallen like thun-
derbolt upon that city, and produced a
universal emotion of horror and conster-
ration. In the present intensely excited
state of public opinion, it is difficult to
obtain an accurnte knowledge of the
facts, but with such information as we
can gather from the Boston journals of
Saturday, we will present brief history
Of the deplorable tragedy FROM its com
mencemeht.
The absence Of DR.. Parkman from his
family, which took place on the afternoon
Of Friday, Nov. 90, soon began to ava
ken uneusiness among his friends. After
making every suitable inquiry, no traces
of him could be discovered, subsequent
TO about one o'clock on the day of bis
disappearance The whole Police force
of Bosron were put in requisition, and
every measure adopted that could be de-
vised by their sagacious and energetic
Marshal Turkey. On Monday following
the brother law of DR.. Parkman, Mr..
Robert G.. Shaw. the head of the distin-
guished mercantile house of that name,
offered reward of $4,000 for any in
formation which would lead to his dis :.
covery, or if any injury had been done
him, for the detection Of the perpetrators.
This was without effect, and on the next
Thursday, Nov. 20. Thanksgiving day.
Mr.. Shaw published another notice, sta
ting that fears were entertained that Dr.
Parkman had been murdered, and that
$1,000 would be paid for the recovery
of his body.
1t was not until last Friday that any
clue to the mystery was obtained, when
the horrible and heart-rending facts,
which we shall proceed TO describe, led
TO the arrest Of DR.. John w. Webster,
as implicated in deed which staggers
the imagination. and which no one can
associate with the name of the accused
except on such proofs as can by no pos
sibili y be explained away.
II seems that note for $3.50 against
DR.. Webster had been held by Mr.. Park
man, secured On real estate in East Cam
bridge. This had been due for long
time, and DR.. P. had urgently insisted
ON its payment. After being several
ines put off with excuses, he applied to
lie officer who disposed of Prof. Web
tiers tickets to his course of lectures in
the Medical College, to know if there
was sufficient balance in his hands to
take up the note. This proceeding
greatly excited Prof. Webster, who, on
lhe Friday morning in question called at
DR.. Parkman's residence, No. 8 Walnut
st. and left the message That if he
wished to receive the money on that
mortgage, he must call at the Medical
College about o'clock that afternoon"
br. Parkman is known by several citi-
gens to have gone to the College at the
7 hour designated. He stopped at gro
Gerry store in Blossom st. between his
home and the College, and ordered some
articles which he purchased to be sent
home. He left bunch of celery on TIE
counter, saying that he would call for it
himself in few minutes. He was seen
TO enter the College, but was never seen
to come out of it. A person, who had
some business to transact with him,
watched for a long time to see him come
out of the College, but in vain.
1T is admitted by Prof Webster that
DR.. Parkman called on him at the Col
lege, according to the above statement.
and that he paid him the amount of the
note, taking receipt for the money.
This receipt, it is said, has not been pro
duced.
After the alarm arisen on account Of
the disappearance of DR.. Parkman, sew.
eral circumstances produced suspicion
in the mind Of Mr. Ephraim LittleGeld
who has charge of the build ngs anC
grounds of the Institution, that DR.. Park
man had never left the College alive
He hardly dared to breathe his surmises
but kept up a vigilant watch.
Il was noticed that Prof. Webster was
h his private room and laboratory sever,
a hours on Friday afternoon. Nov. %
with the door locked, where he is sup
nosed 10 have remained during the night
ihe heat proceeding from his room wa
- intense Is 10 attract the attention O
several inmates Of the College, and tw,
barrels Of pitch-pine kindling wood dis
aDueaped. Tor several days afterwards
ti,s chimney Of his room sent forth al
ancommonly dense and constant clou'