Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-06
TIE BOSTON TRAGEDY
Supposed Murder Of Dr. Parkanan-Arrea o
Prof Webster.

FERROUS disappearance of DIR. GEORGE pARKMAN
which have just been made in Boston, have pro
duced the highest emotions of horror and con-
sternation in that city. We copy below, from the
New York Tribune of Monday, brief history of
the deplorabe tragedy from its commencement,
made up from the Boston journals of Saturday !:
The absence OF Dr. Parkman from his family, which
look place on the afternoon OF Friday Nov 3d. soon be-
gan to awaken uneasiness among his friends. After
making every suitable inquiry no traces of him could be
discovered subsequent to about o'clock on the day
OF ms disappearance. On Monday following the bro
therIln-law OF DIR. Parkman, Mr. Robert G. Shaw, Of
lered reward OF $4,000 Tor any information which
would lead to his discovery or if any injury had been
done to nm, Tor the detection OF the perpetrators This
was without effect and on the next Thursday, Nov 30
a LIT day. Mr. Shaw published another
tce stating that fears entertained that Dr. Park
man had been murdered and that 81 600 would be paid
Tor the recovery of his BODY
Meantime various rumorS were put in circulation an
nouncng that persons had been in peculiar ccum
stances, winch led to the hope that light might be
thrown on the sudden disappearance. On examination
these rumors proved to be without foundation or relating
TO some other person.
1t was not until last Friday that any clue TO the mvs
terry was obtained when the horrible and heart-rending
facts which we shall proceed describe led to the ar
rest OF DIR. John w. Webster as implicated in deed
which staggers the imagination
1t seems that note for $3.50 against Dr. Webster had
pee nelo by Mr Parkman, secured real estate in
Fast Cambridge. This had been due for long time,
and DIR. P. had urgently insisted on its payment After
being several times put off with excuses, he applied to
the officer who disposed of Prof Websers tickets to
ms course OF lectures in the Medical College, to know
mere was suiilcen balance in his hands to take up
| the note This proceeding greatly excited Prof Web
ster who on the Friday morning in question called at
Dr. Parkmans residence, No. SWaInut street. and left
The message, That he wished to receive the money
on mat mortgage, he must call at the Medical College
about o'clock that afternoon" Dr. Parkman is known
by several citizens to have gone the College at the
hour designated.
He was seen to enter the College but was never seen
to come out Of it. person. who had some business to
transact with him, watched for long time to see him
come out OF the College, but in vain
y Is admitted by Prof. Webster that DR.. Parkman
called on HIM at the College, according to the above
statement and that he paid him the amount of the note
taxing receipt Tor the money This receipt, it is said
has not been produced
Pearance OF Dr. Parkman, several circumstances pro
duced suspicion in the mind Of Mr. Ephraim Little
ea VINO has charge OF the buildings and grounds of the
institution, that Dr. ParlIman had never left the College
alive. He hardly dared to breathe his surmises but
kept up vlglant watch
1t was noticed that Prof Webster was in his private
room ana laboratory several hours Friday afternoon
Nov 70, with the door locked where he is supposed to
have remained during the night The heat proceeding
from his room was intense to attract the attention
OIL several inmates OF the College, and two barrels OF
ptchplne kndling wood disappeared For several DAYS
afterwards the chimney of his room sent forth an m
commonly dense and constant cloud of smoke During
the whole OF the week it Was observed that Prof Web
ster had kept himself almost entirely secluded with his
rooms at the College constantly locked, thing So nn
usual with him as to occasion remark
FROM these and similar circumstances, Mr.. Iitefield
was SO strengthened in his suspicious, that on Friday
evening, Nov 80 after Professor Webster had returned
to Cambridge where he resides he was induced 10 break
the partition wall to the vault in the basement directly
under Professor Websers room in the College, and con-
neced with 1t by staircase and door, which was never
known to be opened except by the Professor himself
Upon entering the vault terrible spectacle was discos
ed There was the lower part Of a human BODY, in a
aso the ot af t aha.9n one leg beng gone and
remains indicated that they had been in that place but
short time
, These appalling facts were instantly made known to
.e proper authorities They proceeded to 1.-THE College,
ana On extending Their search to Professor Websters
[oo found further proof of the startling character
On examining the furnace and the ashes which it con-
Is aa Boaa S %e and
been recently burned SO that the muscles and cords
fnliey consumed There were also found some coat
Duttos partcies OF silver and gold apparently from
watch melted down. and portion of a human Jaw with
several false teeth filled in with gold around the edges
IN manner corresponding with those known to be
All these circumstances, taken in connexo with the
iact tht rro webster was not anatoms or surgeon
put only chemist, with professional concern in the
asecuon q bodies, were deemed sufficient to warrant
his arrest = N'i'i'
Inc officers accordingly proceeded to Cambridge in
private carriage, and reached the residence Of Prof
" epsei az some distance from the University at about
cocK IN inc evening Without stating their real bu-
S Je5s tey informed HIM that new search of the Me-
ocal college had been decided on, which required his
presence; Alter getting into the carriage he was in
formed o. the suspicious that had been aroused against
NM Wihch threw HIM INTO state Of agonzing excite
ent, and ne tell back several times into the arms of the
officers During the ride he gave way to violent excIa
nations and uttered piteous groans and shreks lie
Among other language Of similar iunort IL
have used the following "Cap be that that in oa ~
scamp supposed to refer to some @cconn1ca M
trayed me- He was lodged in eyeret.st o iaI n
Friday night In the morning he was st uh
err and expressed wish to see his triend ,bn
manned such state of great excitement throuaHout
the day. that his physicians nrononncnd i nsoiasn "
bring him out for examination r0''oo II useless 10
An inquest was to be held immediately bv Co,oaa,
Pratt ''to INQUIRE into the idantv of ~ ny ooi "
body found and by what means It came 10 is death e
the suspicion against Prof Webster sncs G sr..
said that he had ordered box at Waerman tnu Is
ing store in Conhi to be made Of snnt t aus
light with the exception of the cover hch 40 @
SO made that 1t could easily he solderaa was W pe
place. The box was to be aho,t the o " iIs proper
one foot and half in depth and bead1 aud el sa ps
have been sent to Prof Wehsar on ana was 70
his arrest S''' y" iioay' lhe DAY oil