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

constantly locked, a thing SO unusual with
MN as occasion remark.
From the and similar, circumstances
Mr.. Littlefelds was so strengthened in
his suspicious, that on Friday evening,
Nov. 20, after Prof. Webster hadre-
turned to Cambridge, where he resides,
he was induced to break the partition
wall to the vault. in the basement direct
" under Professor WebSter'S room in the
College, and connected with it by stair
case and door, which was never known
to be opened except by the Professor
himself Upon entering the vault, ter
rible spectacle was disclosed. There
was the lower part Of a human body, in
a state of dreadful mutilation, one leg
beng gone, and also the foot of the. 9th
er leg. The appearance of the remains
indicsted that they had been in that place
but short time. ..
These appalling facts were instantly
made known to- the proper authorities.
They proceeded to tue College and on
extending their search 70 Professor Web
ster'< room, found further proof of the
most startling cha acter. On examining
the furnace and the ashes which it con-
tanned, they discovered several bones and
pieces of bone, belonging to a human
body which appeared to have been re-
Gently burned, so that the muscles and
cords were entirely consumed. There
were also found some coat buttons, par
ticles 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 a man.
ner corresponding with those known to
be worn by Dr. Parkman.
All these circumstances, taken in coh-
nexion with the fact that Prof. Webster
was not an anatomist or surgeon, but
only "a chemist, with no professional con-
Germ in thesdissection of bodies, were
deemed sufficient to warrant his arrest
The officers accordingly, proceeded to
Cambridge in private carriage, and
reached the residence of Prof. Webster,
at some distance from the University, at
about O'Clock in the evening. Without
stating their real business, they informed
him that a new search of the Medical
College had been decided on, which re-
quired his presence. After getting into
the carriage he was informed Of the sus-
picions that had been aroused him, which
threw him into state of agonizing ex-
element, and he fell back several times
into the arns of the officers. During the
ride he gave way to violent EXPLANATIONS,
and uttered piteous groans and shrieks.
He also made use of expressions of
doubtful nature. Among other language
of a similar import, he is said to have
used the following: " Can it be that that
internal scamp" (supposed to refer to
some aeconaplice( "has betrayed me-"
He was lodged in Leverett st. goal on
Friday night. In the morning he was
somewhat calmer, and expressed wish
to see his friends, though he remained in
such great state of excitement through
out the day, that his Physicians pro-
nounced it useless to bring him out for
examination.
An inquest was to be held immediate
ly by Coroner Pratt, "to inquire into the
identity of the parts of the body found
and by what means il came to its death.
Officers were dispatched to make fur
Their Investigations at the house of the
accused in Cambridge, but no additional
evidence was elected. The Medical
College was undergoing strict and thor
ough search.
Among other circumstances which
have confirmed the suspicion against Prof
Webster, since his arrest, it is said that
he had ordered box a Waterman's fur
nishing store in Cornhill, to be made Of
stout tin, soldered tight, with the excep-
ton OF the cover, which was to be so
made that it could easily be soldered on
to its proper place. The box Was to be
about three feet in length by one foot and
a half in depth and breadth, and was to
have been sent to Prof. Webster ON Fri
day. the day of his arrest.
DIR. Webster has been Professor of
Chemistry in Harvard University since
the decease of the late DIR. Gorham, a
period of over twenty five years. In
this capacity he is member Of the Fac
ulty of Medicine in the Harvard Medical
School, which has its location in Boston.
He is probably not far from So years of
age, although his manners and apges.g-
ance are those Of much younger man.
His reputation in hts profession is respec-
table, but not brilliant. He is man of
varied accomplishments and of elegant
tastes. As member of society in Bos-
ton and Cambridge, he has always en-
joyed an unusual popularity. His mu-
steal talents are Of a high order, and he
has done much to elevate the standard
of musical taste in Boston. His house
has been distinguished as the seat of gen
erous hospitality, where, surrounded by
singulariy lovely family, he has ap-
pearel to enjoy the highest delight in