The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-04
Correspondence of the Republic.



BosToS, Dec /, 1919.
There is but topic in Boston to-day. II is the
fact of the arrest of Professor ]. w Webster, on
suspicion of being the murderer of DIR. Parkman.
DIR. Webster belongst TO the Faculty of HarvardCo-
lege, and is professor of chemistry in the Medical
School. He is connected by marriage with some OF
wealthiest and most distinguished families, and
is uncle of Mr.. Prescott, the historian. He is
about fifty two fifty three years of age, and has
wife and children. He has hitherto borne un-
blemshed reputation, although known to be
sionally embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs
The reliable facts are briefly these; Professor Web
ster testified some days sncein regard to DIR. Park
man. that the latter had been 10 him at the Medical
College, in North Grove street, on Friday, the day
OF the mysterious disappearance. Professor Webster
had then and there paid him $40, the amount ola
mortgage; and, according to Professor Webser's
story, the missing man had left him, saying he
would go to Cambridge and have the mortgage can
celled. But il appears there was an individual
waiting to see Dir. Parkman issue from the College;
and that, after tarryng long in vain, he departed.
Other persons say they the Doctor 'go in, but
did not see him come out; and it is now pretty GER
tain that all authentic trace of DIR. Parnan ends at
the Medical College
This circumstance was sufficient to excite the
vigilance of police, and for some days the col
lege has been watched. Several apartments were
also searched, but nothing found TO excite suspi-
cion. An apartment, which not searched,
however, was the private room of Professor Web
stor, from the chimney of which very heavy
smoke was seen issuing the whole of Friday night
Two barrels Of pitch pine kindlings arc said to have
disappeared about the same time in a very rapid
and unaccountable manner. The result was, that
MIR. Littlcfeld, janitor of the establishment, had
his suspicious excited; and breaking through the
partition wall, the vault under the private labora-
tory of Professor Webster, in the basement of the
building, he there discovered leg and part Of the
trunk of human corpse. The place being one
where no parts of bodies procured for dissection
were ever known to be thrown, the gravest sus
picions were naturally at once awakened.
Mr.. Littlefeld having made his disclosures to the
police, warrant for the arrest of the Professor
at once issued and he was accordingly arrested at
his house at Cambridge He is said to have mani
tested the intensest excitement and to have been
betrayed into EXPLANATIONS calculated to give coun
tcnance to the painful suspicious abroad. 1t was
with difficulty that he could be taken from his
house to the carriage in attendance.
To-day examinations of the most thorough char
acter have been made at the Medical College, and
they have resulted in developments of most
affecting character. The ashes of human bones
have been found in the furnace, together with par
ticles of gold and buttons, supposed to have be-
longed to DIR. Parkman Some false teeth have
been discovered, which will be most material link
in the chain of identification now goingo on. A
thousand rumors are afoat, but believe have
given you all that may be relied on. The popular
excitement is intense, and crowds are gathering
round the Medical College, threatening to level it
with the earth. large police are now in posses
sion Of the building and it is not improbable that
the military will be called out.
The high position, both of the accused party and
his supposed victim, renders this one of the most
exciting cases that have ever been known in Bos
ton. For many days it will be the sole topic of
conversation. If the circumstances related are
true, money, the root of all evil, will prove to have
been at the bottom of this Internal affair. 80