The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-12-22
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The Murder OF Dr. ParIIman
INCIDENTS or THE ARREST.

consultation, officers Clapp, Starkwcather
and Spur were despatched to DR.. Web
Ster's residence in Cambridge, with nslruc-
tions to arrest him. They arrived at the
house about nine o'clock, just as Dr. Web
ster was showing visitor out The Of
fcers met him at the gate, and told him
that the college officers were met inconsul-
tatioo, on the subject of DR., Parkman's
disappearance, and had sent for him to at
tend it, He made no objection, and while
on the way to Boston, he conversed cheer
fully and freely, and referring to DR.. Park
mans having been at the college, said, that
he had stopped at the Doctors house on
Friday morning, and requested him to call
at the college for his money, between one
and two o'clock that day. The carriage
was halted at the Jail, and the party went
into the office, and then, for the first time,
DR., Webster began to perceive that there
was something strange in the proceeding of
the officers, and asked what they had come
to the Jail for, when their destination was
the college in grove street, remarking, also
that they had come out of the way.
Clapp then said-"Dr. Webster, it is
no use to disguise our purpOseany further.
You are under arrest, on suspicion that
you know something about the death of
DR.. ParIman, parts of whose body have
been found under your laboratory, We
shall look no more for the body" Upon
hearing this accusation, DR., Webster stag,
gered backwards, as if struck to the Heart
and uttered various EXPLANATIONS about his
family and children, and also saying-"The
william am ruined )" or, "The william
He has ruined me-" All who were pres
ent agree that he did not say he was be-
rayed.
His excitement was intense, and he eX-
hbited symptoms Of conyusions. Water
was handed to him, but he could not reach
it to his mouth,nor could he get any down,
when the glass was held to his lips When
asked if he was willing to 90 to the college
and view the remains, he consented, anl
was carried rather than lead to the carriage,
At the hospital, he was taken to the la
boratory, where he saw the remains, but
made no remark whatever in regard to
them. S. D. Parker, Esq, common
weallh's attorney, was present, but torbore
asking the prisoner any questions and the
others present of course remained silent
After he returned to jail, the prisoner
became somewhat more calm. lie said
that no one had access to his apartments in
the college but himself, and could not have
access but with his keys. lie had not on
ly had the keys of those apartments in his
possession, but also the key a large
one, of the water closet under which
the remains were found. This closet was
within the laboratory, and not accessible
from without that apartment: and the door
was locked when the limbs were found be.
low.
Saturday morning brought with it suII
further discoveries. Officer Rice, in ar
ranging things in the laboratory, found, in
a recess formed by the brick-work Of the
furnace ard chimney, tea chcst,apparcnt.
" filled with specimens Of minerals, but
emitting a strange odor He at once up
set the chest, and found in the bottom, en-
bcddcd in hcmIock bark, the left thigh,
and the hIf roasted trunk Of the body
The skin had been wholly burnt or strip
ped from the body. The thigh was only
stained with the bark, All the parts found
arc such in size, that they may very well
have hclongcd to Mr., P.'s body, The
missing portions, supposed to have
been burnt up, arc the head, contents Of the
body, left leg and foot, arms and hands,and
right foot,
Among the secondary facts. it may be
stated that four bloody towels were found
in the vault very large clasp Lnila,wilh
hunting figures on the blade, was found
with rhc trunk IN the tea chest: some
grppDas made or,bc cod-hooks, with lines
and lead sInarrs attached, were found IN
Dr. Wob,icrs apparatus room.
ON 'hc inner sid. of 'bs appu'u- room