Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-14
The Boston Tragedy.

Inc circumstances attending the disappearance
and supposed murder of DIR. PARKMAN in Boston, to
which we made slight alluson last week, having
excited increased attention, we have endeavored,
nearly possible to arrive at the facts, so far as
they are known. and have been published. DR.. WEB
sTER, who is suspected of the murder of PARKMAN,
has, since 1887, been professor of chemistry, &c.
in Cambridge University, and has occupied very high
position in society. Dr. PARKMAN was a very veal
thy gentleman of Boston, of considerable skill in his
profession, which however, he did not practice his
time being occupied with the management of his
large estates. He was man Of eccentric habits,
and had at different times been subject to attacks of
temporary insanity.
The reasons for suspecting DR.. WEBSTER are as
follows DR.. PARKMAN, sometime in the beginning
of November, called at DIR. WEBsTERs lecture room
in Boston, and asked WEBSTER for some money due
him. WEBSTER requested him to wait until the 23d
of the month. On the 3d. PARKMAN called at WEE
STEERS house, and left word for him to call at his,
PARKMANs house, next morning. WEBSTER did as
required, but PARKMAN not being in, he left word
that if he would call at his at the College
after one o'clock. he would pay him. DIR. PARKMAN
went to the College at the appointed time, and it is
alleged never left it, Dr. WEBSTER version is that
|
Suspicion being excited, Dr. WEBsTER's rooms at
the College were searched, but nothing found, The
only part of the College buildings which had not
| been searched, was the vault under Dr. WEBsTER's
laboratory and it was determined to search this
An entrance having been broken into the vault some
portions of human body discovered Upon
this Dr. WEBSTER arrested and accompanied
gentlemen to the College where further search
was made.
The pieces of the body found in the vault in the
afternoon previous, were then brought up into the
laboratory, and exposed to view in Professor WEB
sTER's presence A jaw bone artificial teeth
particles of gold and silver, and some buttons founc
by the officers in furnace used in the laboratory
were shown at the same time.
A tea chest was found slowed away in one corner
of the laboratory under some shelves. In this ches
were found covered with tan, the back ribs and lief
thigh, of human body These parts, together will
those which had been found in the vault, being pla
ced upon a board. formed human frame, with tn
exception of the head, left leg and feet 1t is salt
that pair of pants have been found in the laborao
~, belonging to Professor WEBSTER, with spots Q
blood them, and also pair of Slippers which loo
as if they had been used to tramp down tan. Spots
supposed to be blood have been found the stairs
DR.. KEEP, a dentist, who operated on PARKMAN
mouth short time before his disappearance linden
titles the teeth found in Professor WEBsTERs furnac
as those which he fixed for PARKMAN.
| These seem to be the circumstances that have fxe
suspicion upon WEBSTER. Some of them appea
strong but still they very inconclusive The po
sibility of identifying teeth which have been filed
very questionable One tooth is like another tia
competent dentists affirm that one but fool woul
pretend to identify them The buttons, said to hav
been found in the furnace, turn out to be pieces
chemical apparatus. and a good many of the blood
spots tobacco spittle. 1t is even said that the po
tions of the body found have their veins suused wit
the liquid injected preparatory to dissection wnic
may raise the probability conviction that this b.
" dy came from the dissecting room, for what purpo
u is yet to be found out.
- DR.. PARKMAN's relatives have identified the r
: mains those of the Doctor how, it is impossible
tell there is neither head nor feet to it. Altoget
i or the thing is surrounded with mystery. If We
. sTER killed PARKMAN at all, it must have been in
fit of passion and under the influence of momental
5 excitement. The mere amount which he owed hi
5 could be 20 adequate motive.