Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-08
From Saturday evenings Transcript
EXCITEMENT IN BOSTON.
Supposed Discovery Of Dr.. Parkn,an's Body.
arrest Of Prof. J. w. Webster.


arrest Of Prof. J. w. Webster.
Since last evening, our whole population
has been in state Of the greatest possible
excitement in consequence of the astounding
rumor that the body of DR.. Parkman has
been discovered, and that DR.. John Webster,
Professor of Chemistry in the Medical School
of Harvard College, and gentleman con-
nected by marriage with some of our most
distinguished families has been arrested and
imprisoned, on suspicion of being the MUIR
derer. lncredulity, then amazement, and
then blank, unspeakable horror have been
the emotions, which have agitated the public
mind as the rumor has gone on, gathering
countenance and confirmation Never in the
annals Of crime in Massachusetts has such
sensation been produced.
In the streets, in the market place, at every
turn, men greet each other with pale, eager
looks, and the inquiry, "Can it be true p'
And then as the terrible reply, "the circum-
stances begin 10 gather weight against him."
is wrung FORTH the agitated listener can only
vent his sickening sense of horror, in some
such expression as that of Hamlet
o, horrible! o. horrible most horrible!'
A thunderbolt at clear monday falling
with loud report and shattering the most
conspicuous dome in the city could not have
produced greater shock TO the external sem
ses, than that which the falling of suspicion
on DR.. Webster, in this case, has occasioned
TO the moral sense of this community. The
first impulse among all his acquaintances, is
to exclaim "impossible! Outrageous There
could have been no valid ground for his ar
restw And then, as minute circumstances
are related-as facts, hanging on facts, are
detailed, the propriety of the course of the
authorities in making the arrest is reluctantly
and painfully admitted
We give the facts that have thus far come
to light IN this affair; with an accompanying
protest, however, against making them the
material for forming an opinion against the
suspected individual, until they have been
thoroughly substautated before a legal tribu-
nal. Heaven grant that they may prove fall
lacious However terrible and confirmatory
the array of circhmstantial evidence may
seem, let US postpone, as far as in us lies, all
convictions on the subject, until it assumes a
more imposing and authentic front than it
wears at present. Charity and common sense
alike commend this course.
AS we have been informed, on what we
deem to be good authority, strong suspicious
have been entertained ever since the disap-
pearance of DR.. Parkman, and especially
since it has generally been believed that he
was no longer living, that the place of his
concealmcat was in or about the Medical Col
lege Ia branch of Harvard University in
North Grove street in this city-and accor-
dinghy a constant watch has been kept
about the building. The principal reasons
for these suspicious, which we have heard
assigned, are as follows - =
Dr.. Parkman held a note for $3.50 against
Professor Webster, which had long been
overdue, and upon which, although it was
secured by mortgage of some real estate
in East Cambridge, the Doctor had several
times importuned for the money, and had
been from time TO time put off. AT length
he applied to the officer who disposed Of the
tickets for Professor Webster's course of lee
lures to know if there were a sufficient bal
ance due the Professor to take up his note.-
This circumstance is said TO have greatly in
censed Professor w., who on Friday morn
ing Of last week called at DR.. Parkman's S
house, No. Walnut street, and left word
elf he (Dr. P.) wanted his money on that
mortgage, to call at the Medical College
about O'Clock that afternoon"
The Doctor is known to have proceeded to
the College at the time speci6ed-was seen
to enter, by several persons in the vicinity,
but iras not seen to come out. The statement
that he was subsequently seen passing Cra-
gie's bridge, has been, as we hear, salisfac-
torily contradcted. On his way 10 the COL
iege, DR.. Parkman purchased some groceries
at a store on the corner of Vine and Blossom
streets, which he ordered TO be sent to his
house, but left in the store bag of celery.
which he said he would himself call for in
few minutes. AT this time, it is stated, n
pcisou NioulIS u 90 SUiHc DuslueSS Will uilll,
waited two or three hours in vain, in order
to see him when he should come from the
College.
1t is said Prof. Webster admits that Dr..
Parkman was at the College about the time
mentioned, and that although he asserts he
paid him the $3.50, he cannot show receip,
for it-when it is well known that Dr. was
very methodical in his business matters
1t is also stated that during the whole OF
the past week, Prot. Webster has kept him.
self very secluded-that his rooms a, the
College have been kept constantly locked
circumstances quite unusual with him.
From these and other alleged facts suel
suspicious were aroused that, in the Profes
sor's absence last evening" Mr. Ephraim Lit
tlelield, who has the care of the Coleg
building and grounds was induced to breal
~ the partition wall to the vault under the pri
vate laboratory of Professor Webster, in tn
r basement of the building, and there discover