Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-07-10
THE CONFESSION
PROFESSOR JOHN w. WEBSTER.
BosroN, July 2, 1850.

BOSTON, July Z, lS0U.
AT a meeting of the Council this morn
ng, the case of Prof. Webster was referred
o a committee.
Before the committee, at IL O'Clock, ap-
peared the Rev. DR.. Putnam, the spiritual
ADVISER OF the condemned, with a petition
Tor commulalion of punishment, together
with confession that he killed DR.. Park
man.
The reverend gentleman prelaced the
statement by few remarks relative TO the
manner in which the confession was made
to him. He stated that he had no previous
acquaintanceship with Prof Webster before
being called to act in the capacity Of his
spiritual adviser. In the first few weeks Of
his visits he sough, no ledgment of
the prisoner. AT length, on the 23d Of Nav.
he visited him in his cell, and demanded of
him, for his own well-being, that be should
tell the truth in regard to the matter, and
he acceded 10 the request, by making
statement which was now submitted for the
consideration Of the Council.
1t was in substance as follows:
THE CONFESSION
On Friday, 20lh November, sent the
note 10 DR.. Parkman, which it appears, was
carried by the boy Maxwell. handed it
to Li.tlefeld unsealed. |, was to ask Dr..
Parkman to call at my rooms, on Friday, the
23d, after my lecture. lie had become, of
late, very lmportunate for his pay. lie had
threatened me with a suit; 10 put an Off
Ger III my house, and to drive me from my
professorship, if did not pay him. The
purport of my note was simply to ask The
conference. did not tell hIm, in il wha.
could do, or what | had to say about the
payment | wished to gain, for those few
days, release from his solicitations, to
which ! was liable every day, on occasions,
and in manner very disagreeable and a.
farming, and also TO avert for SO long time,
at least, the fulflmen. of recent threats of
severe measures. | did not expect to be
able to pay him when Friday should arrive
My purpose was, if he should accede TO the
interview to state 10 him my en-
barrassments and utter inability to pay him
at present-to apologize for those things in
my conduct which had offended him-lo
throw myself upon his mercy-to beg for
further time and indulgence, for the sake of
my family, if no. for myself, and to make
as good promises to him as could have
any hope Of keeping
] did not hear from him on that day nor
the next, "wednesday but | found on
Tuesday he had been abroad in pursuit of
me withou. finding me. Imagined he had
forgotten the appointment, or else did no.
mean to wal! for it. feared he would
come in upon me al my lecture hour, or
while | was preparing my experiments for
it; therefore | called at his house on tina,
morning, (Friday) between eigh. and nine
o'clock, to remind him of my wish to see
him at the College at half-pas, one-my
lecture closing at l. did not stop to talk
with him, for expected the conversation
would be a long one, and had my lecture
TO prepare for, it was necessary for me to
have my time, and, also, to keep my mind
free from other exciting matters. DIR. Park
man agreed to call on me as ! proposed
He came, accordingly between halC-past one
and two o'clock, entering at the lecture
room door. | was engaged in removing
some glasses from my lecture room table
into the room in the rear, called the upper
laboratory. lie came rapidly down the
step, and followed me into the laboratory.
He Immediately addressed me with great
you ready for me, sir? Have
you got the money -
replied, ''No, DR.. Parkmap," and was
then beginning to state my condition, and
my appeal to him, but he would not listen
10 me, and interrupted the with much vehe-
mence. He called me scoundrel aud liar,
and went On heapng on me the mos. bitter
'aunts and opprobrlous epi'hets. While he
was speaking, he drew handful Of papers
from his pocket, and took from among them
my two notes, and also an old letter from
DR.. Hossack, written many years ago, con-
him on his success in getting
me appointed Professor of Chemistry
: Y on, see," he said, 81 got you in your Of
fee, and now will get you out of it," He
put back into his pocket all the papers ex-
cept the letter and the notes. ! cannot tell
how long the torrent of threats and invec-
lives continued, and cannot recall to me-
nory bu, small portion of wha, he said
II first, kept in.erposing, trying to pacify
him, so that might obtain the object fer
which sought the interview, but could
lot stop him, and soon my own temper was
lp; forgot every thing, and felt nothing
,ut the sting of his words.
was excited to the highest degree of
passion, aud while he was speaking and
,csliculsing in the mos, violent and mena-
ing manner, ,hrusing the letter and his fist
nto my face, IN my fury seized whatever
hing was handlcsi, 1t was a stick of woody
nd dealt hIm an instantaneous blow with
II ,hc force .ha. passion could give il. /
nd not know, OF think, or care, where
houlh HIT him, nog how hard, nos what the