The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-04-25
Webster,s TriaI-..Fourtb Day.
BosroN, March %, 8 P. N

BosroS, March %, 9P. NJ.
The excitement in the city to-day i'm re-
laton to the trial of DR.. Webster, has been
greatly on the increase. The testimony OF
MIR. Lirtlefeld, the janitor af the College,
is of more decided and important char
acter than it was generally anticipated il
would be, and has caused much surmise
and speculation as 10 the probable result.
The court met at 9 O'Clock, and shortly
after the jury being in their: seats the wit
nesses were called. The first witness was
Mr.. Littletield.
Ephraim Littlefield sworn II am janitor
of the medical college; superintend the
building; have been jantor seven years;
known Webster seven years; known Park
man twenty years; was present at m inter
view on Monday evening, November 10,
between Webster aud Parkman; was in
Webster's back private room, assisting him;
towards evening Webster had three can
dies burning; was looking at chemicals,
and appeared to be reading; | stood at the
stove stirring some water, IN which some
thing was to be dissoIved; there was salt in
the water; heard no footstep, but saw
Parkman enter tho room from the lecture
room; Webster looked round as if surprs-
ed to see him enter without being heard.
He said, CDR Webster, are you ready for
me tonight" speaking loud and quick.
| DIR. Webster answered., "No, | am not
ready tonight" Parkman said something
else, do not remember what; either refused
to sell Webster something, or refused TO
mortgage something, Parkman took papers
from his pocket, and Webster said, 81 was
not aware it was So" Parkman said, "ir is
so, and you know it," Webster said, 81
will see you to morrow" Parkman stood
near the threshold of the doof, raised bis
hand, and said, ''something must be done
Tomorrow" He went out, and it was the
last time ! ever saw him in the building.
When was standing in front of the col
iege, about half past one O'Clock OH the
next day (ruesday) Webster came and
asked me il | could carry note to Park
man, and added, if could no, get any one
| that could trust. | must carry it up my
sell. got a boy named John Maxwell TO
take it up. He was gone about half an
hour, and said he gave it into Parkman's
hands, at his house. ] had an interview
with Webster about noon on the same day
Parknan was there, Monday before Park
man was there, in the evening; am very
positive it was that same day. Webster
asked me it the vault had been fixed where
he used TO put the remains of Subjects from
the dissecting room and from demonstra-
tors Of anatomy room, meaning vault IN
the r,iry; he added, that there had been
something said about having It repaired, or
new one huilt; told him It was built
right under his coal hin, which was between
his laboratory and GIssectIng room, III bun
where we put about eight tons of coal; told
MIN the weight of this coal had sprung the
wall, 80 rs TO make il leak and cause nj
offensive odor to be sent to all parts Of the
building; he asked me how il was fixed !:
told him the vault had been covered up with
dirt, aud there was no smell since; he asked
inc how got down under the building TO
cover it up, or how one could get down;
told him he took up the brick floor, and dis
secting room entry, and then took up the
board floor about six feet long; he asked me,
is that the only way to get down under the
building; told him it was, under his labor
atory, or the front room; and told him how
the walls run; he asked me if he could get
a light into that vault, and | told him no; he
asked me if | was sure of il; told him |
was, for had needed few days before, to
get light TO get into the vault, he said he
wanted 10 get some gas out of the vault;
had tried to get light into. the vault, to
find something whirh Ainsworth had lost,
and foul air put it out; DR.. AiBsworth had
let down an African SIX ull 10 nacerate 1T in
the vault, and the ropes bad rotted off;
attempted to put a light down; it went out +;
Webster told me he wanted 10 get some gas
TO try and experiment.; l told him then it
would he good time, as it was high tide,
and the water would press the gass up; |
asked him how he WAS going to get gas into
any vessel; he said he had apparatus that
could do it; said he would let me know
when he wasted to get gas out; that was
the last time ever heard of it. DOME re-
collect any other interview with Webster
before the day Of Dr.. Parkman's disappear
ance; but now recollect message to the
hospital; said he wanted me to get him some
blood for his next days lecture; he said he
wanted as much AS pint; ] took glass
jar off from his shelf, holding nearly quart,
asked if that would do; eyes; get it full, il
you can, over at the hospital" Just before
two O'Clock | carried the jar to- the front
entry and put ii on tho top of the case
where put up notices; ] went to Holiness
lecture before it was finished. AT Holmes
lecture room saw student John Is. Haiha-
way, who attends the apothecary shop in
the hospital, and told him there was glass
Jar in which Webster wished a pint OF
blood, he replied, 81 think we shall bleed
some one to-tilOTTOW, HUu VIII save the
blood. Friday morning | went 70 the
apothecary shop at the hospital, and the
students sail they had no blood, as they
had bled nobody; told Webster, about hall
past eleven, friday we could get no blood
said he was sorry, as he wanted to use il in
his lectures, that's all ] know about the
blood. Have no recollection of having any
interview OH that morning with Webster
will mention that on the morning of FRI
day, Nov. 2Sd, after made his fire and
swept the room, and went 10 set the broom
behind the door leading to his laboratory,
saw the sledge-hammer behind the door; il
was usually in the laboratory; the handle
was about two feet long, white oak; i,
would weigh six or seven pounds; never
saw it in his hack room, or any room ex-
cept his laboratory before; the hammer was
about as large as half an orange, rounded
on both sides; ! carried il down stairs into
the laboratory, and set it up against the
: box in centre Of the laboratory; have never
seen any thing of it since, though hunted
the building all over. Do not remember
anything particular till quarter of two
when had eaten dinner, was standing i,