Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-08
AUGUSTA
Confession of DR.. Webster.

| 10 Ut. Parkman, w nlcn IL appears was carried
by the boy Maxwell l handed it to Littlefeld
unsealed 1t was TO ask DR.. Parkman to call at
my rooms, on Friday; the 23d, after my lecture.
He had become, of late, very imporunate for
his pay. He had threatened me with suit;
to put an officer in my house, and to drive ms
from my professorship, if did not pay him.
The purport of my note was simply to ask the
conference. ] did not tell him, in it, what
could do, or what had to say about the pay
release from his solicitations, to which was
liable to every day, on occasions, and in a man
ner very dsagreeable and alarming, and also
to avert for olong time, lat least, the fulflment
| 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 acceds
to the proposed interview, to state to him my
emharrasments and utter inability to pay him at
present-to apologize for those things in my
conduct which had offended him-to throw
myself upon his mercy-to beg for further time
and indulgence, for the sake of my family, if
not for myself, and 10 make as good promises
to him as could have any hope Of keeping.
Ibid not hear from him on that day nor the
next, "wednesday but | found on Thursday he
had been abroad i'll pursuit OF me without finding
me. / imag inc he had forgotten the appoint
ment, OF else he did not mean to wait tor 1t. l
feared he would come in upon me at my lecture
hour, or while was preparing my experiments
for it, therefore called at his house on that morn
| ing. friday between eight and nine O'Clock to
remind him of my wish to see him at the Col
lege at half past one--rny lecture closing at one
did not stop to talk with him, for l 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 Dr.
Parkman agreed to call on me as | proposed.
He came, accordingly between half past one
and two o'clock, entering 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. He came rapidly
down the step, and followed me into the labora
tory. He Immediately addressed me with great
energy-"Are you ready for me, sir !! Have
| you got the money 2"
| | replied, ''No, Dr. Parhman" and ! was
then beginning to state my condition, and my
appeal to him, but he would not listen 10 me,
and interrupted me with much vehemence. He
called me scoundrel and liar, and went OIL
heapine on me the mos, bitter taunts and OPP
probrous epthets. While he was speaking, he
drew handful ofpapers from his pocket and
took from among them my two notes, and also
an old letter from DR.. Hossack, written many
years ago, congratulating him on his success in
getting me appointed Professor of Chemistry
ssYou see," he said, 81 got you into your office,
and now will get you out of it." He put back
into his pocket all the papers except the letter
and the notes. ] cannot tell how long the tor
rent of threats and invectives continued, and l
cannot recall to memory but small portion OF
what he said at first, kept interposing, trying
to pacify him; SO that might obtain the object
for which sought the interview, but | could
not stop him, and soon my own temper was up;
I forgot every thing, and felt nothing but the
sting of his words.
was excited to the highest degree of passion,
and while he was speaking and gesticulating in
the most violent and menacing manner, thrust
ing the letter and his fist into my face, in my
fury seized whatever thing was handiest, Git
was stick of wood, and dealt him an ins,anta-
neous blow with all the force that passion could
give it; did not know, or think, or care, where
should hit him, her how hard, nor what the
effect would be. 1t was on the side of his head,
and there was nothing to break the force of the
blow. He fell instantly upon the pavement.
There was no second blow he did not move.
| stopped down over him, and he seemed 10 be
lifeless. Blood flowed from his mouth and
got sponge and wiped it away. | got some
ammonia and applied it to his nose, but without
effect. Perhaps | spent 10 minutes in attempts
to resuscitate him, but found he was absolutely
dead. In my horror and CONSERVATION, I ran
instinctvely TO the doors and bolted them, the
doors of the lecture room and of the laboratory
below. And then what was to do +! 1t never
occurred to me to go out and declare what had
baen done, and obtain assistance. saw moth
ing but the alternative of a successful move
ment and concealment of the body on the one
hand, and of infamy and destruction on the o.
Their The first thing did, as soon as could
do any thing, was TO draw the body into the phi
vate room adjoining, where | took off the
clothes, and began putting them into the fire,
which was burning in the upper laboratory,
They were all consumed there that afternoon,
| o11k hNA1, l-t> al.
contained. did not examine the pockets, nor
remove any thing, except the watch. | saw
that, or the chain OF it, hanging out. took it,
and threw it over the bridge as went to Cam
| bridge. My next move was to get the body in
| to the sink, which stands in the small private
room by setting the body partially erect against
the corner, and by getting up into the sink my
SELF succeeded in drawing it up there 1t was
entirely disnembered. 1t was quickly DONE as
work of terrible and desperate necessity.
The only instrument was the knife found bv
the officers, in the tea chest, which l kept for
cutting corks. / made no use of the Turkish
knife, as it was called at the trial That had long
been kept on my mantelpiece in Cambridge, as
a curious ornament. My daughters frequently
cleaned it; hence the marks OF oil and whiting
found on it. had lately brought it to Boston
to get the silver sheath repaired. While dismem-
bering the body, stream of Cochituate water
was running through the sink, carrying off the
blood in pipe tina. passed down through the
lower laboratory. There must have been a
leak in the pipe, for the ceiling below was STAIN
ed Immediately around it. There was fire
burning in the furnace of the lower laboratory.--
Littlefild was mistaken in thinking there had
never been fire there. He had probably never
kindled one but had done it myself several
times. | had done it that day for the purpose
OF making oxygen gas. The head ard viscera
were put into the furnace that day, and the fuel
heaped on it. did not examine at night to
see to what degree they were consumed, Some
of the extremities were put in there, believe on
that day the pelvis, and some of the limbs, per-
haps, were all put under the lecture room table,
in what is called the well-a deed sink, lined
with lead q stream Of Cool ituata ,ras tnxnaS