The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-04-18
REMARKS OF PROF. WEBSTER.

lnasmuch as the Telegraphic reports of the
remarks of DR.. w. are imperfect and incorrect,
a full and accurate repor, will no, be withou, in
terest to our y aders-
81 have desired TO enter into an explanation Of
the complicated network of circumstances
which by my peculiar position, the government
has thrown around me, and which in nine cases
@ II OF ten, are completely distorted. and proba-
bly, nine-tenihs OF which could be satisfactorily
explained. Al the points fthe testimony have
been placed in The hands otmy counsel, by whom
nay innocence could haya been firmly establish
ed. Acting directly under their directions,
have sealed my lips during the period Of confine-
ment trusting myself entirely to them. They
have not deemed il necessary in their superior
wisdom. (this was said in an ronical tone) TO
bring forward the evidence which was to exon
crate me from a variety Of these acts. The gov
eTnmen, have brought whatever consummate in
genuity could suggest npainst me, and hope it
will not have an undue influence upon my jury.
will no, allude 10 many ofthc charges, but there
is one which touches me, and that is the letter
which has been produced. II is not the first
had read in the daily prints which have been dis
.ribnted in my apartments, and various publica-
t;ons which have been made respecting them.
One statement was, that had, after the dsap-
pearunce Of nr Parkmar, purchased quantity
Of oxalic acid 10 remove the stains of blood, and
il instantly occurred 10 me that this parcel might
be saved and produced when necessary.
'.For several days Mrs W. had requested me
to purchase come acid for domestic use. and as
my wife had repeatedly laughed at me because
had not purchased it, had borne ]. in my mind
.ha, afternoon, and had gone into Taylor's store
under the Revere House, made the purchase,
and waited until the C,mhridge Hourly came
along, and then jumped into the omnibus with
the bundle went home and gave the bundle
10 my wife; and when afterwards, / heard 80
much said about the bundle, i, flashed on my
mind in a moment that this must be the bundle,
and not 10 any document that referred in the
direction of my wife.
"As regards the nitrate Of copper in the usual
lectures preceding my arrest. had occasion TO
use the influence Of chemical agents in produ-
cling changes 4 various subjects. Among oth-
srs on gases. A gallon jar was filed with gas
in orde. to produce the changes from dark color
TO orange, and also in air. On great heat being
applied TO the jar, the gas was drawn through
water. As to the nitrate Of copper spilled on the
floor Of the laboratory, il was spilled accident
between the duy Of DR.. Parkmnn's disappearing
and my own arrest. So might go on explain
ing a variety of circumstances which have been
distorted. Seven years ago had students who
were in the habit Of being in my laboratory, and
who injured my apparatus; therefore, ! prepar-
ed everything for my own use in the lectures
with nv own hands, and that is the reason why
/ excluded persons from my laboratory. As re-
CARDS my whereabouts from the hour of Dr. P.'s
disappearance have put into my counsel's
nnds satisfactory information, which will nc
count for every day had spent during hat
wcek--for every day and every hour / was abb
sent from home. AS to being seen by Mr.. SAN
derson, was at home every evening. One thing
that has been omitted by my counsel was, that
on the Friday on which the alleged murder was
said to have been committed ] hd purchased
liumbol.'s new work, "Cosmos," and while
waiting for an omnibus, stepped into Brieham's
70 take mutton c. op and in coming out to take
the omnibus had forgotten my book; but after
my arrest had remembered the place where l
had left il, and mentioned il to my counsel
They had sent I, Brgham's and the book has
been foundv
TIE Professor, here sat down. and almost in
stantly arose and said: 81 will say one more
word. have felt very much distressed by the
production OF those anonymous letters, more SO
thnn anything that has occurred during the trial
call my God 10 witness, that If il was the last
hour OF my life, never wrote those letters -
Since the trial commenced, a letter has been re-
ccivcd from this very Civis'' by one ofmy coun-
sell lfthis person has any spark OF humanity,
call upon him 10 come forward. A notice TO this
tfEtc, has been pu, in the raPers.n