Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-07-20

! Yours respectfully, ELAN PHELPS.
Strattord, June 20, 1850.
Confession of DIR. Webster.
On Tuesday, Nov. Goth, sent note to DR.
Parkman-it was handed to Littlefeld, and was
unsealed It was to ask Dr.. Parkman to cal
on me, as he had become quite importunatt
about his debt. wished to gain time. die
not expect 10 be able to pay him on Friday.
| My purpose was, if he should accede to the
proposed interview, to state to him my embar
rassments and utter inability to pay him at pre-
sent-to apologize for those things in my con
duct which had offended him, to throw mysel
upon his mercy, to beg further time and indul
gence for the sake of my family, if not for my
self, and to make as good promises to him as
could have any hope Of keeping. did not hea
from him on that day, nor the next, (Wednes
day., but found on Thursday he had beer
abroad in pursuit of me, without finding me-
l imagined he had forgotten the appointment
or else did not mean to wait for it. 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 morning
(Friday) between and 8, to remind him OF
my wish to see him at the College at halfpast
talk with him, for expected the conversation
would be long one, and l 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 accord
ingly between halfpast ! and 2 o'clock, enter
ing at the lecture-room door. Twas removing
some glasses from my lecture-room table into
A. 4 II 81 <bo 1oh
ry. He came rapidly down the step, and fol-
lowed me into the laboratory. He immediate
ly addressed me with great energy, "Are you
ready for me, sir! Have you got the money!"
Ireplied, "No, DR.. Parkman,' and was then be-
ginning to state my condition and my appeal to
him, but he would not listen to me, and inter-
rupted me with much vehemence-he called
me scoundrel and liar, and went on heaping on
me the most bitter taunts and opprobrous epi-
thets. While he was speaking, he drew a
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, and congratulating him on his success in
getting me appointed Professor Of Chemistry.
aYou 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 latter
and the notes. cannot tell how long the tor
rent of threats and invectives continued, and
cannot recall to memory but small portion Of
what he said. At first kept interposing, try
ing to pacify him, so that might obtain the
object for which sought the interview-but l
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, thrusting the letter and
his fist into my face, in my fury seized what
was handiest--it was a stick Of woodland
dealt him an instantaneous blow with all the
force that passion could give it. / did not know,
or think, or care, where should hit him, or
how hard. or what the effect would be. Hwas
on the side of his head, and there was nothing
to break the force of the blow; he fell instantly
on the pavement; there was no second blow;
he did not move. stopped down over him
and he seemed to be lifeiess; blood flowed
from his mouth, and got sponge and wiped
it away. got ammonia and applied it to his
nose, but without effect; perhaps spent ten
minutes in attempts to resuscitate him, but
found he was absolutely dead. In my horror
and CONSERVATION, | ran instinctively to the
doors and bolted them-the doors of the lecture
room and of the laboratory below-and then,
what was l to do! Hnever occurred to me to
90 out and declare what had been done, and
obtain assistance. saw nothing but the alter
native of successful movement and the con-
cealment of the body, on the one hand, and of
infamy and destruction on the other. The first
thing did, as soon as could do any thing,
was to draw the body in the private room ad-
joining; then took off the clothes and began
putting them into the fire which was burning
in the upper laboratory. They were all con-
sumed there that afternoon, with papers, pocket
book, and whatever they contained. ! did not
examine the pockets or remove any thing ex-
cept the watch. / saw that or the chain Of it
hanging out-I took it and threw it over the
bridge as went to Cambridge. ; My next move
was to get the body into the sink, which stands
in the small private room, by setting the body
partially erect against the corner, and by get
ting up into the sink myself, succeeded in
drawing it up there; it was entirely .dismem-
bered. It was quickly done, as a work Of ter
rible and desperate necessity ~ 7. Sun y
STICKING TO oNE's RIGHTs.-Old stories very
often have . forcible application to present
times The following anecdote we met with
lately in an exchange paper ts.s ss-s So"
allow is it, John, that you bring the wagon
home in such conditioD?D
Il broke il diving over stump"
sWhere!" : d. s ..ss
aBack in the woods, half mile Or %" t4
| aBut why did you run against = stump!
Couldn't you see how to drive straght?''
n did drive straight, sir, and that u tho very