Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-07-20
oNFEssIoN OF PROFESSOR WEBSTER
OF THE
KILLING OF DIR, PARKMAN.
Boston, Tuesday, July 9, 1850.

AT the meeting of the Council, this morn
ing, The case of Professor Webster, was Ic-
tcrrcd to a Committee. . ...
Before the Committee, at 10 O'Clock, ap-
pcared, Rev. DIR Putnam, the spiritual advi-
ser of the condemned, with petition for a
commutation of punishmcnt together with a
confession that he killed DR.. Parkman.
The Rev. gentleman prcfaced the state
mcnt by a few remarks relative to the man
ner in which the confession was made TO him
He stated that hes had no personal acquain-
tanceship with Professor Webster before be-
ing called to act in the capacity fhis spiritual
adviser. In the first few weeks of his visit
he sought no acknowledgment of the prisoner
At length on The 23d May, he visited him in
his cell and demanded of him, for his own
well being, that he shonld tell the truth in
regard to the matter, and he acceded to re-
quest by making a statement which was now
submitted for the consideration of the Council
1t was as follows:
sent the note 10 Dr. Parkman, which it
appears was carried by the boy Maxwell. [
handed it to Littefed unsealcd. It was to
ask DR.. Parkman 10 call at my rooms on Fri
day the 23d, after my lecture. He had be-
come Of late very importunatc for his pay.
He had threatened me with suit, TO put an
officer into my proicssorship, if did not pay
him. The purport of my note was simply 10
ask the conference. did not tell him in it
what could do or what had 10 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 a
manner very disagrceable, and also TO avert
for so long a time at 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
accede to the proposed interview, 10 state 10
him my embarassments, and utter inability
TO pay him at present, TO apologize for those
things in my conduc! which had offended him,
90 throw myself upon his mercy, and to beg
for further time and indulgence for the sake
ofmy family, if not for my own, 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, bui
| found on Thursday he had been abroad in
pursuit of me without finding dne. imagined
he had forgotten the appointment, or else
did not mean to wait for it. | feared he
would come in upon me al my lecture-room
or while was preparing my experiment:
for it-iherefore called at his house on tina
morning, friday between s and 9 o'clock
10 remind him of my wish 10 see him at tht
College at /. o'clock my lecture closing a
l O'Clock. did not stop to talk with him
! for | expected the conversation would be
long one, and had my lecture TO prepare
for itways necessary for me TO have my tim,
and also to keep my mind free from othe
exciting matters.
Dr. Parkman agreed to call on me as pro
posed. He came accordingly between !
and , O'Clock, entering at the lecture room
door. | was engaged in removing some glas
scs from my lecture room table into The room
in the rear called the upper laboratory, h
came rapidly down the step and followed nj
into the laboratory, he Immediately addres
sed me with greatly energy, "Are you read
for me Sir-have you got the money 90
replied, ''No, DR.. Parkman," and was the
beginninglo state my condition and my az
peal to him, but he would not listen 10 m
he called me a scoundrel and liar and wer
on heapiDg on me the most bitter launts an
opprobrious epithets, while he was speakin
he drew handful of papers from his pockt
and took from among them my two notes an
also an old letter from DR., Hosack, write
! many years ago and congratulating him Q
his success in getting me appointed Profess
of Chemistry. 'You see," he said, 81 g
you into your office, and now | will get yo
out of it. He put into his pocket all the p
pers except the letter and the notes.
cannot tell how long the torrent Of threa
and iuyecliyes continued, aud | cannot reca
10 memory but a small portion Of what
said. At first kept interposing, trying
pacify him, so that might obtain the obje
or which sought the interview but cou
not stop him, and soon my owa temper W
mp | forgot every thing, and felt nothil
but the sting of his words. was excited
the highest degree of passion, and while
was speaking aud gestculating in the me
violent and menacing manner, thusting
. letter and his fist into my face, in my fury
, seized whatever thing was handiest, lit W
= a stick of wood, aud dealt him an instant
. neous blow with all the force that passi
could give it. did not know, or think,
: care, where should hit him, nor how hai
: nor what The effect would be it was on {
> side of his head, and there was nothing
+" break the force of the blow; he :ell instant
on the pavement there was no second bio
% | stopped down over him, and he seemed
be lfeless; blood flowed from his mou
and got sponge and wiped it away; l |
some ammonia and applied it to his nose,
x,;,hout affeet ma ha ms | suant fen minu