Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-07-12

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was excited to the highest degree Of passion and
while he was speaking and gesticulsting in the most
violent and menacing manner, thrusting the letter
and his fist into my face, in my fury seized what
ever thing was handiest lit was stick of wood
and 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, how hard
nor what the effect would be. 1t was the side of
his head, and there nothing to break the force
of the blow. He fell instantly upon the pavement.
There was no second blow he did not move. stoop-
ed down over him, and he seemed to be lfeless.-
Blood flowed from his mouth, and got sponge and
wiped 1t away. got some ammonia and applied it
to his nose but without effect. Perhaps spent ten
minutes in attempts to rescusciate him, but found
he was absolutely dead. In my horror and conster-
nation, ran instinctvely to the doors and bolted
them the doors Of the lecture room and of the lab
oratory below. And then what was | to do! 1t
never occurred to to go out and declare what had
been done, and obtain assistance. saw nothing but
the alternative of successful movement and con-
cealment of the body on the one hand and of infa-
my and destruction on the other The first thing |
did, as as could do anything to draw the
body into the private djoining, where I took
off the clothes, and began putting them in the fire,
which was burning in the upper laboratory. They
all consumed there that afternoon with papers,
pocket book, and whatever they contained | did
not examine the pockets nor remove anything, ex-
cept the watch. that or the chain of it, hang
ing out 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 getting up into the sink myself
succeeded in drawing it up there. 1t was entirely
dismembered. 1t was quickly done, work OF ter
rible and desperate necessity.
The only instrument was the knife found by the
officers in the tea chest, which l kept for cutting
corks. l made of the Turkish knife as it was
called at the trial That had long been kept on my
mantlepece in Cambridge, as curious ornament
My daughte frequently cleaned it hence the marks
of oil and whiting found it. had lately brought
it into Boston to get the silver sheath repaired
While Remembering the body stream of Cochitu-
ate water was running through the sink, carrying off
the blood in pipe that passed down through the
lower laboratory. There must have been leak in
the pipe, for the ceiling below was stained immedi
ately around it. There fire burning in the
furnace of the lower laboratory Littleeld was mis-
taken 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 and
viscera were put into that furnace that day, and the
fuel heaped on. | did not examine at night to see
to what degree they were consumed. Some of the
extremities put in there, believe, on that day.
the pelvis, and some of the limbs perhaps, all
put under the lid of the lecture table, in what
is called the well-a deep sink, lined with lead
stream of Cochituate was tirned into it, and kept
running through it all Friday night; the thorax
put into a smaller we'll, in the lower laboratory,
which | filled with water, and threw in quantity
of potash, which found there. This disposition of
the remains was not changed till after the visit of
the officers on Monday. When the body had been
thus all disposed Of cleared away all traces ofwhat
had been done | think the stick with which the
fatal blow had been struck proved to be piece of
the stump of large grape vine-say too inches in
diameter, and two feet long 1t was one of several
which had carried in from Cambridge long before,
for the purpose of showing the effect of certain chem
cal fluids in coloring wood by being absorbed into
the pores The grape vine. being very pourous
wood. was we'll adapted to this purpose. Another
longer stick had been used as intended and exhibit
ted to the students. This one had not been used.
put it into the fire. took up the two notes either
from the table or the floor, think the table, close
by where DR.. P. had fallen | seized an old metall;
pen lying the table, dashed it the face and
through the signatures, and put them in my pocket
do not know why did this rather than put them
in the fire, for had not considered for a moment
what effect either mode of disposng of them would
have on the mortgage, or my indebtedness to DIR. p
and the other persons interested, and had not yet
given single thought to the question to what
account should give of the object or result of my
interview with DIR. Parkman. Ineyer the sledge
hammer spoken of by Littefeld; never knew of its
existence, at least have recollection of it. left
the college to go home as late as six o'clock col
lected myself we'll as I could that | might meet
my family and others with composure. On Satur-
day, visited my rooms at the College, but made no
change in the disposition of the remains, and laid no
plans to my future course. On Saturday evening,
disappearance. was then deeply impressed with
the necessity of Immediately taking ground as
to the character Of myinterview with DIR. Parkman,
for | saw that it must become known that had had
such an interview as had appointed it first by an
unseaed note on Tuesday, and on Friday bad myself
called at the house in open day, and ratified the ar
rangement, and had there been seen: and had proba
bly, been overheard by the man servant, and knew
not by how many persons. DR.. P. might have been
seen entering my rooms, how many persons he
might have told by the way where he was going
the interview would in all probability be known, and
must be ready to explain it. The question exerci
sed me much, but on Sunday my course was taken
would 90 into Boston and be the first to declare
myself the person, as yet unknown, with whom DIR
P. had made the appointment. [ would take the
ground that had invited him to the College to pay
him money, and that had paid it. Accordingly,
fixed upon the sum by taking the small note ant
adding interest which it appears cast enormously
If had thought of this earlier, should no
have deposited Pettees check for 800 in the Charlie
River Bank Saturday, but should have suppressed
it, as going so far to make up the sum which wa
to have professed to have paid the day before AM
which Pettee knew had by at the hour of inter
view; it had not occurred to me that | should eve
show the notes cancelled in proof of it, or SHOULD
have destroyed the large note, and let it be inerre
that it was gone with the missing man, and SHOULD
only have kept the small one, which was all that
could pretend to have paid. My single thought wa
concealment and safety everything else was inc
dental to that. | in state to consider my u
terror pecuniary interest. Money, though | needle
it SO much, was of no account with in that cor
: ditiOn of mind.
: If | had designed and premeditated the homicd
of Dr. Parkman in order to get the possession of tn
a notes and cancel my debt not only should not hay
t deposited Pettee's check the next day but shout
have made some show of getting and having the me-
d ney the morning before. l should have drawn m