Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-01-26
:. .PlARksAN munn..

.pp-n the arrest of Professor Webster and th'
subsequent examination Of his private desk
at his residence at Cambridge, 1t we, stated
that two notes in Dr. Parkman's handwriting
had been discovered. One of these note
was for 81, 2,4oo, and it is said bore on its bacl
endorsements sufficient to cover its face. The
other was note for S4s7, which the Profes
sor alleged to have paid the Doctor, and tool
the note itself instead Of written receipt il
acknowledgment that the obligation was can
celled. I....I..
When the discovery of the notes was frs
made public, it was thought by some tha
they formed another link in the fearful chain
of evidence which encompassed the PROBES
sor but, upon calm consideration, this sup
position was repudiated by many, and the
whole transaction finally resulted in the con-
viction that these notes, instead of tending
further TO criminate the Professor, would ma
turally serve to exoneratc him in a measure
from the charge of having committed the
deed, IL he did il at all, from pecuniary con-
sideralions.
We have just learned from source on
which we place implicit credence, that all
the circumstances attending the discovery OF
these notes have not yet been made public,
and that their true history involves the whole
dreadful affair in deeper shade Of mystery
Ii seems that when the officers visited the
house Of Professor Webster for the PURPOSE
of examining his papers certain desk was
thoroughly overhauled-every paper was
spread open and infinitely scrutinized by a
gentleman perfectly familiar with DR.. Park
mans handwriting yet not a word was dis
covered that bore any resemblance TO the
Doctors manuscript.
They then relinquished the search and
came to the conclusion that if Prof. Webster
had any paper in the handwriting of DR.. Park
man, they were not certainty in that desk.
They then left the house entirely satisfied
that it was useless to prosecute their invesi-
cation for that species of evidence against
the Professor any farther in that direction.
The mex, day they again visited the house on
a similar errand, and after examining other
recep,acles for papers and letters, without
any successful result the gentleman who was
expected 10 recognise the handwriting of the
Doctor, suggested the propriety Of again ex-
amining the desk which had been inspected
the day previous. Although considered by
the others futile undertaking, yet they con-
scnted-the desk was reopened and there
conspicuous amoug all the other papers were
the Two notes.
How they came there, no one has explain
ed, and the more we reflected on the subject
the less we can repress the most painful sur
misses. They must have been placed there
by some person who presumed that desk,
having been once so completely examined,
would not be looked into again.
A statement has been made in some of the
public prints 10 the effect that Mrs. Parkman
the wife of the lamented Doctor, had occa-
sionally visited the family of the Professor
since his incarceration, and that unfortu-
nately lady was still on friendly I'd intimate
terms with Mrs. Webster. How far the ex-
istence of friendly feeling may be concerned,
we know not but we have authority for
saving, that Mrs Parkman has not only not
visited Professor Webster's family since the
dreadful event, but has kept herself confined
10 her own residence, and has not even visi-
ted the members of her own stricken family.
Mrs Parkman, we also learn, will not be
called upon 10 testify in the case. The evil
dence relative to the private marks about The
person of the DocloD by which the body was
indentlfiedin its mangled state, can satsfac
,orily be given by HE physician of the family,
and thus Mrs. z. will be freed from the agon-
izing position TO which she wonld be subject,
If she gave her evidence before the gaze of
the public.
Young Parkman, son of the Doctor, who
has been some time in Europe, reached New
York yesterday, in the steam ship Canada,
and is expected to arrive here to-day.-Bos-
ton Herald, Jan. IT,
The Boston afternoon papers contain the
following facts in relation 10 the indictment
of Webster!
The indictment contains four counts, in al
OF which Professor Webster is charged with
numbering DR., Parkman on the 23d of No.
venlher. In the first count the deed is al
legged 10 have been done with knife in
the second with hammer; in the third with
his hands and feet and in the fourth by
some means to the Jury unknown, These
cover all the w.ys In which DR.. Parkmah,
from the evide given in, might have been
killed.
The Chief Justice and Judge Biselow then
had a consultation, as to whethe the accused
should be brought before the Municipal Court
and notified of the indictment, or, that the
Supreme Ccurt being in session the indict.
ment should be Immediately certified up. II
was finally decided that he should be brought
before the Municipal Court at o'clock and
be notified of the indictment.
AT o'clock, the accused wa. brought into
Court, which was nearly full Of spectators
He took his seat in the dock, and almost i'm.
mediately was addressed by the Clerk, who
informed him that he had been indicted fo