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

On notion the Convention adi ourned sine die.
]. A. AVIRETT, Chairman.
i !. W. H ETnrfsPqr' Secretaries.
Extraordinary Confession of Prof. John w. Web
ster, Of the Murder of DR.. Geo: P"rl<mHn-ThTill-
the body was disposed of, &c.
Bosrox, July ?, 1850.
At the meeting of the Council this morning, the
case of Prof Webster referred to a committee.
Before the committee, at II o'clock, appeared the
Rev. DR.. Putnam, the spiritual adviser of the
demned, with petition for a communication of pun
ishment. together with confession that he killed
DIR. Parkman
The reverend gentleman prefaced the statement
by few remarks relative to the manner in which
the confession made to him. He stated that he
had no previous acquaintanceship with Prof. Web
ster before being called to act in the capacity of his
spiritual adviser In the first few weeks of his visits
he sought no acknowledgment of the prisoner. At
length the 23d of May, he visited him in his CELL
and demanded of him, for his own we'll being, that
he should tell the truth in regard to the matter and
which was submitted for the consideration of
the Council.
1t was in substance as follows:
THE CONFESSION.
On Friday, Goth November, | sent the note to Dr.
Parkman, which it appears, carried by the boy,
Maxwell. handed it to Littlefed unsealed. 1t
was to ask DIR. Parkman to call at my rooms Fri
day, the 23d, after my lecture. He had become, of
late, very importunate for his pay He had threat
ened me with a suit to put officer in my house,
and to drive me from my professorship if did not
pay him. The purpOrt of my note simply to
ask the conference. did not tell him. in it, what
could do, or what had to say about the payment
wished to gain for those few DAYS release from his
solicitations, to which was liable every day. on oc
casons, and in a manner very disagreeabe and alar
ming and also to avert for so long time, at least
the fulflment of recent threats of measures
did not expect to be able to pay him when Friday
should arrive My purpose was, if he should accedt
to the proposed Interview, to state to him my EN-
barrassments and utter inability to pay him at pres
ent-to apologize for those things in my conduc
which had offended him-to throw myself upon hi
mercy-to beg for further time and indulgence fo
the sake of my family, if for myself and to max
as good promises to him as could have any hope
keeping.
/ did not hear from him on that day nor the mex
wednesday, but found on Thursday he had bee
abroad in pursuit of me without finding me. i'm:
Rea h had 5r e. feared Re WOULD Ef ese
upon me in my lecture hour, or while was prepa
ing my experiments for it. therefore called at h
house on that morning, (Frday,) between eight ar
II nine o'clock to remind him of my wish to see him
the College at half past one-my lecture closing
81 l. did not stop to talk with him, for | expecte
Il the conversation would be a long one and had n
lecture to prepare for for it necessary for me
have my time and also to keep my mind free fro
other exciting matters. DIR. Parkman agreed to ca
Il upon me as proposed He came, accordingly, b
tween half past one and two o'clock entering at IL
NJ
q glasses from my lecture room table into the room
Il the rear, called the upper laboratory, He came r
pidly down the steps, and followed me into the la
II oratory. He Immediately addressed me with gre
81 energy" Are you ready for me- sir Have you G
81 the money? O.
II replied, * No, DIR. Parkman," and was then b
ginning to state my condition. and my appeal to hir
81 but he would not listen to me, and interrupted n
III with much vehemence. He called me scoundr
II and liar, and went on heaping the most bitt
II taunts & opprobious epithets While he was spea
ing, he drew handful of papers from his pocket al
took from among them my two notes, and also an o
II letter from DIR. Hossack written many years ag
congratuating him on his success in getting me a
pointed Professor of Chemistry. "You see" he sal
81 got you into your Office and now will get "
IL out of it," He put back into his pocket all the
pers except the letter and the notes. cannot te
M how long the torrent of threats and invectives CO.
tinued and cannot recall to memory but sma
portion of what he said at first kept interposin
trying to pacify him, so that might obtain the O
iect for which sought the interview, but could n
AZ stop him, and soon my own temper was up; forg
every thing, and felt nothing but the sting of
AS words.