The New York herald., 1850-01-28
D0UB BILE SHEET.
THE PARKMAN TRAGEDY.
4 Revisw w OF the EvideEee OF DR.. webster's
Guilt-New ana Astounding DeveIope-
ments.


JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.
Much has already been written and published
with regard 10 the recent appalling tragedy at the
Medical College, in this city. Facts in the case,
duplicating DIR. Webster as the murderer of DR.,
Parkman, divulged soon after the discovery of the
dead body in the College, left, for quite length Of
time, no other impression on the public mind than
that of Dr. Webster's guilt; and do not think that
General opinion has been materially changed even
to the present hour. But certain it Is, that within
few weeks strenuous efforts of most extraordina-
ry character have been made to change public sen.
,timent, make DR.. Webster appear an innocent and
prosecuted man, and fasten the crime of murder
upon an individual against whom no evidence of
guilt can be found, except the imaginations and
desires of DIR. Wevster's personal friends. Why
q it, If these writers know as much as they pro-
fess tending to clear DR.. Webster, that they do not
send their correspondence to journals in this vici-
nifty? If their letters contained the least shadow
of truth, not Boston newspaper would refuse to
publish them. allude particularly to a letter that
recently appeared in the Savannah Republican,
s(msrely as one Of number OF the same character,
sent to distant cities) purporting to be written by
can intelligent citizen OF Boston," and sent to a
"fnend'' in Savannah. The letter alluded to is
dated at Cambridge, the city where DR.. Webster's
family resides, and was probably written by Judge
;. +. L. Fay. IL contains series OF most palpa-
bic untruihs, and is calculated to lead into error
the minds OF all persons, at distance who read 1t.
The New York Herald being the best medium for
laying before the United States public the facts with
regard to any subject ct interest. present TO you
brief narrative OF occurrences as they have actually
transph ed, in the case OF the murder OF DR. George
Parkman. Without referring particularly to the
letters written by DR.. Websters friends, | will
errors created by. many unfounded statements
hitherto published in various quarters, by present
ing the following review OF matters eliminating
Dr. Weheesr, and an array OF evidence which Is
gathered from sources OF und0ubled crediblity. |
do this without wishing 10 prejudice and convict
DIR. Webster-whose fate is LETT for our Supreme
Court to decide-but wuh The feeling that crime
shoule not 60 unpunlshed, even though the perpe-
traitor belong TO the highest class In the commuu-
y. II is LAMENT BILE fact, that in this vicinity tie
poor man Often suffers the penalty of the law, when
the rich man, though equally criminal, cuts, with
golden knife, the cords that bind hun, and escapes.
DIR George Parkman suddenly and mysteriously
disappeared on Friday afternoon, the 23d day OF
November last. Little public excitement was
manifested until be had been missing for two or
three days, and then the anxiety to know his where
abouts became general. Handbills, offering large
reward, were posted on every coraer, policemen
were sent in every direction, and hundreds Of men,
IN the hope OF reward, turned out TO scrunlze the
highways and byeways OF the surrounding country,
rake and scrape the suspicious pureus OF the West
End, and grapple In the neighboring nvers and
ponds. In the meantime, Iumor was afioat that
Dr. Parkman, when last seen, was on his way TO
East Cambridge, going tbither to discharge mort
gage which had shorty before been settled with
DIR. Webster, who had paid him certain sum Of
.noney: This rumor was traced to DR.. Webster
himself Search was OF course made in the vici-
nifty OF Cambridge. Nothing being discovered, the
most horrible apprehe asions-fears ia secret muir
der--hlled the public mind But for seven days,
not the slightest whisper Of suspicion was breathed
against The fair fame ot DIR. Webster, so far as was
known 10 the public. On the afternoon Of the 30th
of November, portion Of the mutllated remains of
Dr Parkman were discovered in apart Of the Medi-
cal College 10 which DIR: Parkman alone had ac-
cess. On the evening of the same day, DIR. Web
sier was arrested and conveyed TO Leyereu street
Jail The prisoner is charged with the murder OF
Dr. Parkman The jury OF inquest, under the di-
recton OF Coroner Pratt (whilom n Methodist
preacher, afterwards Colonel of the 81 Regiment,
I'd Brigade, and now Coroner and Deputy Sheriff
OF Suffolk. also a deacon IN the church, 10 say
nothing Of has practice at the BARI, have endesvoed
TO keep in profound secrecy the evidence which
came before them. But, notwithstanding this out
rsgeous proceeding of said jury, upheld by neither
law nor precedent, large number Of appalling
facts have been dlvulged, and. with your pernis-
sion, will give, In detail, such as have come to
my knowledge, from the most authenticated
sources.
II appears by evidence before the Coroner's
and Grand Juu,s, that from the very first disap.
pearance oi DIR. PaIkman, his agent or private Sc
cretary, Mr.. Charles M. Kingsley, had his sus:
picions pointed in the direction OF the Medical
College, and at Dr. Webster as The only perton VINO
could tell Of the missing mans VIII h.reabouts -
Kingsley knew well that DR. Webster was the
debtor Of Dr. Parkman- that frequent difficulties
had occurred between them and that about one
o'clock on The 23d day Of November, Dr.. Pafkman
lett home TO 20 to the Medical College, there to re-
ceive the sum Of $50 from Dr. Webster, IN pay
msnt Of a note which had been some time due
Kingsley knew that DIR. Paikman had made rspeat-
ed demands tor payment-that DR.. webster, ex-
asperated, hsuassed, and desperate, had repeated
ly thre eeicned DR.. Parkman IN very serious terms
and Kingsley knew, from inquiries made at the
OUTSET, that DIR. Parkman did 60 TO the College be-
tween ore and two o'clock on the day speclied-
in fscf after one or two dais elapsed, aud the ex-
.cit.ment became general, Or. Webster himself
admitted the truth Of Or. Parkman's reported visit
10 his room al that time. Mr.. Kingsley was the
fret to put The Police on the right trei; and on sun
Stsrkwestber, visited the College building, and
went through every room, with the excep-
ton Of Dr. Webster's private apartment, (Which
leads out. Of the lecture room,) and the la.
. bomtory Immediately underneath the doors OF
these rooms were locked, and no entrance was OBJ
tanned. OF course, ne discovery was made. On
Monday. few Of the police visited the building,
and another search was made. with the same re-
suit as before. On Tuesday, Mr.. Clspp and o;her
police officers went TO the Medical College, deter
mined on making thorough search. They met,
at the door, Mr.. Ephraim Litllehed, the anitor or
superinte ndent Of the college, who resides with
his family, in the basement Of the building Mr..
Clspp informed Litteheld OF his determination, and
desired LIS. cooperation. Litteheld remarked
that the whole building had been thoroughly
searched, with the exception Of Dr. Webster's
private apartments, in which DR.. Webster then
was; the officers and Lttlefeld then proceeded to
the door OF the chemical lecture room, but the
door was locked on the inside. Llttlefeld knock
ed, and no one came; he then gave three loud raps
with bis fist, and in short time DR.. Webster
came, opened the door, and stood little on one
side. Lntleheld Informed hun that the officers
had been Instructed TO make another search
for Dr. Parkman, and their duty required
them TO examine his (Dr. W's) rooms. as well
as other parts Of the College. Dr. Webster was
unusually pale, and said nothing; but, mo-
tioning to the party, Immediately led the way
across lhe lecture room TO his own private apart
ment, immediately in the rear Of the desk at
which be was accustomed to lecture. Webster
opened the door, and the party passed In. No
thing UNUSUAL was seen-only tables and shelves,
covered wnh minerals, and bottles and jars con
taining chemicals; The officers (ths party no,
having any particular suspicious against DR. w }
looked rather carelessy around, and then inquired
for the other apartment DIR. Webster led the
way down the stairs, TO his laboratory, a large
room on the basement, with brick floor, and two