Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-07-15

, had purchased. l have. drawn up, il
separate papers, IN explanation of the US.
: | intended to make Of the blood sent for OF
Thursday, the 22d, and of the conversation
} with Littlefield about the dissecting vault
think that Pettee, in his testimony a
the trial, put too strongly my words abou
having settled with DR.. P. Whatever
did say of the kind, was in the nope en-.
|tertained that | should be able to pacify
DR. P, and make some arrangement
with him, and was said in order to quiet
Pettee, who was becoming restive under
the solicitations ofDr. Parkman.
After DR.. Webster had stated most OF the
facts recorded above on the 22d May, this
question, with all the earnestness, solemni-
ty, and authority Of tone that Dr.. Putnam
was master of, was addressed to him: -z
"Dr. Webster, in all probability your
days are numbered; you cannot, you dare
not speak falsely to me now; you must not
die with lie in your mouth; SO, prove
TO yourself that your repentance for the
sins of your past life is sincere-tell me
the truth, then-a confidence to be kept
sacred during your lifetime, and as much
longer as my regard for the happiness of
your family shall seem to me to require,
and the interests. of truth and justice to per.
nit. Search to the bottom Of your heart
for the history OF your motives, and tell
me, before God, did it never occur to you,
before the decease of Dr.. Parkman, that
his death, if you could bring it to pass
would be ofgreat advantage TO you, or at
least that personal injury to HIM might
possibly De the result of your expected con-
ference with him? AS dying man, |
charge you to answer me truly and exactly,
or else be silent-had you not such a
thought?"
''No, never,' said he, with energy and
feeling, s'as live, ana as God is my wit
ness, never! was no more capable of
such thought than one Of my innocent
children. | never had the remotest idea
of injuring DR.. P. until the moment the
blow was struck. DR.. P. was extremely
severe and sharp-the most provoking of
men-and am irritable and passionate.
A quick-he AIDED and brief violence of tenn.
per has been beselting sin of my life.
was an only child-much indulged-and
| have never acquired the control over my
passions that ought to have acquired ear.
ly, and the consequence is all this
''But you notified DR.. Parkman to meet
you at certain hour,- and told him you
would pay him, when you knew you had
not the moneyF'
"No," he replied. 81 did not tell him
would pay him, and there is no evidence
that | told him so. Except my own words
spoken after his disappearance, and after
had determined to take the ground that
had paid him, these words were of the
miserable tissue of falsehoods to which
was committed from the moment had be-
gan to conceal the homicide. never had
a thought Of injuring Parkman.
This was accompanied by the statement
in which Professor Webster attempts to
explain as to his seeing Litteield, sending
for blood, and of inquring about gases
from the vault. After reading the state
ment, Dr.. Putnam proceeded to argue as to
its truthfulness, saying that it was made
when the writ of error was still pending.
Also that Professor Webster's estate was
worth several thousand dollars, and that
he was not in such strait as to commit
such a crime deliberately.
The previous petition from Professor
protesting his innocence and praying for
absolute pardon, he said, was got up by his
family, who were unwavering in their be-
lief in his innocence, until his confession
was communicated to them about week
since. He concluded in asserting his be-
lief that the confession was true.
The following is the first petition of
DR.. Webster to the Executive, to which
DIR. Putnam refers to in his remarks above
alluded 10, and which was Withdrawn on
his recommendation: ..-..-
"To His Excellency George N. Briggs,
l.. L. D., and to the Honorable Council of
the State of MISUNDERSTANDING been
convicted before the Supreme Judicial
Court of the murder of DR.. George Park
man, would most respectfully and humbly
petition your Excellency and the Honor
able Council, 10 be permitted to declare,
in the most solemn manner, that am en-
tIeb innocent of this awful crime; that
never entertained any other than the kind
est feelings towards him; and that ! never
had any inducement 10 injure, in any way,
him whom have long numbered among
my best friends.
To Him who seeth in secret, and before
whom may ere long be called to appear,
would l appeal for the truth of what now
declare, as also for the truth of the solemn
declaration. that had no agency in plac-
ing the remains of human body in or un-
der my rooms in the Medical College in
Boston, nor do know by whom they were
so placed. | am the victim of circum.
stances, or foul conspiracy, or Of the at
tempt o. some Individual to cause suspi-
cion TO fall upon me; influenced perhaps
by the prospect Of obtaining large. re-
ward.
When first charged with this dreadful
crime, did not publish to the world de-.
claration Of my innocence, or any explana-
ton of the circumstances tending TO bring
suspicion on me, solely in consequence of