Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-07-13
Professor WebsGer's Confession OF
the Murder of DR.. ParkInam.
Boston, July 2.


the Murder of DR.. ParkInam.
Boston, July 2.
At the meeting of the council this morning,
the case of Prof Webster was referred to a
committee Before the committee, at twelve
O'Clock, appeared the Rev. Dr. Putnam, the
spiritual adviser of the condemned, with pc
titon for the communication of punishment, to-
gether with a confession that he killed DR..
Parkman.
The reverend gentleman prefaced the state
ment by few remarks relative to the man-
ner in which that confession was made to him.
He stated that he had no previous acquaint-
ance with Prof Webster before called to act
in the capacity of his spiritual adviser. In the
first few weeks Of his visit he sought no ac-
knowledgement of the prisoner At length,
on the 23d May, he visited him in his cell, and
demanded of him, for his own well being, that
he should tell the truth in regard to the mat
ter, and he acceeded to the request by making
statement, which was now submitted to the
council It was is substance, as follows:
"0n Tuesday, the goth November, sent
4 the note to DIR. Parkman, which it appears,
was carried by the boy Maxwell; handed it
to Litde6eld, unsealed; il was to ask DR..
Parkman to call at my rooms on Friday, the
23d. after my lecture; he had become of late
livery importunsse for his pay; he had threat
ened me With a suit; to put an officer into my
house, and to drive me from the professorship
if did not pay him. The purpert of my note
i was simply to ask the conference; did not
tell him in it what could do, on what had
to say about the payment; wished to gain
for those few days release from his soicita-
tions to which was liable every day, on oe-
casions, and in a manner very disagreeahle
and alarming also to arrest for so long a
time, at least, the ful6lment of recent threats
of severe measures; / did not expect TO be
able to pay him when Friday should arrive
my purpose was, if he should acceed to the
proposed interview, to state to him my em-
barrassments, and utter inability to pay him at
present; to apologize for those things in my
conduct which had offended him-to throw
myself upon his mercy-to beg for further
time and indulgence, for the sake of my fam.
4 lily, if not for myself and to make as good
lpromises TO him as could have any hope OF
keeping. did not hear from him on that day,
nor the next. "wednesday but | found on
Thursday be had been abroad IN pursuit of
me without finding me; imagined he had
forgotten the appointment, or else did not
mean to wait for it; feared be would come
in upon me at my lecture hour, or while was
preparing my experiments for it, therefore, ]
called at his house on that morning friday
between 8 and TO remind him of my wish tc
: see him at the college at half past one-ny
lecture closing at one-I did not stop to tall
with him, for I expected the conversation
would be q long one, and as bad my lecture
to prepare for, it was necessary for me Il
3 have my time, and also to keep my mind free
/ from exciting matters
d DR.. P. agreed to TO call on me as ] propos
Z ed; he came accordingly between half past
/ and O'Clock entering at the lecture room
door; Twas engaged In removing some glasses
I from my lecture room table into the room in
/, the rear called the upper labratory; he imme-
diately addressed me with great energy, care
3 you ready for me, sir Have you got the
! money ?" replied. "No, DR. Parkmau, and
was then beginning TO state my condition and
, lmy appeal to him, but he would not listen to
I me, and interrupted me with much vehemence
he called me scoundrel and liar, and went on
t heaping on me the most bitter taunts and op,
i lprobrious epithetss while be was speakieg, he
drew handful Of papers from his pocket, and
took from among them my two notes and al
( so an old letter from DIR. Hosack, written many
> years ago, and congratalating him on bis sue
cess in getting me appointed professor of chem
{ istry-"You see" said he, Il got you int
7 your Office, and now / viii get you out of it,
: He put back into his pocket all the papers ex
: cept the letter and the notes. ! cannot tel
r how long the torrents Of threats and invectiye.
a continued, and cannot recall to memory bui
. la small portion of what he said AT first
e kept interposing, trying to paeify him, so tha
) l could obtain the object for which / sough
/ the interview; but could not stop him, ane
E soon my own temper was up. ! forgot ever
= thing, and forgot nothing but the sting of hi
: words. / was excited TO the highest degree
e of passion, and while he was speaking and
? gesticulating in the most violent and meaacine
t manner thrusting his letter and his fist into my
e face, in my fury / seized whatever thing wa;
handiest, fit was stick Of wood) and dealt hin
: an instantaneous blow, with all the force tina
4 passion could give it. I did not know, or think
: or care, where should bit him, nor how hard
: nor what the effect would be; it was On tht
!, side of the head, and there was nothing 4
i break the force of the blow; he fell instantly
y to the pavement; there was no second blow
S stopped down over him. and he seemed t
a be Ifeless; blood flowed from his mouth, anc
n / got sponge and wiped it away got som,
g ammonia and applied It to his nose, but with
e out effect; perhaps / spent ten minutes il
t trying to recussitate him, but found he wa
e absolutely dead In my horror and conster
nation ran instinctiyely to the doors and bolt
? ed them-the doors of the lecture room ant
}. the labratory below-and then what was I Il
: do? It never occurred 20 me to 60 out and
y declare what had been done, and obtain as
! sistance; / saw nothing but the alternative o
0 successful movement and coneealment of th,
y body, on the one hand and of infamy and per
dition on the other. The first thing did al
soon as could do any thing, was TO draw tn,
body into the private room adjoining; there
took of the clothes and began putting then
into the fire, which was burning in the uppe
t labratory; they were all consumed there tha
n afternoon, with papers, pocket book. and what
ever they contained; did not examine thi
pockets, nor remove any thing except tn,
watch; saw that. or the chain of it banging
: !. out; took it and threw it over the bridge a