Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-07-11

'scounores an0 llar,' and went on heaping
upon me the most bitter taunts and oppro-
orious epithets. While he was talking he
drew handful of papers from his pocket.
and took from among them my two notes.
and also an old letter from Dr. Hosack,
written many years ago, and congratulating
him (Dr. P. on his success in getting me
appointed professor of chemistry. you
see,' he said, 4 got you into your Office, and
now will get you out Of it, He put back
into his pocket all the papers excep. the let
ter and the notes. cannot tell how long
the torrent of threats aud invectives contin-
ued, and can now recall to memory but
small portion of what he said. At first /
kept interpreting, trying to pacify him, SO
that l might obtain the object for which l
had sought the interview. But l could not
stop him, and soon my own temper was up.
| forgot everything. l felt nothing but the
sting of his words. was excited TO the
highest degree of passion; and while he
was speaking and gesticulating in the most
violent and menacing manner, thrusting the
letter and his FIST into my face, in my fury
seized whatever thing was handiest. 1t was
stick of woodland dealt him an instan-
eous blow, with all the force that passion
could give it. did not know, nor think,
nor care where should hit him, nor how
hard nor what the effect would be. 1t was
on the side of his head, and there was notl,-
ing to break the force of the blow. He
fell instantly upon the pavement. There
was no second blow. He did not move.
stopped down over him and he seemed to
be lifeless. Blood flowed from his mouth,
and got sponge and wiped it away
got some ammonia and applied it to his
nose, but without effect Perhaps spent
ten minutes in attempts to resusciiate him !;
but found that he was absolutely dead
In my horror aud CONSERVATION ran in
stlnctively to the doors and boIted them
the doors Of the lecture room and of the
laboratory below. And then what was
to do?
1t never occurred to me to go out and
declare what had been done, and obtain as
sistance. l saw nothing but the alternative
OF successful removal and concealment Of
the body, on the one hand, and infamy and
destruction on the other. The first thing
did, as soon as could do anything. was to
drag the body into the room adjoining
There l took off the clothes, and began put
ing them into the fire which was burning in
the upper laboratory. They were all con-
sumed there that afternoon, with papers,
pocket book, or whatever else they may
have contained. | did not examine the
pockets, nor remove anything except the
watch. saw that, or the chain of it hang
ing out, and took it and threw it over the
bridge as went to Cambridge.
My next move was to get the body into
the sink which stands in the small private
room. By setting the body partially erect
against the corner, and getting up into the
sink myself, succeeded in drawing it up.
There 1t was entirely dismembered. II was
quickly done, as work of terrible and des-
perate necessity. The only instrument used
was the knife found by the officers in the
tea-chest, and which kept for cutting corks.
l made no use of the Turkish knife as il
was called at the trial. That had long been
kept on nv parlor mantel-piece in Cam
bridge as a curious ornament. My daugh-
tiers frequently cleaned thence the maj ks
of oil and whiting found on it. had late
" brought it into Boston TO get the silver
sheath repaired.
While dsmemhering the body stream
of Cochituate was running through the
sink, carrying off the blood in pipe that
passed down through the lower laboratory.
There must have been leak in the pipe,
for the ceiling below was stained immedi-
ately round it.
There was fire burning in the furnace
of the lower laboratory. Littleheld was
mistaken in thinking there had never been
a fire there. He had probably never kin
died one, but l had done it myself several
times. l had done it that day for the pur-
pose of making oxygen gas. The head and
yiscera went into that furnace that day, and
the fuel heaped on. did not examine at
night 10 see to what degree they were con-
sumed. Some of the ex,remities l believe
were put in there on that day.
The pelvis and some of the limbs, per-
baps ali, we're put under the lid Of the lee
lure room table in what is called the scell-
a deep sink lined with lead. A stream OF
Cochituate was turned into it, and kept rum
ming through il all Friday night. The tho
rax was put into similar well in the lower
laboratory. which filled with water, and
threw in a quantity of potash which found
there. This disposition of the remains was
not ill after the visit Of the officers on Mon
day. 80 Is - sso,,l.
When the body had been thus all dispos-
ed of, 1 cleared away all traces of what had
been done. took up the stick with which
the fatal blow had been struck. 1t proved
to be piece of the stump Of large grape
vine. say two inches in diameter, and two
feet long. 1t was one Of two or more PIE
ces which had carried in from Cambridge
long before, for the purpose Of showing the
effect of certain chemical fluids in coloring
wood, by being absorbed into the pores
The grape vine being very porous wood
was well suited to this purpose. Another
longer stick had been used as intended, and
exhibited to the students. This one had
not been used. Iput it into the FIRE.
took up the two notes, either from the
fable or the floor, l think the table, close
NV where DR.. r. had fallen. ! seized an
Gid metallic pen lying on the table, dashed
Il across the lace and through the signatures
and put them in my pocket. do moi
know WHY did this rather than put them
al ~l