Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-07-11
Confession Of Prof. webster.

At the meeting of the Council this morning,
the case of Professor Webster was referred to
a Committee. M
Beforethis committee, at 12 O'Clock, appear
ed the Rev. DR.. Putnam, the spiritual adviser
OF the condemned, with petition for commu-
ta'lon OF punishment, together with confess
sion that he killed DR.. Parkman
ane reverend gentleman prefaced the state
ment ny few remarks relative TO the manner
in which the Confession was made n him Ha
I stated that he had no previous acquaintance
with Professor Webster. before heinz called tn
act in the capacity Of bis spiritual adviser. In
the first few weeks Of his visits he sourbt M
acknowledgements of the prisoner AtIenoth
on the 23d of Maybe visited him in his ceH.
and demanded of him for his owa well being,
that he should tell the truth in regard to the
matter, and he acceded to the request, by
niaking,a statement which was now submitted
for the consideration of the council.
1t was in substance as follows:
On Tuesday. Nov. Goth, Professor Webster
sent note 10 DR.. Parkman. 1t was handed to
Littlefeld, and was unsealed. 1t was to ask
DIR. Parkman to call on me, as he had become
quite importunate about his debt I wished TO
gain time. did not expect TO be able to pay
him on Friday. lexpected to state to him my
inability and to apologize for what had occurred
and make some promise for the future.
heard on Thursday that he was in pursuit
of me, and feared that he had not got my letter.
therefore called at his house and asked for an
interview. DIR. Parkman agreed to meet me at
the College at half past one o'clock. At the
time appointed, he came to the College. He
came in at the lecture room door, and followed
me into the Laboratory.
He asked with great energy, have yen got
the money! / said no, doctor, and began TO
apologize. He would not hear me, and began
TO load me with opprobrious epithets, notwith-
standing all l could say. Afterwards he drew
the notes and an old letter from his pocket, and
referring 10 the letter, said, in this letter
recommended you for your present situation,
and now will have you turned out.
DIR. Parkman continued gesticulating in the
most violent manner, and finally thrust his fists
in my face. This caused my passions to rise
and in moment of uncomfortable anger
seized whatever implement was near, which
happened to be a stick of wood, and struck hin
blow on the side of the head. There wa:
no second blow. He fell upon the pavement o
the room. insensible.
Blood flowed from his mouth, but there were
no signs of life. | stood over his body tel
minutes, and then found that he was dead
hlSt Impulse NdS " Iuu dIu JUL tiiC OOOlo
TO consider what was TO be done.
The Professor then states that he first burn
the clothes and papers, with the exception o
those found upon him. The watch he after
warks threw over Cambridge bridge.
He then took the body to the sink, and dis
membered it. He used for that purpose til,
knife found in the tea chest. The Turkisl
knife wrs not used for that purpose. The heal
and some other parts of the body were place,
in the furnace that day, and fuel heaped upoI
them. The stick with which the fatal blow
was inflicted he then picked, up and found it Il
be piece of grape vine some two inches il
diameter, and two feet long. 1t was brough
in from Cambridge some time previously, 70
the purpose of tying experiments relative t
dying wood.
Upon the notes, he made the marks foun
upon them with metallic pen, and put then
in his pocket. He sa that he never tn
sledge hammer spoken of by Li,tefold. Tha
night he left the College at o'c'ock, after hay
ing disposed of the body in yariou places.
On Saturday he visited the College, but mad
no change in the position of the remains. II
first saw an account of the disappearance of ID
Parkman on Saturday evening, and then refet
ted as to what should be his course.
He concluded on Sunday to come into Bos
ton and make the statements which he did re
alive to the visit of DR.. Parkman to his room:
: On Sunday he visited the rooms. After tn
f visit of the officers, he put part of the body
the prIvv and part in the tea chest.
The tin box was designed to receive tn
thorax; the fish hooks to be used in grapplin
! up the remains, but he did not use them.
He was not aware that he put the knife /
the tea chest.
The brush pen found in the room was use
in making diagrams.
The bunch of keys found in his room, wer
found by him in the street. The nitric acl
found on the stairs, was dropped there by &C
cident.
When the officers came TO arrest bin, h
was in doubt as to their object, whether it was
as alleged, to again search the College, whicl
was equally dreadful with fears of the fact
having already been discovered.
When they reached the Jail. his fears of be
ing detected were confirmed, and before leav
ing the carriage he took large dose O
strychnia, sufficient to have cahsed death, hat
il not been for the excited state of his mind
To this he attributed his after strange appear
ance.
lie states that he wrote but one of the anon
ymous letters, that from East Cambridge.
The letter from Jail, he again asserts, con
tanned only caution against bottle of nitri'
acid.
After he had made the statement, DR.. Put
nam adjured him to state, as for man at tn
point of death, whether, previous to the occur
renee, the thought had not occurred to hin
that DR. Parkman's death would benefit him.
He replied inan impressive manner,--No, a
live never drempt of any such thing. NJ
passions have been my besetting sin. | neve
| had thought of iniurinn DIR Parkman