Litchfield enquirer., 1850-07-11
Prof. Webster,s Confession.


The Boston papers OF Wednesday.
contain some farther notice of Professor
Webster's confession, as related to the III
Governor and council Of Massachusetts,
by Rev. DR.. Putnam. who is Webster's
chosen clergyman, and to whom vas
committed the charge Of presenting the
petition for change of punishment to
Imprisonment. As the Professor is be-
ginning to tell the truth. it is probable
that he will ere long make a clean breast
Of it, and avow that he has committed Il
wanton and prcmeditated murder.
lie admits that he killed Or. Parkman,
blu. asserts that he did it in a heat OF
passion. The confession is long one.
and we must be content with extrtcts
from the most important portions of it.
He thus describes the t'Ial interview at
the laboratory:
"He [Dr. PArkman.] Immediately ad
dressed me with great energy. e Are
you ready for me s,r-havc you got the
money! replied, No, Dr.. Parkman.
| and was then beginning TO state my con
dition and my appeal to him, but he
| would not listen to me. and interrupted
| me with much vehemence he called me
scoundrcl and liar, and went on heap
ing on me tie most bitter taunts and
upprobrious epithets; while he was
speaking he drew a handful of papers
from his pocket. and took from among
them my two notes and also an old let
ter from Dr.. fiosack, written many
years ago. and congratulating him On his
success in getting me appointed PROBES
sor OF Chemistry. You see.' he said,
Il got you into your Office. and now
will get you GU, Of it, He put back
into his pocket sll the papers except the
letter and tile notes cannot tell how
long the torrent OF threats and invec
tives continued, and ] cannot recall to
memory bus snmea!l portion Of what he
said.
AT first ] kept interposing. trying to
pacify him, SO that might obtain the
object for which ! sought the interview.
but l could not stop him. and my own
temper was up; l forgot everything.
and felt nothing but the sting Of his
words. / was excited to the highest
degree of passion. aud while he was
speaking and gesticulallpy in the most
violent manner, thrust the letter and his
ist into my face; in my fury. l seized
whatever thing was handiest, lit was
stick Of wood,) and dealt him ap Instant
.neous blow with all the force that pas
sion could give it. ] did not know or
think or care where ! should hit him, nor
what the effect would be it was on
the side of the head. and there was no.
thing to break the force of the blox, and
he fell instantly upon the pavement.
There was no second blow +; be did not
move; l stopped down over him. and he
seemed to be lfeless blood flowed from
his mouth and got sponge and wiped
it away | got some ammonia and ap>
piled TO his nose. but without effect; per-
haps spent 10 minutes in attempts to
resucitats him. bat found he was a6.
solutely dead ! In my horror and con
sternation ] ran instinctively TO the doors
and bolted them-the doors Of the lec-
ture room and laboratory below: aud
then what was TO do !? Il never oc-
Cured to me to 60 opt and declare
what had been done. and obtain assist
ance saw nothing but tine alternative
Of q successful movement abd conceal
ment of the body on the one hand, and
Of infamy and destruction on the other.
The FIRST thing did. as soon as | could
do anything. was 10 draw the body into
q private room adjoining. yhsEe took
OF the clothes and began putting them
into the Ere which was burning in The
upper laboratory they were al eea-
snned there that afternoon, with papers,
pocket book and whatever they contain.
%. 1 did not examine the pockets. nor |
remove anything except the watch. 81
saw that. " he chain a Il hanging out.
] took l. and threw is ever lie Brldae g
/ went 70 Cambridge. nv next move
was 70 got the body Into Ire sink which
nianda d the email private foosS. 81 lst.
ling she body partially erect against che
ooInsFs ED " getting AR Iaao lhe sigI.