Washington telegraph., 1850-07-31
CONFESSION
or PROF. JOHN w. WEBSTER

I'd OF July, the case of Professor Webster
was referred to committee.
Before the committee, at l2 o'clock an.
peared the Rev. DR., Putnam, the spidt.
ual adviser OF the condemned, with peti.
ton for Communication of punishment,
together with confession thar he killed
Dr. Parkman.
The Reverend gentleman preraaed the
statement by few remarks relative to
the manner IN which the confession was
made 10 him. lie stated that he had no
previous acquainIanceship with Professor
Webster, before being called To act in
the capacity Of his spiritual adviser. In
the hfst few weeks of his visit, ha sought
no acknowledgement Of the prisoner
AT length, on the 23d of May, he visited
hun III his cell, aud demanded OF him,
ior MS own well being, that he should
tell the truth in regard to tho matter. aud
he aceeeed 10 the request. by making "A
statement, which was now submitted for
the consideration OF the Council.
1t was in substance as follows
THE CONFESSION.
On Tuesday, e0lh November, sent
the note to'nr Parkman, which, 1t APP.
pears, was carried by the boy, Maxwell.
handed Il u Il IensiI unssaled. Il was
to ask Dr. Pafkmaa Ia call at my rooms.
on Friday, the 23l, after my lecture
lie had become of late very lmportunate
for his pay. lie had threatened me with
a SUIT 10 put an officer in my house, aud
70 DIVE mc tfom my profss-otship. II
did not pay him, The pufpon of my
tote was simply 10 ask the conference.
did not tell him. in II. what ! eould do,
or what had to say about the payment
wished to gain. for lhese few dsys. n
release from his solicitations, 10 Which |
was liable every day, on occasions, aud
ia mauuef rely di.agfecable aud alarm.
ing aud also to avert for 70 long time.
least, the lul6lment OF recent threats
Of severe measures. did 10, expect to
he able 10 pay him when Friday should
arrive. Ny purpose vas. II he shouId
aecede 10 the proposed Interview. To
state to him my cmhaff4s.mants aud ut.
ter inshility IN pay lin at pressnt-lo
apologize lOr those thluts IA nay conduct
which had offended him-ln ihfow my.
sell upon hls mefey-io beg for further
time aud Indulgence. for the sake Of my
family, ii not faf myself. aud to make q.
good promises 10 him a. ! could have
any hope vi keeping ! did not hear
tr1m hun on that dsy. nof the next.
(Weinesday) but ! found on Thursday
hr had been abroad IN pursuit OF me.
without linjiug ne. imagined be had
forgotten the appointment, of else dad
not mean 10 wait Tor II, feared he
would come IA up1l me al my lecture /
hout or while | was preparing my elsef.
imeuls lof a. therefore. called at bi, /
house oa that mafuiug. (fnisy) be. I
tvr-H eight snd uiua clock. 10 remind /
him Of my wish to see him al the Col. f
legc Al hell pasi oue-my lecture closing /
al one. dii not slap 10 talk with him.
toI ] expected the conversation would lee
n long one, aud had nay lecture to pr.
rare iur-ior Il was necessary for me To .
have my lime. aud, also 10 keep my mind .
free from other exciting matters, Dc |
P.rkmau .gfcvd To cali on me as pro.
posed lie came. accordingly between f.
half past oic sud iVo o'clock entering al
The lecture room door. Wa. engaged I.
iu moving some glasses from my lecture /.
room table, into The room IN the rear .
called the upper laboratory. lie came |
rapidly down the steps. aud followed me |
into the laboratory. he Immediately al |
drc,-rd me with great enefgy-'Arc you !
ready for mo o. Have you got tie
money! replied. 'No Dr. P-fkman.
aud was thea beginning to state my
condition, aud my appeal to him' bat he
would not listen to me. aud interrupted
me with much vehrmence. He called
me scouudrcl aud LIAR, aud went on
hesping on me the most bitter iaunt-
aud opptobuous ep,Ihels. While hc
vas speaking. he drew handidl OF pa
pers from his pocket, aud took from
among them my two notes, aud also au
old letter from Dr.. llossack, written ma
ny years ago, congraIplalng HIM on ltis
success IN getting the appointed Professor
OF Chemistry. You see, he said, ! got
YOU into YOU: office. aud now wall get
YOU out Of it, lie put back into his
pocket all the papers except the letter
and the notes. | caulot tell how long
the torrent Of threat aud iuvecllves con.
tnucd. aud cannot recall 10 memory
but small portion OF what he said; at
first, kept m,erposing, trying to pacily
him, SO that | might obtain the object
for which sought the interview, hut !
could not stop him, aud soon my own
temper was up; | forgot everything. and
felt nothing but the sting OF his words
was cxted to the highest degree ut pas.
sion, aud while he was speaking und
gesticulaling in the most violent aud me-
naclng manner, lhrusting the letter aud
his fist into my face, IN my fury seized
whatever thing was hardest, Ut was a
stick Of wood J and dealt him an lEslanta.
neous blow with all the force that passion
could give it. did not know, or think.
.,l... 4 .I,uII I'm linn unr lpUp