Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-01-21
The Boston TRAGEDY.

unnnnnnnnsrzllsill
The Boston Tragedy.
Thsfellowing letter from an intelligent
citizen Of Boston, which we find in the Sa.
vannah Republican, prob ably furnishes the
principal grounds on which the friends OF
Pro-. WEHsTER rely, and il. is well worthy
Of faltenlions
CAMBRIpaE, December %, 1919
Hou ask far such Information concern.
ing tho awful charge which has fallen on
our neighbor, DR.. w ebster. OF being the
murderer oe Doctor Parkman. ] can say
shortly, than SO far, have seen no sevi-
dence that creates any dpubt in my mind OF
Webster's innocence All the circun1sian.
ces that have yet been brought before the
, public, are quite consistent with bis inno-
cence, though quite sufficient to create a
strong pfejadice against him. and the mass
Of reaecting people, who look at the case
only 70 ind proofs Of guilt, his guilt is no
doubt already established.
My faith Is founded, In the char.
acters and standing Of Doctor Webster hith'
-iesto. and the extreme im1robabili.y Of hls
committing such crime for ST. or $ooo'
at nsidday, in a College where were great
many students and others in and about the
building, and where dissection would be al.
most csftains I'd. His conduct from1 the
g disappeassnce of Doctor Parkman at all
inns and places, up 10 the discovery of
the bndy-seyen DAYS. Sd The
s9ry 3si,uation and condition of
spsWs Ggments when found. 4th. The
-faaca in and under the apartments of Doc
: tor Webster IN the Medical College, a pub
lie building. 10 which others had access as
we'll rs himself, and where his duties em-
ployed only Z ors6 hours of the "a in the
day time, and that not every day in the
week; ;-,he rest of the time ut home in
Cambridge, three miles distant-giving a
fair and uninterrupted opportunity toothcrs
to introduce ansthing into bis rooms,
which, suiied their purpose.
- Be itremarked, that reward OF $3 600
was immediately offered for, The discovery
6fDnctor Parkman, or, (if murdered, for
my Information which might lead to the
detec.ien Of tie perpetrators --nnd after
thses or four days q further reward OF ST.
s O0O fdFthe discovery of the body only
At first there were many run,ors that DR..
Parkm,n ksdibeen.seen in.many faces in
Boston md bv several persons after half
past o'clock. P. M. when he was known,
from Doctor Webster's own statement to
hes on sbusiness about that time in the Doc.
!. ts5f s r0psfs IN the College. After two or
z ,lssee dass the friends and seekers after
Or. Tnrkmnn had come to the conclusion
INIT ffsese runiors were ill.founded, and
that yisere wassuo proof that he had ever
heeu seen after entering the said College
Issniehf then be suggested TO the real mur.
1tlerer o. nsurderers. that Inc act might be
sfasowp on D1ctor Webster, by artfnllv
transferring The body. or the parts which
u16se9y bsbsd, hissapartmenis, and per.
sars fix on him the deed md thus gain
3 fss4 esla, which. IN addition to the rnonev
and saIueb' as found on bis person, would
aiskss q ssgnnd nperatinn. =
- g II on see from the abnve sketch. that's
ke8ieve; that the circumstances on which.
si6sssxr M has Eat transpired, the charges
&eainst d ACTOR Webster is founded, are the
slwofk :of diabolical conspiracy or plot -
!. Easssa saaailarsos. Rersans who hns charge of
, sthes Clafleee 7-whn lis a body snatrher. or
,Eaisncns &C hodies fnrs dissection. dwells in
fke tuilaing-; had access ut viii. 20 Doctor
sSEebsses.s rom Ind had a difference with
h i9esaV.. who wns.tfying TO get him re
.sssnvsd fers swha,l he thought imnrnper con
> DUG. He was theperson who ig through
thsswslisof a v,ait nnaer tvebsier's room.
ana laaJ.d 4. .pea af the daad BODY, nobody
h6iar prrsent mt the finding g-the other
nsyfs af Iheabady found in the Doctor s
iab.atory were mot found iantA the dav af-
sisr il,e D,c.pr was arrested md confined,
and sIntil long night had intervened. =
You perceive how all these things may be,
.aadxee I,r.s Webster as innocent as YOU or
: Ia dog. should no, hing on such evidence.
,tisvever. the jury of inquest hive found
,hat the. remains Of the bldy were those Of
llsctor P.lrkman, and that he came to his
death by the hands of DR. W.
u The evidence Befi,rei them has not trans
pifed, but knowing, as do, the character
Of The human mind, and the evidence before
s,he iiurys sns exparte. and that probably
sii,e r,,,rf Of ii which wentto eliminate w.
MI, WAS derived from The conspiratofs them
salges. who have had an open field to ma
nuever in, while their victim was boxed up
and rendered helpless against any machi-
snat;ons 10 which his life and reputation
s.aieh, Be exposed, do not allow their YER
ssdict 10 dissurhghy faith in Doctor W Webs.er's
vuiltlessness. Forthe sake Of his amiable
Wife and family, / hope my faith may not
: i So shaken. Ii he prove guilty, | shall see
! human nature under phase believed i'm.
EE1nos.ibla--anda that is, that man who has
lived % abe age Of 81 8, Of q social and
Benevolent and cheerful nature. of good pa.
reniage and dshoropgh education, Of domes
: lie habiIs, and in tie best society-of ex-
..ri,able and nervous temperament, but moi
pnassionate-could have the blood of q
J leraster = man on his conscience, and his de-
h.sssent and demeanor remain perfectly
s ssaatural, and unconscious as that Of an in
.snocent person.
.fa There are many other circumstances
which have not mentioned, which go to
'ssi,6;nr ie,6;nrfiirn1 the views above suggested; but
Z have chiefly confined myself to the circum
! stances which tend to implicate him. :
These he cannot explain, if innocent. He
san only say, ! know not how this body
- ourts Of body came into my rooms, &c.
SrJ:.l p,a,o1x,