Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-07-04
CONFESSION
OF PROF,
WEBS TER.
BY SPECIAL. EXPRESS TO TIE
DAILY NEWS.

AT the meeting OF the Council in
Boston yesterday morning. the case Of
Profess r Webster was ref rred TO a
Committee.
Before this Committee, at IL o'clock,
appeared the Rev. DR.. Putnam, the
spiritual adviser of the condemned,
with a petition for Communication of
punishment, together with a conles-
sion that he killed DIR. Parkman.
The Reverend gentlemen preiaced
the statement by few remarks rela-
tive to the manner in winch the Con-
fession was made to him. He stated
that he had no previous acquaintance
with Professor Webster, before being
called to act in the capacity of his
spiritual adviser. In the first few
weeks Of his visits he sought no ac-
acknowledgements Of the prisoner. At
length, on the 23d of May, he visited
him in his cell, and demanded of him
for his own well baing, that he should
tell the truth in regard to the matter,
and he acceded to the request, by max
inc a statement which was now SUBJ
mltted for the consideration of the
Council.
1t was in substance as follows
On Tuesday. Nov. Goth, Professor
Webster sent note to DR.. Parkman
1t was handed to Littlefield and was
unseaed 1t was to ask DR.. Parkman
to call on me, as he had become quite
importunate about his debt. | wished
to gain time did not expect to be
able to pay him on Friday expec.
ted to state to him my inability and to
apologize for what had occurred and
make some promises 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 Il, half past one O'Clock. AT
the time appoi.ded. he came to the
College. He came in at the lecture
room door, and followed me into the
Laboratory.
ie asked me with great energy,
haye you got the money ! said no,
doctor, and began to apologize. lie
would not hear me, and began to load
me with opprobious cpi,hc,s, notwith-
standing all | could say. Afterwards
he drew the notes and an old letter
from his pocket, and referring to the
letter, slil, in this letter recommend.
ed you for your prescn, situation, and
now will have yon turned out.
DIR. Parkman continued gcsticulat-
ing IN the most violent manner, and
finally thrust his fists in my face. This
caused my passion to rise, and in
moment ofunconirollablc anger | seiz-
ed whatever implement was near,
which happened TO be stick of wood,
and struck him blow on the side Of
the head. There was 10 second
blow. lie fell upon the pavement Of
! the room, insenslble.
Blood flowed from his mouth, but
there were no signs OF life. stood
over his body ten mi:uies and then
found that he was dead My first inn
pulse was 10 run aud bolt the doors
to consider wha, was to be done.
The Professor then states that he
first burnt the clothes and papers, with
the exception Of those found ,pon him.
The watch he afterwards threw over
Cambridge Bridge.
lie then took the body to the sink
and dismembered it. lie used for that
purpose the knife found in the tea
chest. The Turkish knife was not
used for that purpose. The head and
some other parts of the body were pIac-
ed in the furnace that day, and fuel
hcapcd upon them. The stick with
which the fatal blow was inflicted he
then picked up, and found it to be a
piece of grape vine scmc two inches in
diameter, and two feet long. 1t was
brought intro IN Cpmbrldgrsome time
previously, Tor the purpose of trying
experiments relative to dying wood
Upon the notes, he made the m"rks
found upon them with metallic pen,
and put them in his pocket. lie says
he never saw the slcdge hammer 'pok-
en- ofby Luledeld That night he left
the College at u o'clock, after having
disposed of the body IN various places.
II On Saturday he visited the College,