The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-07-19
CONFESSION OF Dr.. JOHN w.
WEBSTER.

CONFESSION OF Dr.. JOHN w
WEBSTER.
At meeting of the Governor an,
Council Of the State of Massachuset,
on Tuesday last, the Rev. DR.. Putnam
the spiritual adviser Of Prof. Webster
appeared and presented a petition
from John w. Webster, now under
sentence Of death far the murder OF
DR.: George P.rknan, praying that his
hence might be conmuted. The
petition is accompanied by a state
ment from Prof. Webster, in which
he admits that he killed DR.. Parkman
as follows, from which we make the
following extracts:
On Tuesday, the goth of Novem.
Der, sent the note to DR.. Parkman
which, it appears, was carried by the
boy Maxwell. | handed it to Little.
field unseaIed. It was to ask DR.
Parkman to call at my rooms on Fri.
day, the 23d, after my lecture. He
had become of late very importuuatc
tor his pay. He had threatened me
with a suit, to put an officer into nv
house, and to drive me from nv
Prufessorship. if did not pay him.
The purport of my note was simply
70 ask the conference. | did not tell
him in it what could do or what
had to say about the payment.
wished to gain. for those few DAYS, a
release from his solicitations, to which
was liable every day. on occasions
and IN a manner very disasreeable
and alarming to me, ant also to avert.
for so long time, at least. the fulfil
ment OF recent threats OF severe
measures. | did not expect 10 he able
to pay him when Friday should arrive.
My purpose was, if he should accede
to the proposed interview, to state to
him my embarrassments and utter
inability to pay him at present. tc
apologize for those things in my con.
duct which had offended him, to throw
myself upon his mercy, to beg for
further time and Indulgence for the
sake of my family, if not for my own
and to make as good promises to him
as | could have any hope of keeping.
II did not hear from him on that
day nor the next. wednesday, but
! found that on Thursday he had been
abroad in pursuit of me. though with.
out finding me. feared that he had
forgotten the appointment. or else did
no, mean to wait for it. | feared he
would come in upon me at my lee,
,ure hour, or while | was preparing
my experiments for it. Therefore
called at his house ON that morning.
(Friday) betwcen s and 0 o'clock, to
remind Inn of my wish to see him at
the College at half past l. my lecture
closing at l. did not stop to talk
with him then, for expected the
conversation would be long one
and /! had my lecture to prepare for.
1t was necessary for me TO save my
time. and also to keep my mind free
from other exciting matters. d..
Harkman agreed to call on me as
proposed.
1T e came. accordingly. between
half past one and two. He came in
at the lecture room door. was en-
gagged in removing some glasses from
my lecture room table into the room
ir the rear, called the upper Iaborato.
ry. He came rapidly down the steps.
and followed me into the laboratory.
He Immediately addressed me with
great energy: Are you ready for
me, sir? Have you got the money!
! replied. IN" DIR. Parkman," and
was then beginning 10 state my con
dition, and make my appeal to him.
tie would not listen to me. but inter.
rnp,ed me with much vrhemence. =
He called me "Scnundrel' and "llar :"
and went on heapIng upnn me the
most hitter tannlS and nprrnhrinns
epithcts. While he was talking, he,
drew a handful Of papers from his
pocket, and took from among them
my two notes. and also an old letter
from DR.. Hossack, written many years.
ago, and congratu'aIing him (Dr. P9|
on his success in getting mo appointed
Professor Of Chemistry. - GU see,"|
he said. II got you into your office.
and now | will gel you out Of TIT
He put back into his pocket all the
papers except the letter and the notes.
/ cannot tell how long the torrent o.
threats and invectives continued, and
can now recall. to memory but al
small portion of what he said. AT
first | kept interposing. irving to
pacify him, so that ! might obtain the |
object for which ] had sought the
interview. But could not stop. him.