Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-26
From the Boston Post of Jdauary2lSt
THE INDICTMENT AGAINST DIR. WEBSTE


AT 10 o'clock on Saturday, the grand jury returned
into the Municipal Court Indictment against Dr. John
White Webster Ervng professor CT chemistry IN Har-
ward College, for the murder OF DR.. George Parkman
The bill contains four couns-the frst alleging lhat .t
that it was done with hammer the third, that 1t was
done by blows with the hands and teet and the fourth
that was done with some instrument or weapon TO the
Jurors unknown Alter consultation with Attorney
General Clifford Chief Justice Wells determined that
DR. Webster should be brought up from Jail, be placed
at the bar and that the fact that Indictment had been
found should be there formally announced to him, and
the usual order passed for his detention in custody until
called tor ria 10 the iSupreme Court The time liked
upon for this proceeding was one o'clock and though an
effort was made to keep the matter secret number OF
persons sufficient to form large audience got an INK
ling OF what was to take place. ;,
With good deal OF privacy Dr. Webster was brought
up from Jail in carriage in the custody OF officers liar
rington and Smith; and few minutes before one ne
entered the court room, moving with quick nervous
STEP and was led to chair behind the bar and IN front
OF the dock. The expression OF his countenance was
that of person Just recovering from some severe ILL.,
ness and permitted for the first time to leave his cham
Der 1t was manifest that his feelings had not been ad-
used the extraordinary scenein which ne formed the
principal object and there was an air OF exhaustion and
suffering in the hasty and uncertain glance ne cast
around him. Not a moment of delay occurred in dis
posing OF the business for which he was brought up.
With visible emotion Mr. Phillips, the Clerk, called
upon the prisoner to rise, and ne promptly ooeyed the
order resting his hands upon the rail before him. The
clerk then holding the indictment in his hand said in
a full and distinct yoice-"John White Webster the
grand inquest for the county OF Suffolk have returned
INTO this court an indictment wherein you are charged
with the murder of George Parkman. This indie tnent
will be certified up 10 the Supreme Judicial Court
where YOU will be called upon for trial thereon such
ment will be furnished to you This court orders
that you be taken back to jail to be there kept in custo
dy until discharged by due course OF law.
Notwithstanding the unquesonabe effort he made
to listen TO the clerk without displaying any external
sign ofwhat was passing in his bosom, the awful decla
ration "tor the murder of George Pa1kman," caused
a nlomentary change in his features; there con-
traction of the muscles otthe mouth and increased
palor overspread his face.
the clerk, DR.. Webster was removed rapidly he
had entered The whole proceeding did not occupy
| four minutes
| The appearance OF DR.. Webster indicated nothing
beyond action and when his long established position
in life the terrible charge brought against him, and the
distressing condition Of his large and interesting family
considered his present situation must be regarded
affective beyond all conception, whether he be guilty
| or innocent. Among the spectators many who
had attended his lectures in college and elsewhere
many others who had heard him testify in court III cases
of murder by poison, and may venture TO say that
of either class could bring themselves TO realise fully
the dreadful change in his situation. lie was with
drawn from the ere they could persuade them
Selves either by his living presence, by hearing hi
called, that the well known, lively restless bust
ling now amiable and petuent Professor Webster
prisoner at the bar, charged with the wilfu muir
der OF an old friend distinguished for persona
peculiarities than he was himself The audience gene
rally profoundly affected by his appearance and no
vndictive expression even whispered in refer
ence to his case Al effort will be made to bring The
trial on in May.