Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-03-26

We publish To-Day sSu"PS
Prof. John w. Webster, for the murder OF Dr.
Parkman, embracing all the facts OF interest
which have as yet been elected:
BusroS, March 10, 1850.
FIRST DAY.
The prisoner, DIR. Webster, was brought into
the court-honse at precisely 8 o'clock this morn
ing. He was more composed tnan ne mas Oeen
for some time, though his conn'enance bore a
sombre and melancholy appearance but in other
respects he was much as usual:
After fourteen percmPtory challenges a jury
were finally empannelied.
The case was then opened TO the jury by the
! Attorney General, who confined himself TO W
propositions in his indictmetit-tirst, that Dr-
| PaTkman was murdercd-secOnd, that DIR. Web
ster committed the decd, upon which he dweit
at great length, contehding that numerous cur
cumstances would he proved irreconcileabie with
the suppoSi'iCn 81 DIR. WebsieT's innocence.
The first witness caliedt to The stand was Chas.
NJ. Kingley, who testified that be had known Dr.
Parkman since the year 1886, and had acted as
his collecting agent up 10 tie time lac was miss
ing. He then proceeded 10 detail his efforts TO
discover the whereabouts, of DIR. Parkman mme-
diately after his disappearance, and his tracing
him to the Medical College, whera he was seen
to enter by The last person who saw him awe
Witness then gave a detailed account of the
searches that were subsequently made at The
Medical College, resulting finally in finding the
I UluIIdlCu TGubdluS VI IL MAJ GNpPOSto
of DR.. Parkman, underneath the rooms occupied
by DIR. Webster.
Robert G. Shaw, a brother-in law of DIR. Park
man, stated that lie was present at the examlna.
ton of the remains found under the college, ana
believed that the lock of hair found there was
that of his relative. He would not, however,
have been able To recognize the body as that OF
DIR. Parkman. had he not previously known him
TO have been missing.
SECOND "A
Up to the hour of adjournment this atternonn,
some half dozen witnesses had been examined,
among them several physicians, including DIR.
Parkmans family physician, all of whom concur
in opinion that The remains found were those OF
DR.. Parkman.
No new or important facts have been brought
out as vet, and his friends are now confident oil
his acquittal.
! THIRD DAY.
DR.. Charles r. Jackson was the first witness
called to the stand this morning. lie stated that
lie is a chemist by profession, and wasO one OF those
who examined and ANALYSED The remains sup
POSED 10 be those OF DIR. Parkman. a strong so
luton of Caustic Potash had been applied {" the
remains. The body of DIR. ParkmaH would pro-
badly have weighed lao pounds, and it would
have required about one-halftltat weight OF p"tash
to dissolve it. Less, however, would so effect
the body as 10 destroy the identity. Nitric acid
would be the mex. substance 10 dissolve the body.
but not the best. Saw no vessels at the College
large enough to dissolve any considerable guam
tity OF flesh by nitric acid. Have known DR.
Webster some years familiary-becn on friendly
terms with him. a large Turkish knife with
silver handle and sheath were show fO witness;
he recognized item as tie properly of the PrisO
ner; knew DIR PaTkmaIi his height was about
The same as his own, which was FIVE lcet seven
inches. The draft of NE furnace in which The
bones were found wa7 sufficient 10 have carried
off The odor Of IT, burning flesh. Witness testi-
fed TO finding gold in the furnace.
DIR. n. {. Keep, swOrn-l have p%r1ctiSed den
fistry nearly 30 wears. Knew DIR. Geo. Parkmau.
and have been IIis family dentist since 1925, /
IIaG a block OF teeth shown me ] did recognise
them as a set Oftceth That ] had made !"T DIR. +.
in 1886 DR.. Parkman's mouth WAS very rc1u
lar in one respect, in the relation of the upper 10
the lower Jaw; it was so peculiar that il made An
impress on on my mind; j remember peculiarit:es
with great cxactncsS.
DIR. Keep, in his testimony said that he knew
the tcethwithOut comparing them with Inc mould.
He stated that the order OF tire natural teeth that
still remained in Or. Parkman's Lead agreed " I'LL
the root OF a natural tooth that was found adler
ing 10 The block Of mineral teeth. The front
teeth are most injured, ami ONE hat meIIt d by
the immense heat.
DIR. Noble assisted DR.. Keep in making the
teeth. lie corrnboratcd his testimony.
eDr. Oliver w. Holmes was next sworn He
was DIR. PaTkman's Professor Of Anatomy in tie
Medical College. Witness was familiar will!
the form OF DIR. Parkman; he did not see any par
ticular similarity between the remains ard DIR.
Parknan. My custom room is over that Of DIR
Webster. i have never heard noise of the stu
dents in the Demonstrators room.
Public opinion is already divided as 10 The guilt
or innocence of DR.. Webster. The conflicting
testimony Of medical Witnesses is looked upon as
favorable omen Of acquitted.
FOURTH DAY
Ephraim Littiefield swurn.-I am janitOr Of The
Medical College: superintcnd the building have
been jaDitOr seven years know II Webster seVeH
years; known PaTkman twenty years was pre-
sent atan interview on Monday evening. Nov 10,
between Webster and ParkmaDi l heard no foot
step, but saw Parkman enter inc room from The
lecture room ; Webster looked round as If sur
prised to see him enter without Icing heard =
He said, "Dr. Webster, are you ready for me to-
night" Farkman said something else, do not
rcmeMbeE what either. refused 10 sell Webster
something, or refused 10 mortgage something:
Parkman took papers from his pocket, and Web
ter said, Il was not aware it was SO - PaTkman.
said. Is it is SO, and you know j; - Webster said.
81 will see you tomorrow" Parkman stood
near the Threshold of the door, raised his hand
and said, s something must be done to morrow
When was standing in front of the college,
about half past / O'Clock on the next dav, Tues
days Webster came and asked me il / could car.
~ a note to Parkman, and added, If / could moi
get any one that l could trust, ] must carry II up
myself. II got a boy named John Maxwell 10
take it up. l had an interview with Webster
about noon en- thesa6ne day Parkman was there
(Monday) before PaTkman was there in the even,
ing !; am very positive it was that same dsv.-
Webster asked me If the vault had been fixed
where he used to put the remains of subjects from
the dissectiDg room be asked how it was fixed.
told him the vault had been covered up uithdiIt
lie asked me how ! got down under The building
TO cover ii up, or how one could get down; told
him by taking up a board floor about 6 feet long.
There Is nothing new in the balance of the tes-
timony OF LittleieId.
FIFTH DAY.
The entire day was consumed BY the cross
examinatioa Of LiitlefeId, but no other facts save