The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-07-18
CONFESSION OF PROFESSOR WEBSTER
OF THE MURDER OF DR. PARKMAN.

BOSTON, tuesday, July =
AT a meeting OF the Council, this morning, the
| case OF Professor Webster was referred to Com
mittee.
Ieiore the Committee at i2 O'Clock, appeared,
Rev DR.. Putnam. the spiritual adviser OF tie con-
demned, with petition for communication Of
punishment, together with confession that he
killed Or. Parknan.
The Rev. gentleman prefaced the statement by
a few remarks relative TO the manner in which the
confession was made TO him. He stated that he
had personal cquaintanceship with Professor
Webster before being called TO act in the capacity
of his spiritual adviser In the first few weeks Of
his visit he sought no acknowledgment Of the
prisoner AT length on the 23d May, he visited
him in his cell and demanded of him, for his own
well being, that he should tell the truth in regard
to the matter, and he acceded to the request by
maxi statement which was now submitted
tor the consideration of the Council. II was as
follows:
sent the note to DR.. Parkman, which il ap.
pears was carried by the boy Maxwell. ham
ded il 10 Little6ed unsealed. II was 10 ask DR..
Parkman to call at my rooms on Friday the 23d,
after nv lecture. He had become Of lite very
Unfortunate for his pay. He had threatened me
with suit, 10 put an officer into my house, and
to drive me from my prolessorshiP, If did not
pay him. The purport of my note was simply
10 ask the conference. / did not tell him In IL
what could do or what | had to say about the
payment. wished to gain for those few days
release from his solicitations, to which was
liable every day, on occasions and IN manner
very disagreeable and also 10 avert for so long a
time al least the iulfilment of recent threats oi
severe measures. did not expect to be able to
pay him when Friday should arrive. Mypurpose
was, if he should accede to the proposed inter-
view. to state to him my embarrassments, and Mt
ter inability TO pay him at present, to apologize
for those things in my conduct which had otien-
ded him, to throw myself upon his mercy, and 10
beg for further time and indulgence for the sake
Of my family, if not for my own, and to make as
good promises 10 him as could have any hope
Of keeping. did not hear from him on that day,
nor the next, wednesday, but l found on
Thursday he had been abroad in pursuit OF me
without finding me. l imagined he had forgotten
the appointment, or else did not mean to wait for
it. feared he would come in upon me at my
lecture-room or while was preparing my eX-
periments for it-therefure called at his house
on that morning, (Friday,) between ana o.
clock, to remind him Of my wish 10 see nm al the
College at Il o'clock-my lecture closing at o.
clock. I did not stop to talk with him, for
expected the conversation would be a long one,
and had my lecture to prepare, for it was neces-
sary for me 10 have my time, and also to keep
/ my mind free from other exciting matters
| DR.. Park man agreed to call Oh me as proposed
| He came accordingly between l-e and O'Clock,
entering at the lecture room-door Twas engaged
in removing some glasses from my lecture room
table into the room in the rear called the upper
| laboratory; he came rapidly down the step and
follow ed me into the laboratory; he Immediately
addressed me with great energy, "Are You ready
for me, sir-have you gothic money" lrepi'ed,
"No, Dr. Parkman," and was then beginning TO
state my condition and my appeal to him, but ne
would not listen to me and interrupted me WIN
vehemence; he called me scoundrel and liar and
went on heaping on me the most bitter taunts
and opprobious epithets; while he was speaking
he drew handful of papers from his pockets and
took from among them my two notes and also an
old letter from Dr. Hossack, written many years
ago and congratulating him on his success in get
ting me appointed Professor Of Chemistry. ~ on
see, said he, 81 got you into Office, and now will
get you out ofit.'' He put back into his pocket
all the papers except the letter and the notes;
cannot tell how long the torrents OF threats and
invectives continued, and cannot recall TO men,
ory but small portion of what he said.
| At first kept interposing, trying TO paciiy hum.
so that might obtain the object for which
sought the interview, but could not stop him,
and soon my own temper was up; forgot every
thing, and felt nothing but the sting of his words
I was excited to the highest degree OF passion
and while he was speaking and gestculatng in
the most violent and menacing manner, thrussine
the letter and his fist into my face, in my fury
seized whatever thing was handiest, Gt was a stick
of wood.) and dealt him an instantaneous blow
with all the force that passion could give II.