Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-15
- 49,. Iaslsss - aasgaal.
CRIMINAL "REMINISCENCES.
The Parklnan MHrtIer I'm Bost0n-iu-
rioas Letter from q Pretended Juror.

The Park man MurtIeF I'm BostOn-t "a
| s.sous Letter from q Pretended Juror,
From the New Orleans Times, june .
We received few days ago the an
nexed letter, purporting TO be written by
| Thomas Barrett, in relation to murder,
which, at the time of its occurrence, cree
ated more excitement throughout the
United States than, any crime either ans
terror or subsequent. Prefacing it with
the remarks that we believe it either not
genuine or else the writer to be . lunatic,
we vet submit it to the public as spec,
linen Of the condolences so often thrust
upon public journals a -ssa.
NEw ORLEANS, La, May 3l.-To the
Editor ofthe New Orleans Times: Wish,
ing to free my conscience by brief
statement of facts about an affair that
has annoyed me for nearly twenty years,
il yon will make this public you will re-
lieve my mind, to certain extent, Of a
gfievous burden that has been weighing
me down for that long, long time.
On the 23d day of Novemter, 1919, DR..
George Parkman, OF Boston, an old, re-,
spectacle and we'll known physician, sud-
denly disappeared from bis home, and
shortly afterward-on the 27th-the res
mains Of man were found about the
premises of the Medical College, corrss
spending in many respects with the
missing man. Whereupon DR.. John w.
Webster, who had charge Of that institu-
ton, was indicted for the murder Of DR..
Parkman, and was finally convicted by
an ignor ant and prejudiced jury, Of which
| was a member.
Now, sir, wish to state the truth
about this affair and do declare that the
real murderer was myself. .-
Prof. Webster was as innocent Of the
crime as an unborn babe, and l wish to
redeem his memory from all that has
been said about him. r1 a--f
will not go into any details as to the
disposition made Of the body, but / will
say that no one has ever found them out
yet.
| have lately arrived here, and after q
long struggle with myself l have deter
mined to relieve myself Of this terrible
incubus. Yours truly,
THOMAS BARRETT, of the Jury.
Upon examination of the record of the
trial, we find there really was juror
named ThOs. Barrett, who was the sec
ond one sworn, and who is described as a
printer, OF course the letter writer's
theory is refuted by the fact that pre-
vious to the execution of Prof Webster
he made confession in which every de-
tail of the crime was carefully related.
He also followed this up with letter to
the brother Of the murdered man, delivS
cred after the crime had been expiated,
in which the utmost contrition was be-
trsyed and forgiveness besought.
The letter which we have given above,
written by person who claims 10 have
been one of the jurors by whom Prof
Webster was convicted, is certainly a
strange one, whether written under the
goadings of conscience or the promptings
of insanity. No imposter or friend of the
family could by such confession hope
to overturn verdict which has had the
full sanction of popular opinion for nearly
a quarter of century. The letter is
written with firm hand, is carefully
punctuated, and betrays no signs Of mad
ness. 1t will be perceived thst the
writer's theory is, that the remains found
in the Medical college were not those OF
Parkman, and that he alone is custo-
dian of the terrible secret which is not
even yet betrayed.