Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-14
oLD-TIME MAxwELLs.
i TRAGEDY or FoRxER DAYS.



ser.
lst Louis Globe. pemocmtl
The question Of Walter II. Lcnox
Naxwell's extradition from New Tea
land for the murder of his friend c.
Arthur Preller, at the Southern Hotel
on April 5th, is rs nearly settled as it
can be for the next month, but the
question Of Maxwell's conviction is
still open and win always remain so
in the minds Of men versel in
the sortuosities and intricacies Of
criminal law until the jury TO whom
the circumstances Of the killing are
submitted bring in their final verdict.
The case is remarkable in more ways
than one--in the manner Of prcller's
taking of; in the hair-brained exploits
Of his murderer, subsequent TO the
crime; in tho difficulty Of establishing
the identity Of the deceased; in the APP
parent neglect with which the imme-
date relatives and best friends OF the
dead man for long time regarded the
case in the success ofMaxwelI's fight,
and finally in the excellent good sense
displayed by the assassin since his arrest
in keeping his mouth shut and in
stantly securing clever counsel TO 'ook
after his interest in the matter Of re-
sisting his return TO this country.
Probably no single murder of the GEN.
tury has attracted such widespread at
tention and awakened such general in
terest, il the extraordinary Webster
Parkman tragedy Of thirty-fye years
ago be excepted. This case stands out
prominently in criminal history, aud is
awarded most important place in the
law-books on account OF the direct bear
ing il has upon crimes whose solution
Is dependent entirely upon circumstan-
tial evidence. The Maxwell-Preller muir
der is a counterpart Of it in many re-
spects, and the possibilities suggested
by the trial of Webster in 1s49 may
yet be advantageously applied by the
lawyers who take hold Of the survivors,
end OF the horror Of 1885. BY compar-
ing the two murders the points of SINH
larity will be readily recognized. and
for this purpose first brief recital Of
the killing Of DIR. Parkman will be ne
oessary.
Professor John ii. Webster was a
native Of Boston, a graduate Of Har-
ward, and at sixty years age, in lS4g.,
held the professorship Of. chemistrS<
~ alma mater, and was Nlikt2 ="
member Of the faculty Of the -
Medical School, which was then ai1
in Boston. lie had inherited ~ eS noo
by the death Of his father in so W.,
managed to squander it, AM 1o TO-
although he was receivix -. -,
of si,2oO a year, o s1iapy
to borrow s4OO m an I'm
Dr.. George Parlu'Ormer classmate,
a o,or,gsce or man, to whom he gave
T. ~ 1at IN his personal property.
.;nsJ rn, Nle the old note still re-
go W Iaid. DIR. Parkman took Pro-
s,,.s3 $iSbster's note for s2,432, Sc
t$tfby a mortgage on his household
r.fniture, cabinet of minerals, etc. In
the spring Of lS49 only s456 OF the
mortgage note was left unpaid. Then,
however, DR.. Parkman discovered that
Professor Webster had secured loan
Of 81, 200 from Parkman's brother-in-
law. and had given the latter a clean
bill Of sale Of his cabinet and minerals.
The discovery Of this fact melted Dir.
Parkman to the most bitter denuncia-
ton Of his friend, and he at once began
system Of persecution that culmi-
mated in the tragedy. The Doctor pur-
sued his debtor relentlessly, and ac-
companied all his efforts to obtain the
s45G due him with the most acrid de-
nunciations Of Professor Webster. In
November, when Webster began his
series Of lectures in the Medical Col
lege. DR.. Parkman redoubled his exer-
tons to bring his debtor to time. The
lectures began November 9TH. Pro-
lessor Webster's remuneration for this
part of his work came in the shape Of
admission-fees paid by the students
who attended the lectures. A bank
clerk named Peter had charge Of
the sale Of tickets, and collected
the money for Professor Webster. On
November 9th DR.. Parkman called on
Webster to compel the payment Of the
debt, but Webster pleaded that he had
not yet received the lecture money.
This plea was afterwards found TO be
q lie, as Webster had received. the mo-
ney and applied it to the payment Of
other Indebtedness. On the 18th DR..
Parkman made another attempt to COL
lect, and again, on the l4th, he called
and threatened trustee process,
through Peter, Professor Webster's
agent, at the same time sending word
TO Webster that he was "a dishonest
and dishonorable man." On the 10Th
he confronted Webster at the Medl
cal College, and menacingly said:
Tomorrow something must be
done" Next day Webster sent Park
man note, the contents Of which
were never known, and Parkman let
him alone until the 22d, when he went
TO Cambridge for an interview, but did
not find Webster. TN the morning Of
November Odd, Friday, Webster
called at Parkman's house and made
an appointment for 1870 p. NJ. thai day,
at the Medical College, when Pa.kman
was 10 receive his money. When Web
sier returned to the college his agent,
Peter, came in and paid him 800, the
balance due him for sale of tickets,
which amount Webster deposited in
bank the next day.
DIR. Parkman left his house at noon
on the 23d, the day Of the appoint.
ment. lie was seen at various places
during the next hour or so, and at l;S0
purchased bunch Of lettuce at shop
near the college, leaving the lettue,
there with the remark that he would
call for il in few minutes. At about
las he was seen for the last time en-
. tering the Medical College. His ab
sepee Friday night alarmed his family
Of course; next day the public knew
Of his disappearance, and on Sunday
the police offered reward oil
$4,000 for his recovery. Tha,
day Professor Webster notified
the family Of the missing man thai