The morning call., 1894-06-03


Obtain an answer TO as quickly as the same can
be done after receipt OF letter OF inquiry. II an
answer Is not published on the Sunday fo!low-
ing the sending OF a letter IL Is because IL mas
been impossible TO obtain the answer in time.
Oftentlmes the party in charge OF this column
IS obliged to write TO distant points for the IN
formation asked. Letters that do not bear the
name and address Of The writer VIII not be an
sWeTed. The name Is not desired for publlca-
tiau, but TO enable the Query Editor 10 CORE
spOnd with the writer IN case question, as
Oflen occurs, Is not clearly stated.
THE PARKMAN TRAGEDY-E. R., Oakland,
Cal. DR.. Joseph White Webster who was
professor Of chemistry and mineraloGy at the
Medical School Of Boston, connected with the
Harvard University. was born in the city OF
Boston on he Goth day of May. 1893. and was
hanged August 80, 1850, for the murder of Dr..
George Parkman, On the 23d of November,
1S49, DR.. PaIkman. a rich and prominent citl-
zen of Boston, failed 10 return to his home at
The usual hour and his disappearance was re-
ported TO tie authorities. He was a man of
exemplary habits and was very methodical. He
was in the siXtietb year of his age. A search
vas instituted in all directions and the Charles
River was dragged, but no trace Of him was
discovered. On The Sunday following bis dis
appearance il was ascertained that on the
afternoon of the Friday on which he was
last seen alive by bis relatives he had
an appointment with DR.. Webster in
his office in the medical college. The appoint
ment was concerning The settlement Of a debt.
DR.. Webster had borrowed money from DR..
Parkman in 1912 and in 1S47. In all S2432,
aud to secure the repayment OF this DR.. Park
man had taken mortgage on DIR. Webster's
household furniture, cabinet OF minerals and
books, AT the time OF The interview $1,000 of
this debt had been repaid by instaments, but
by that time DR.. Webster had become involved
in financial matters and was not as prompt IN
his payments as he should have been. He had
also secretly SOLD his cabinet of minerals. which
fact came TO the knowledge OF DIR. Parkman,
who during the interview became very angry,
charged DR.. Webster with intent to defraud
and insisted that ne should be paid
Immediately. For a time that was the
last that could be learned about the
missing man. DR.. Webster gave what appeared
10 De STRAIGHTFORWARD account of the inter
view and of the parting from DR.. Parkman, and
generally no one suspected him Of having done
away with the much sought after physician.
There was one man, however, the janitor of The
college, who noticed that after the disappear
ance of DR.. Parkman a laboratory and closet
adjoining. which previously had always been
left open, was securely locked. He also noticed
HAT Dr. Webster had used an unusuaI amount
OF fuel and a great deal more water than he had
been in the habit OF using in his laboratory. A
week after The disappearance of DIR. Parkman,
and during the absence OF DIR. Webster, The
tanitor, who had become suspicious, broke into
9 vault connected with the laboratory closet,
aDd there discovered some human remains.
10 notified the officers and Dr.. Web
steT was arrested. A search OF the
premises led TO the discovery in the labO-
ratOry furnace of fragments of human bones
and part Of gold plate. DT. Webster was
LTied, the trial lasting eleven days and lie
Witnesses being examined. The parts of the
body found and the bones were reconstructed
ana found to have belonged to man cor
responding in height and size 10 DIR. Parkman,
ana the gold plate found was Identified by a
dentist as one he bad made for the missing
doctor. The prisoner during the trial was
noticed 10 be remarkably cool, and when the
testimony was all in he addressed the jury TO
explain away evidence and TO assert that he
however, found him guilty, and then he made