The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-20

IsOon followed. stirred the whole commu-
/ nifty deeply. The professor carried him
self like an honest man. He advanced
various theories and finally directed sus-
EDiciOn toward LiItIefield- lie had also
prior to his arrest. called on the family
| OF Dr. Parkham and had shown them the
Inote.
While the investigation that led to the
arrest of Professor Webster was going
forward several anonymous letters were
received by the police, purporting to have
been written by illiterate persons. one
suggested that the river be dragged. An
other stated that DIR. Parkham had been
murdered by a sailor and the body car
ried off a vessel
The trial Of Professor Webster began
March 10, 1880, before jury and a ma
jority OF the Justices of the supreme
court. Chief Justice Shaw presided. The
defendant had eminent counsel and was
supported BY his good character and IA
vorable public opinion
The government case was conducted by
Attorney General John II. Clifford, who
proceeded TO weave, mesh by mesh. d
crushing net of evidence around the ac-
cused.
~ feet Of the medical school The fact
! that he did not return TO the shop, as he
ter of the identification OF the body. no
one could be positive, but a dentist swore
that the fragments of teeth taken from
the furnace were parts of 4 set of false
teeth he had made for DR.. Parkham
short time before his disappearance.
This was the strongest single piece of
=
The suspicious actions of Professor Web
Ster, in keeping his doors locked after the
date of the murder, and in working with
not lire IN the furnaces, were teSTlfled
to by Littleficld, as well the finding
! of the first fragment of the body. Hand
writing experts testified that the anOnX-
/ nous letters to the police were all in one
hand, and that the hand Of Professor
Webster. disguised.
The defense produced several witnesses
who claimed to have seen DR. Parkham
in the streets of the west end. between
and o'clock on the afternoon of the
murder They were all persons whose
veracity was unquestioned and who
thought they had seen him
Evidence was also introduced as TO the
good character of the accused. his former
friendly relations with Dr. Parkhdm, ana
absence of motive for the crime
The trial lasted several days. DR.. Web
Ster throughout maintained the demeanor
of an innocent man He addressed the
jury. giving explanation Of some OF the
evidence against HIM
The Jury returned a verdict of guilty,
on hearing il Professor Webster started
as one shot. his chin dropped forward to
his breast. and he sank into char Gov
erinC his face with his hands WINE the
chief justice I'm solemn Yet tender ian
Cuago pronounced the sentence OF tet1ii,
tho prisoner sank back in his char ana
went Then he rested his forehead on the
bar to conceal his emotions
After his conviction Professor Webster
addressed n petition for pardon to the gov
eruor and council in which he declared
his innocence in the most eloquent IAN
guage.
ct would resnectfulIy petition your ex-
Cellency and the honorable council. ne
wrote to he permitted TO declare. in the
most solemn manner that | am entirely
! innocent Of this awful crime; that never
entertained any other than the ki1dest
feelings toward DR. Parkham- and that l
never had any inducement to iniure. in
any way. him whom 7 have long num-
berAd among nv hest friends.
'''To him who sceth in secret. and before
whom 7 NAV ere long be called to annear-
would 7 appeal for the truth Of what I
now declare ~ also for The truth OF the
solemn declaration that had no agency
| in placing the remains Of a human BODY
( in or under nv rooms in the medical col
! Iege i'm Boston. nor do know BY whom
they were SO placed. 7 am the victim or
circumstances. or Of foul conspiracy, or
of the attempt of some individual. to
cause susnicion to fall upon mo. iufiu-
euced. perhans. bv the prospect of obtain
| i'm LARGE reward,
Repeating in the most positive and SOL
| emn manner. and under the fullest sense
! Of my responsibility. as a man and as
Christian that I am wholly innocent of
this charge. to the truth of which the
Searcher of all hearts is "A witness. I
would hUmbly and respectfully Drav that
the privilege ! have asked he granted
This eloquent DetitiOn of the condemned
man was shortly afterward Withdrawn.
1 and when in the shadow of the Gallows,
! Professor Webster sent to the governor.
through his spiritual adviser. a confess
sion. with plea for clemency.
I'm this confession he stated that he
/ killed DIR. PaTkham by single blow. of
/ n stick or wood given i'm moment of
uncontrolled anger. excited by insulting
! language heaped uDOn him by DIR. Park
! ham. who had thrust his fist in nv
! face" and that in delivering the blow
! he did not know nor think. nor care
! where he should hit him. or what the
effect would be-
| The imDlnment used was a Dointer en-
Moved nv Professor Webster in the class
room. DR. Parkham sank to the floor
under the blow. and Professor Webster
/ at once tried to revive him. After work
ing ten minutes he Vealized that DR.. Park
! ham was dead. From that moment he
| a6ODted A course of concealment of the
crine. B.
! Had Professor Webster called the nolice
| and made frank statement OF the cir
! cumstanccs, it is probable that he would