A Bungled Affair. crime, and had the homicide accomplished this feat in anything like a proper manner, we might be inclined to forgive his pristine clum siness, setting it down to inexperience. But in a knowledge of the very rudiments of the chaste and elegant art of murder, nay, in very common sense, Professor Webster proved himself lamentably deficient. It is, of course, easy for the critic, seated in his library, at peace with the entire community. with a mind entirely free from any apprehen sion of a visit of the law's minions, to demon strate how infinitely better he would have done had he been in the murderer's shoes. Tust so can the military tactician, member of a board of strategy, conclusively establish an infinity of errors committed by the general in the field. It need scarcely be recalled to mind, however, that the murder is usually perpe trated and the battle fought under such stress of circumstances as take away a power of re flection and an ability to reason from all minds not of the very highest order. Even this excuse cannot, however, be pleaded in extenuation, for, as we shall see, an ample space of time was afforded in which all traces of the crime could have been re moved. The murderer was lost through sheer carelessness and clumsiness. In the year 1849. John W. Webster held the position of professor of chemistry and mineralogy at Harvard College. He was a man of high attainments, author of a work on the particular subjects taught by him, and member of many scientific societies, both in this country and in Europe. He had al ways borne an excellent reputation. Of courteous and agreeable bearing, (though having as a child been somewhat indulged, he had in consequence become rather irri table in disposition), his popularity with his fellow townsmen and with the students was considerable. Dr. George Park-man was an uncle of Francis Park-man, the historian. He had given the plot of ground upon which the Medical School of Harvard College was
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erected, and in recognition of the gift, the professorship of anatomy and physiology re ceived his name. He was exceedingly pre cise in manner, methodical to a degree, and while capable of great generosity, was just himself and demanded strict justice from others. Some seven years previous, Webster, whose meager salary of $1200 per year, plus a small sum, his share of the students' fees, scarcely sufficed to support his family of a wife and several daughters, had borrowed $400 from Dr. Parkman, giving a fifteen months interest-bearing note secured by .mortgage upon the former's household furni ture and collection of minerals . In 1847, Dr. Parkman and several other friends made a further loan to him of $1600, secured by sim ilar collateral. Some months later, Webster being again in financial straits endeavored to obtain a further sum from Robert G. Shaw, a brother-in-law of Dr. Parkman, offering to sell him the mortgaged minerals. Mr. Shaw, ignorant of the lien covering the property offered him, agreed and paid Pro fessor Webster $1200, taking a bill of sale, leaving the minerals, however, in the latter's possession. Shortly afterwards, Shaw causually men tioned the transaction to his brother-in-law, whereupon Dr. Parkman became fiercely in dignant, and from- that time on was the im placable enemy of Webster. On a number of occasions he called upon Professor Web ster, demanding payment in a very violent manner, and when payment was refused, de nounced him as a swindler and a rogue. On the last occasion, November 2Oth, a very angry interview ensued. We have now arrived at the time when the tragedy was to begin. On Friday morning, three days later, be tween eight and nine o'clock, Professor Web ster called at Dr. Parkman's house, and not finding him in, left word that he would be pleased to see his creditor in the lecture room of the Medical College at the close of
