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EDWARD D, WORRELL. 181

had been made for the deceased by a dentist in Boston, in
the furnace; both of which tended to identify the body and
to connect the prisoner with the murder. Dr. Webster was
a man of learning, a professor in a medical college, and his
knowledge of chemistry placed it in his power to destroy in
a few hours every vestige of the body, so that the corpus
delicti never could have been established. Yet he neglected
to do it. He also volunteered statements to the brother of
the deceased and others, and addressed anonymous communi-
eations in a disguised hand to the marshal, in one of which
he stated that Parkman was murdered on Brooklyn Heights;
in another that he was taken forcibly on board of a ship;
and in @ third that the body had probably been eut up, placed
in a bag and thrown over one of the bridges near Boston.
In fact, nearly every step he took to draw suspicion from
himself in the end furnished the prosecution with strong evi-
dences of his guilt. There seems to be a fatality connected
with murder, in which the hand of Providence is visible,
and Solomon never uttered a greater truism than when he
Baid: ‘‘The way of the transgressor is hard.’?

There is one fact alluded to by Major Wright which de-
serves a passing notice. Corporal Messick states that his
company and Worrell’s were stationed at the fort in the same
building. One night while witness was acting as guard, pris-
oner came towards his post—witness hailed him by saying,
**Who comes there?’’ Prisoner replied, ‘‘A friend.’? Wit-
ness commanded him to halt by saying, ‘‘Halt, friend.’’ Pris-
oner advanced, gave the countersigu, and said, ‘“‘Good eve-
ning, sentinel.’” Witness let him pass.

This is thought by Major Wright to be a very hazardous
undertaking for a sane man; but it is fully explained by both.
Messick and Clark, who state that although the instruction
to a sentinel is to fire upon any person who shall attempt
without authority to pass, yet in time of peace it is scarcely
ever done. Messick states that he has known others to ap-
proach a sentinel! in the same way, and if the person is known
to the sentinel, he is most always permitted to pass, though it
de in violation of instructions. Messick knew that it was

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