Chapter 15 Section 15

Dr. Samuel Peckman Jr., brother of Dr. George Peckman, came with Professor West on Monday.I was thinking about it all the time, more or less.I suspect that Dr. Peckman fell into the hands of Professor West. On Monday night, before going to Mr. Grant's dance school, I tried Professor West's door.In fact, I was trying that afternoon, not every moment, but many times.I want to go in and work for him.I don't understand why he locked the door like that. It was very strange when I found the walls were hot to the touch, as it had never happened before.But after I opened the window and went in, I saw that the fire in the stove was not very big.

When I entered the lab, I noticed some suspicious spots on the floor.I noticed that there were more spots on the stairs than anywhere else, and it looked very red at the time, so I thought it was blood. I repeat, it never occurred to me to claim a bounty.I absolutely do not admit that I did it for money. On March 25, the sixth day of the court session, the proof continued: Drasta Colap, chief inspector of the local police, has been with the police since 1828. On the 5th of December, Commissioner Tooke directed me to Cambridge, and from there to take a constable to search Professor West's house.So I went to West's house with Officer Hopkins in Boston and Officer Sanderson in Cambridge.When we got there, they all went upstairs, but I stayed downstairs.This is our second search of Wei Mansion.According to the instructions I received before leaving Boston, we should focus on finding a batch of documents.I asked Mrs. West if the defendant had ever given her any documents.She thought for a while, then left the room accompanied by Officer Sanderson, and took back a stack of documents not long after.Those documents (the first three she showed me) were not listed on the warrant.I ordered Sergeant Sanderson to go upstairs and bring down the box containing these papers, and I asked Mrs. West to give me the rest of the papers in it. She opens a receipt.I opened it for her.

I remember two officers later searching the upstairs, but all we took were these documents.Police officers in Cambridge have a search warrant.I didn't know at the time what papers I asked Mrs. West for, but I thought they were.I recognized Dr. Peckman's handwriting on two of these documents, and I signed my initials on them for future identification. The first document was a $400 bill in arrears, signed by J. W. West, dated June 22, 1842, which read: "Paid January 22, 1847. On the back of the bill of arrears is Dr. Pikeman's handwriting: "The balance of $483.64 has been paid, November 22, 49." On the front of the bill, there are two very thick horizontal slashes, each 2.5 inches long , one-eighth to one-quarter inch wide.The signature of "J.W. West" below also has two horizontal slashes indicating cancellation.

The second document is dated January 22, 1847, and the total amount borrowed is $2,432.Also, signed by J.W. West.Moreover, there are also two very thick horizontal slashes on the front of the list, which are thicker than those on the previous one.There is also a horizontal slash of the same thickness on the signature below. Accompanied by the second document is a memorandum in Mr. Charles Cunningham's handwriting concerning the complex transaction between Professor West and Dr. Peckman.According to Mr. Cunningham, this $2,432 delinquent note not only replaced the $400 principal of the loan note dated June 22, 1842, but also included the $500 loaned to Professor West by Mr. Prisco. US dollars, $200 for Mrs. Presco, $200 for Mr. Nayer and $100 for Mr. Charles Cunningham.The back of the memo reads: "To Peckman, April 25, 1849, balance $456.27; interest $27.37; total $483.64."

………… My name is Frances Peckman, brother of the late Dr. George Peckman.I have known Professor West for many years and have been his vicar for several years.After Professor West moved to Cambridge, I became as familiar with him as I am with professors in other medical schools.On the last Thursday last September, I christened his little grandson, I remember his daughter and the son-in-law of a diplomat who lives in the Azores. The Sunday after my brother disappeared, our family was very depressed.I remember that at around 4 o'clock that afternoon, Professor West came, and he said that he was the one who came to my brother's house on Friday morning, asked him to meet at 1:30, and gave him the money.I said, "Professor West, I'm so glad you came to clarify this matter with us in person, so that we all don't have to be suspicious anymore." Professor West said that it was one o'clock when he paid my brother Half.I asked him if he was sure about the time, and he said, "Of course. I finished class at 1, and I waited about 20 to 30 minutes before he came." I asked him if he had any canceled IOUs, and he said, " Yes, he brought it with him. He took out one and drew two lines on it with a pen." While imitating my brother's quick and vigorous movements.

Professor West added: "I told Dr. Pikeman not to forget to cancel the mortgage. He replied, 'I will do it, I will do it.'" He said and my brother hurried away. I have to point out to you that Professor West's behavior and speech that day seemed hasty, neurotic and suspicious.He spoke in a businesslike tone as soon as he entered the door, neither in his expression nor in his tone, expressed surprise at my brother's disappearance, or expressed sympathy for our grief, etc., it was completely commercial I was very shocked by the manner of the meeting.Because in that case, it should be very natural to express condolences to the families of the victims and so on.But he didn't.

Professor West left after speaking, and stayed there for 10 to 15 minutes. My younger brother has some very special habits. For example, he is extremely strict in punctuality, which can be said to be mechanical.He was almost always at home and had never been away for so long.