The trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, at the Medical college (North Grove street) on the 23d of November, 1849 : Supreme judicial court, before Chief Justice Shaw, and Associate Justices Wilde, Dewey, and Metcalf. Counsel for the government, Attorney General J.H. Clifford, and George Bemis, esq. Counsel for the defence, Hon. Pliny Merrick, and E.D. Sohier, esq. / Reported for Boston journal.

  • Webster, John White, 1793-1850
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman, at the Medical college (North Grove street) on the 23d of November, 1849 : Supreme judicial court, before Chief Justice Shaw, and Associate Justices Wilde, Dewey, and Metcalf. Counsel for the government, Attorney General J.H. Clifford, and George Bemis, esq. Counsel for the defence, Hon. Pliny Merrick, and E.D. Sohier, esq. / Reported for Boston journal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    of fire. I think I could identify my own work generally. I never saw a set of teeth that would tit another person— that is, a complete set. The peculiar absorption in a case of my own practice, was that of the jaw of a man—I should think 50 or 55 years of age. Re-examined. I could not distinguish the jaws of Dr. Farkman from other jaws if placed in abox. I meant to say that the plates made for one man would not fit anoth- er, but the blocks of teeth might. Cross Examined. If there was a peculiarity in the mouth of a patient, I think I should noiice the peculiar- ity, and be able to identify the model, or the teeth, per- haps, if too long a period of time had not elapsed. Propessob TRE.iDWELL. Recalled. I live in the neigh- borhood of Dr. Webster. I saw Dr. Websier in the eve- ning of Friday Kovember 23, at my house, about 20 min- utes past 8. He came with his wife. Dr. Morrill VVy- man and his wife were there. Judge Fay came in after- wards. It was nearly 10 P. M , when Mr. and Mrs. Web- ster left. There was nothing unusual in his appearance at the time; he was cheeriul, perfectly self-posj^essed, and did not wander in the least. I am on intimate terms with him. I saw Prof Webster again on Tuesday evening, near the corner of the, burial ground. It was after 6 P. M., but not so late as seven o'clock. He stopped, and we recognit:ed each other. I have a strong impression that I saw him again, in the evening of another day. I talked with Prof. Webster about the dis- appearance of Dr. Parkman. 'Nothing unusual in his manner. Cross Examined. Tuesday I am quite confident that he was going up to his house. I think that it was after 6 P M. At 2 P. M. the Court adjourned to 3^ P. M. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Court came in at ^ P. M. Dr. James W. Stojje—Recalled. I was one of the gen- tlemen who examiaed the remains. The hole in the breast was not a clean cut. We finished our examination on' Saturday, December 1st. There would be no trouble iu making a clean cut after death. When a student, and accustomed to dissect, I never found any difficulty in making a clean cut.—no more than the butcher would in cutting a piece of meat. Philena Hatch, called and sworn. I live at 15 Vine street. 1 was acquainted with Dr. George Parkman; fourteen years last October, whs the first I'kr.ev,'him. 1 saw him on Friday, November 23d, in Camb/idge street, between North Kus^eli and Blossom streets. I was going to my home. When I got into my house it wanted twelve or thirteen minntes of 2 P. M. Dr. Parkman was g<jing towards Court street. I looked at my clock when 1 got home. On the morning of 22d of November, my iiusband went on a journey to Vermont. That night a sister, ■whom I had not seen for five or six years, catne on a visit from Maine. 0!itbe28d, the next day, I went to the South End to let her daughter and my iieice know that she had come to town. On my return home, I met Dr. Parkman. I looked at the clock to .^ee how long I had been gone. When I was told Dr. Parkman was mis- sing, I<fiist said he couid not have been missing long, for I saw him on Friday afceinoon. 1 heard of his di-ap;iear- ance on Sunday morning. I mentioned the meeting to my sister as soon as I yot into the house. Cross-examined.—I did not know which way Dr. Park- man went alter I saw him. I do not know whether he turned round or not. I said to my sister, when 1 got into the house, that I met Chin, to make her lauglt. 1 men- tioned, some time in the course of the afternoon, to my sister, that 1 met Chin. She asked me what I meant, and itok! :i' • I saiii cliin, becau.-e he had a very long one. I did not ineet any otlwr iierson that I knew. I was go- ing down Cambridge street, on the right hand side. Joseph Hatch called and sworn. 1 reside at No. 15 Vine gtre^'t. 1 went away from the city on Thursday, the 22d day of X.j.-mber. I went to tlie town of Corinth, State of Verninni I returned on Monday, the 3ti of December. I am a lu-.rried man. The lady just on the stand is my wife. William V. Thompson called and sworn. I reside at East (Jitrni'i idge. I am clerk in the Register of Deeds. I wenf to P of Webster's house on Sunday evening with Mr. Fuiie; I should judge it was about 6 o'clock when we started. Prof Webster was at home; went to ascertain the date of a mortgage. I called at the house—a young lady came to the door, and I asked for Prof Webster. I was shown into the study. I asked Prof. Web.^ter if he recollected the date of the mortgage. He said if we would wait he would tell us. He looked into a trunk on the floor, and remarked it was strange he could not find the papers. He then remarked that he could give me the information in another way He read extracts from a book, which I supposed to be a journal of his daily pro- ceedings. He gave me the date of a mortgage, and cor- rected himself immediately, and said I suppose that is not the one you want 1 told him I wanted the date of the one he paid on the Friday previous. I told him I would go to Mr. Page and ascertain. I made a minute of the mortgages myself. We at first supposed the mortgage was on real estate, but found it was on personal property. This ended the interview. Dr. Webster said he had call- ed over to see Rev. Dr. Francis Parkman, and told him he was the man that was to meet his brother. He said he asked the tollman if he had seen Dr. Parkman pass over the bridge on Friday afternoon, and that he had called at Mr. Page's, City Clerk, to ^ee that the mortgage was cancelled. He said he did not find Mr. Page at home, and was not aware his communion day came on the last Sunday in the month instead of the first. He had ascer- tained that the mortgage had not been cancelled. I made the observation that we should call at Mr. Page's house and see for ourselves, as Mr. Page might have overlook- ed the matter. I saw nothing at all peculiar, except hia giving me the wrong mortgage. I did not notice any trembling. I conversed with Dr. Webster. To the Court.—The larger mortgage was the first he gave me. I took the minutes of the mortgages as he read them. Resumed.—I am acquainted with Dr. George Parkman. I had seen him very frequently the last past five years.— I saw him on Friday, the 23d of Nov., in Causeway street. I have known Dr. Parkman by sight lor the last fen years. I saw him last in Causeway street, on Fiiday, 23d of No- vember, about 10 minutes or } past 2 o'clock. To the Court.—I was going down Causeway street to Charlestown bridge. He was coming towards Leverett street. Resumed.—We met a little below the centre of the street. There is a millinery shop on one side and a carpenter's shop on the other side, where I met him. [Witness point- ed out on the plan of the streets, to the Attorney General, the spot where he met Dr. Parkman on this occasion.] To the Court.—I was on Causeway street when I met Dr. Parkman. Resumed.—It was in Causeway street, somewhere near Portland street. I was on the left hand side going down. Dr. Pi^rkman was on the opposite side of the street. 1 fix the day by having paid for this coat on that day (coat he had on), i also made a shoitexamujation of a title for a man on India street, and got a copy of a leceipt I gave him. I had not been in Boston before for nine days. To the Court.—1 had made the examination at the office, and was going to meet the'man on India street. Resumed.—I came into Boston again the week after, to carry the memorandum to the man. 1 had not been in Boston for nine days when I met Dr. Parkman. I think 1 came in on Thanksgiving Day the week after. I had the examination verbal, and the young man wished me to write it down, and I left a note for the man. I started from East Cambridge,, by one of the clocks, three or four minutes ol 2, P. M. By the clock on the Court House it said 2 when I start- ed. The first place I had to call into was Mr. Orr N. Towne's, corner of Elm and Hanover streets. My object there was to leave some things I took out my watch and it was about 23 or 25 minutes past 2 o'clock. 1 had passed Dr. Parkman and went to this place. I walked in, over the Bridge. 1 went through Leverett street, down in- to Causeway street,'and then into the street which leads into Portland stieet, and then into Hanover street, and to Elm street. I am called a rather quick walker. 1 noticed Di. Parkman's appearance. Ue was dressed in a dark irock coat, dark pants, and a dark hat. When I saw him he had his hands behind liim, and appeared excited as if angry about some matter. I did not turn louiid and look after him. He was walking as 1 pas.^ed him. (.>n Sunday about 5 o'olock I recalled this, and stated it to Mr. Blake, Ex-City Marshall. Cross'-Examined. I do not u.se spectacles. I don't think I am near sighted. I am not aware that I am remark- ed upon as near sighted. My eyes are weak and some- times 1 wear glasses, which are slightly colored. I give attention mainly to copying. 1 suppose it tends to weaken, but not to impair the eyesight. After you pass Lowell street I should say that the widest opening occurs in Causeway sti tet. I met Dr. P. before i came to the first cross-street leading off to the right from Causeway street. I should say the name of the street is Lancaster street. I should not say that it is Merrimack street. Looking at the map I sh()u!d now say it is Merrimack street. I met Dr. Pa) kman between Leverett steet and Merrimack street. I can recollect of going through Merrimack street. I do no* think that I am near sighted. I do not carry a mag- nifying glass ibr my own n.-e. 1 have one with me now, I carry it for 1 he purpose of looking at tine writing.— 1 am not aware that I ever made the statement that in a mesmeric state 1 wrote writing that I could not read. I never u.sed the expression mesmeric state. 1 -believe I have told Mr. Andrews, your informer, that v hen in the biological state I bad written a very tine hand. I never told Mr. Andrews in the course of conversation that I had written in a biological state so fine I could not read it. I have told him that others could not read the writ- ing. 1 simply carried the glass for others to use, not for myself 1 do not pretend to say that I have a belter sight at one time than at another. I do not pretend to say that in a biological state 1 have a more pel lect vision than at other times. 1 do not know whether my power of vision is augmented in one state or another. 1 do not know