Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis.

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    one plate. The two sets were connected together by spiral springs, which enabled the wearer to open and shut his mouth, with less danger of their being displaced. The teeth were fastened in, with platinum pins. I have another model, showing the length of the lower teeth. [Produces it, and exhibits it to the Court and jury.] In baking the front block of the lower jaw, an accident happened to one of the teeth, which rendered it necessary to make a new block. This was so shortly before the time fix- ed for the completion of the set, that it was necessary to work all night, to repair the accident; and when we got them done, the next day, — I mean Dr. Noble, my assistant, and myself, — it only wanted thirty minutes, to the time fixed for the commencement of the ceremonies at the College. [The Court here took a recess, in consequence of an alarm of fire at the lodgings of the Attorney General, who requested leave of absence, to preserve valuable papers. Mr. Clifford having returned in a few minutes, the trial proceeded.] Dr. Keep, resumes. — I did not feel certain that all was com- pleted, as I should finally desire it to be, and requested the Doctor to call again, and show me his teeth. When he next called, he remarked, that he did not feel as if he had room enough for his tongue. In order to obviate that difficulty, I ground the inside of the lower blocks, next to the tongue, so as to make more room. This grinding was somewhat diffi- cult, in consequence of the teeth being in the plate, and because it had to be done with a very small wheel. The grinding removed the pink color from the gum, and also the enamel from the teeth on the inside, and somewhat defaced their beauty. The shape of the space ground out, was pecu- liar, from the size of the wheel, which was not larger than a cent. I saw Dr. Parkman afterwards, occasionally, for the purpose of making such slight alterations, or repairs, upon his teeth, as were needed. The last time that I saw him, to do anything to his teeth, was about two weeks previous to his disappear- ance. Having broken a spring, he called upon me, late one evening, to repair it. It was as late as ten o'clock, or after ; and being unwell, I had retired for the night. The person who went to the door, happening to know Dr. Parkman, asked him in, and came up and told me that it was him. Out of regard for him, I sent word that I would come down and attend to him, and dressed, as soon as possible. The Doctor told me his trouble ; and I took out his teeth, both upper and lower set, examined them all over, to see that every