Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-27
TRIAL OF PROF. ), w. WEBSTER,
On the charge of the murder Of DR.. George Parkman
at the Medical College, Boston, Nop. %, 1s49.

TRIAL OF RkOEs ~ w. WEBSTER,
On the charge of the murder Of DR.. George Parkman
at the Medical College, Boston, Nov. %, ls49.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
WEDNESDAY, March 21st, 1850.
The Court met this morning at the hour OF adjourn,
ment The audience was not so large as on the tive
former daysat least in the area below The gallery
was crowded much as it has heretofore been. The
names OF the Jury were called and the examination OF
lsth-Dr. Charles T. Jackson-I am chemist by
profession. | was one OF the medical men called to
the College Saturday afternoon December ls 1919
| went with DR.. Martin Gay, and met DR.. Winslow
| Lewis, Jr., there. There were some preliminary ar
| engagements made for examination. DR.. Gay and
myself undertook the chemical part. The remains of
body submitted to us, and the contents Of small
assay furnace. made certain observations on the re-
mains anatomical point OF view, and saw that they
had not been prepared for anatomical purposes There
were indications, in the mode OF opening the body Of
some knowledge OF anatomy. The separation of the
cartridges OF the breast exhibited this and the disiunc
ton of the thigh at the pelvs joint was not roughly
done. have heard the medical testimony, and agree
with the indications the remains exhibited OF the
subject being aged. knew DR.. Parkman intimately
and on viewing the remains did not see any thing
dissimar to what the formation of the late Or P.rL
man would be. 1t was dried muscular subject. The
remains had been STEPPED in strong caustc potash anc
were consequently discolored.
THE analytical report of Drs. jackson, GAY anc
Jeffries Wyman, as presented to the Coroners jury
was put IN and read the following is an abstract II
The Report embraced only matters relating to the
chemical analysis made by witness, DR.. Martin Gay
and Richard Crossley.
The bones were much broken and some were fused
There was one human tooth, with hole if it had
been filled by dentist; three blocks OF mineral teeth
with platinum rvet entire in one but wanting the gold
plate; pearl shirt BUTTON partially calcined numerous
little copper cups, the ashes, exactly like new ones in
the laboratory; they were not burnt; many pieces Of
glass, among the Stag and cnders. Masses of metal
fused viz analyzed tin II 10 grains lead IS grains
and evidently tea chest lead
Found the skin and muscles from the thorax strongly
charged with alkali. The discolored thigh had been
lmbued in the alkali, and stained by tan The alka
was potash mixed with very little sea salt Skin in
several places coroded by the joint action of potash and
heat Hair on thorax showed the action of f1ame-was
snged. No alka in the interior of the thighs nor I'M
der the skin OF the thorax. Muscles the surfaces
at both ends OF the thorax thoroughly alkazed-
Edges OF openings into thorax coroded if by potash
Richard Crossey examined portion OF one Of the
sells for arsenic and zinc but found none Dr. Wyman
out chips from the side wall the sars he also cut
pieces from the pantaoons and slippers and took them
| away. The remainder of the details are furnished in
the annexed evidence of the parties who witnessed the
Report
Examination reSumed-I asked by the govern
ment to take charge OF certain remains left with Dr.
Gay they had the letters sep" and "W" marked on
| had delivered to DR.. Gay. These gave to Mr..
Richard Crossley, who was skul chemist in nv Ia
boratory, who was to perfect the analysis There was
which is sofenng but when heat is applied decom.
poses 1t rapidly. Were decomposing body with pot
ash, would boil it in solution of that substance
The time tor the dissolution of body with potash
would depend on circumstances but if cut in small
pieces, and the apparatus and conditions favorng the
operation, | should think about two hours would con-
sumo the portion so submitted to decomposition. A fur
mace might suit the purpose. One half the weight of
the body less than that Of potash would suffice to
destroy human body. noticed in the laboratory at
the Medical College copper boiler some IL inches to
10 inches square, 1t was not calculated from its size,
hold a Or mil ant HOT, ~
largest one saw in the laboratory. Another expedi-
ous mode of destroying body the use of nitric acid
IT'S next best 1t would require vessels of porcelain
glass to be used in The quantity of nitric acid required
tor the solution OF body-bones and all-would be
about equal 10 the weight Of the body so to be disposed
or could not say what capacity OF vessel would be
operate more quickly and emit disagreeable stencil
nitrous acid gas-whch is well known. A common
apparatus would not stand the action Of this acid
nothing but porcelain or glass; have said will stand
lis action The gas could go away by the chimney
saw no vessel in the laboratory large enough to dis
solve any large quantity OF matter. several bot
ties some OF them containing about or lbs each Of
nitric acid, found in one OF the windows-and others
containing muriac acid. did not examine all the bot
ties; but think there were 10 lbs. of nitric acid
There was, on the Sidewalk of the staircase leading
from the upper to the lower laboratory, certain green
spots OF fluid, and some dark stains the staircase
wentto my laboratory and got some paper to absorb
that tuld which was so done by Dr. Gay, who carried
taw ay with him. Since then | have examined thai
paper and lind that green fluid be nitrate of copper
Inc spots were very abundant the stairs and side
wall al down the stare ase, and remain visible still
noticed the stains on the walls conceded with the stains
on the staircase They were abundant at the bot
tom than the top They had the appearance of having
been separately split the walls and staircase They
were IN fluid state when saw them 1t salt which
attracts water, and retains for long time 1t might
have remained in the state saw it for several DAYS. as
1t did alter saw it. Its taste is stringent caustc and
dsagreeabe to the palate; we call coppery tasted
was requested to make an examination of the blood
Clemlca .DUt considered mn y,ior
Ject, therefore transferred it 10 Dr. Wyman have
no experimental knowledge OF the effects of nitrate of
copper on blood. l saw the pantaoons and slippers,
with what appeared to be blood on Them which Dr.
Wyman carried away. As to any indications saw of
the production OF nitrate of copper in the laboratory
saw some punch pieces Ntaken from the punchings of
copper culenders) in the stove, which there was
some nitrate OF copper These generally employed
to make that substance.
THE pieces OF copper testified to were shown to the
Jury The nitrate of copper still adhered to them
| They were each of the size Of half dimeJ
The effect of heat on the pieces shown would he IN
blacken them. The nitric appearances are produced by
the action OF an acid ON the H. A pearl shirt button
The ashes were washed, and As 6-lO grains OF gold
were found in what portion had. Dr. Gays had AZ
| MIR. Andrews brought me piece of 81 5-lOO The
whole found, l73 $500 grains The pieces shown
me OF mixed metals contain indications of gold similar
to What the ashes contained The market value of the
gold found would be $685. cents Teeth burned in a
furnace where gold was fused would assmiae the same
euioi Pih} "icH ZIG presence OF SOlQ gives to the
other articles shown me. did not look into the con-
tents OF the furnace before they were removed The
bones appeared if they had been submitted to the a
ton OF intense heat have known the defendant for IS
years. and we communicated in friendly manner
have seen the knife in the College in Mason street be-
lore seen IN the laboratory.
The knife referred to was the long one with the sill
yer gilt sheath, before mentioned
The College was removed to Grove street in 1886,
think. The knife was shown me when | went to
Grove street College, the first night after the remains
were found There was little whiting, and some oil,
the oil and whiting had been recently applied 1t was
in The shape of putty, did not notice particularly any
stains on the handle, Dr. Parkman was about my
II inches, last time l was measured. The draught in
the furnace in the laboratory was sufficient to carry
away the odor OF flesh consumed in it. The cover on
extract all the gold in the ashes. We siited out the