Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-28
THE DAILY TIMES.
WIN. c. CARRINGTON g. VIM. r. DAVIS
EDITORS AND PRoPR1EToRs,


VIM. G. CARRINGTON & VIM. Fl. DAVIS
| EDITORS AND PRoPRIEToRs
TRIAL OF PROF. J. w. WEBSTER.
On the charge of the murder of Dr. George Parkuan.
at the Medical College, Boston, Nor. %, 1s49
THIRD DAY-(Continued)
THURSDAY, March 81, 1850.
l. OT. JeUIfes WQlnan oSs-e1dnined.--The broken
bone IS not SO much cacined as some of the others
II nsnl nave been broken by violence when the stove
was poked or In some other way. If it had been tho
roughly calcned would have crumbled down between
the fingers The nitrate OF copper was very proper
chemical to use for destroying blood, without destroying
wood have made no other experiments, but should
suppose muriatic acid would destroy blood although
do not pretend to give an opinion that point. do
not know whether nitrate OF copper used in chemical
operations think the quantity OF blood would be %
POUNDS or as many plnts, in stout hralthy of 40
pounds There might, perhaps, be little as IS lbs
MADE an examination of the laboratory, for marks of
oiood and all hose have seen were on the pants and
shppers and on the piece Of paper. The bricks near
fhe stove were taken up, but no marks of blood were
Iaced between the mterstees | saw a hole in the
neghborhood OF the sixth rib the body My impress
sion is that it was not madeby knife but made no
special examination should say that the dissection
was performed by one who knew how the interior parts
were situated. The plan was adopted by which the
largest exposure OF the interior OF the body could be
made The dissection Of the joints was made also, in
a manner that showed an amount OF knowledge of the
parts to be separated l am satisfied that the blood
spots on the pants were not OF regular shape. They
were little elongated, but not much ANY fluid fal-
ling from height would form more oblong form per
pendlcularly. could not tell by the color how long
the blood had been in the clothing can only mention
from work Medical Jurisprudence that blood dries
and assumes brown color, in which state it may be
preserved for two years. By the of the microscope
it can be learned whether no blood is that OF human
body; although the globules the same in size in
many animals.
24th Oliper Wendell Holmes examined--I am pro.
lessor OF Anatomy, under the Parkman Foundation in
the Medical School at Grove street. I he opening of
that institution must have taken place on the first Mon
day OF November. DIR. Webster lectures 10 the Medi
cal class four times week chemistry His labora-
tory, lecture room, and small room adjoining form
independent establishment from those Of all the other
Professors never recollect OF human subjects being
allowed for the of DR.. Webster He lectued from
II l, and my own was from till 2 o'clock. Isaw
the remains but ony-at the College on Tuesday
after they were found. | examined them, not
pert, and without the supposition OF being witness
The remains very evidently showed some small ana
tomical know ledge the part of the operator. DR..
Wyman called my attention to the carriages OF the
sternum and the artclatng bone. can only confirm
the general statement made that there no botchng
about the business. noticed the effects OF chemical
applications in the remains, in the shape OF dlscolora-
ton, which thought at first sight might be caused by
heat, but which I was told was caused by an alka
saw much hair the remains especially on the shout
der. was familiar with Dr. Parkman, and discovered
nothing dssimlar to his bodyin the remains. person
stabbed in the region where that one said to have
been given--if the knife had slipped upwards into the
cavcle of the heart little external blood might have
| flowed /; if downwards the hemorrhage would have
BEEN likely, OF an internal than external cha
racer. In either case not much blood externally might
| have flowed. l remember the day OF DR.. Parllmans
disappearance. My lecture commenced at the usual
hour My lecture-room is over DR.. Webster's abora-
tory. never heard noises in my lecture-room which
came from below have been in my when the
lecture was going on below; | never heard chemical
explosions in that room that | know of. My lecture
room covers part only Of the ceiling OF Dr. Websters
lecture There is space between the floor OF
my and the ceiling below ; there is space left
under the students seats have been three in the
College, in which there have been regular chemical lee
lures given
Cross eramination.-If the knife went up, it would
go into the cavity of the heart;f down, saight in, it
would touch the other internal parts The upward
stroke would be the most FATAL but either would be
In case ofeither stab externally and internally, there
would be bIeeding-mosly, however, internally. When
IN the demonstrators room, above DR.. Websers ROOM
have heard applause proceed from the latter part
Of the skin saw on the remains discoored was
ready to believe that the appearances nigh have been
made by caustc. did not smell any odor.
Direct e1anination-lf mortal blow was struck
on the head not particle Of blood might follow.
25th-WiIliam B. Eaton examined--I am police
officer had something to do with the remains Of the
body found in the Medical College Twas there when
rails were being lifted offthe top Of the chest, stepped
aside for moment. AS came back, the chest was
turned up and the body lay with the back up covered
by TAM scraped it OF, and saw hole in it in the
side, of which spoke to Mr. Fuller, and remarked that
it was about the size OF knife that found in the
same tea chest with the body.
! Cross eranined.-The weapon found was Jack
knife, which was shut. had opened it previous to
seeing the wound and made the remark have stated
wards my left hand; The limb was taken out ilnme-
diately after the trunk umbled out OF the chest
brushed the tan of, but did not probe the wound with
Their examination brushed off the tan with nv hand and
and considerable off, the limb taken out of
the trunk. Messrs. Fuller, Heath, Rice, Butman and
Spur, were present did not stay longs and no one
brushed the tan off but myself | lifted up the flesh of
the ribs bit when saw the hole for the first time. We
did not know that there was any thing human in the
box until turned up thought it was full of mi
nerals only. There were minerals laid up in papers
and undd some OF them but did not remove them
til saw the tan. There were two or more layers I
went to shelf to make some examination and the box
was drawn into the middle of the floor, when l went
towards it. stad there over that night the remains
were thus found, and every night and day until the
body was removed. | did not turn the body. /
saw the act of turning it Out, but can't say who did it,
[The Court then adjourned at this point lat 90 minutes
to u to meet tomorrow morning at o'clock
FOURTH DAY-March %
The Court came in at quarter past nine o'clock,
and resumed the examination of the witnesses for The
Government.
Medical College, and have the general Superintendent
OF the building. make fires, sweep, and do conside-
rable work in the Medical College. have been at the
College years last October Twas the old col
lege three winters and four in the college have
known Prof. Webster since have been there. never
knew him before. KNEW DR.. Parkman, and had known
| nm over twenty years Inc week Oh Dr Eafkmans
disappearance early on Monday evening" saw an IN
tervew between Plof Webster and Dr. Parllman /
was in Prof. Websters back room--t was somewhat
dark in the room though not out of doors. was help
ing Prof Webster, who had three candles burning
Prof. Webster had chemical book in his hand APP
pearng to be reading with his back to the door was
stirring some in kettle by the side of the stove
| The first saw of DR.. Parknan was as he came into
the door that leads from the lecture room. Prof Web
ster seemed surprised HIM without having heard
him come in. The first words Dr. Parkman used We're.
Are YOU ready for me Tonight Prof Webster said,
No No 'f am r not ready tonight doctor" Dr. Parkman
said something else don't know what He eiherac-
that he had sold to him or something of the kind Prof
IVehster said be didn't know that il was so Dr. Parl.