The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-22
TRIAL OF PROFESSOR JOHN W. WEBSTER,
CHARGED WITH THE
MURDER OF DR.. GEORGE PARK MAN,
IN THR

L
| IN rHE
MEDICAL COLLEGE, SToN,
| November 81, Is49.
| THIRD DAY.
ny BAIN's MERCHANTS TKLEoRApH, AND HOUSE IS
| PRINTING TELEGRAPH.
| BosroN, Thursday, March 2I 1850.
The same excitement manifested on the opening
Of the court this morning the previous days. the
crowd was o. great the interest the increase;
end the public keenly alive to the
the case in criminal point Of view. The prisoner
sppesred in good spirits and with several
| his friends, ss he took his seat
| The first witness called on the stand to day, was
DR. Charles T. Jackson, sworn-Is . chemist by pro-
fession was one Of thoes who examined the rsmaus;
was called on Saturday afternoon December Ii met Dr.
| Gay and DR.. Lewis ct the Medical College; made
the preliminary arrangements for the examination;
DR.. Gay and myself undertook the chemical part some
bones and the contents Of small assay furnace were
submitted to us; the remains; did not think
| they had been used for anatomical purposes;
thought the dissection showed anatomical
| skill because the flesh had been dissected boldly
away from the ribs down to the cartisges; the
clavicle had been dsarticulatsd neatly there was
NO backing about the thigh; have seen the post
TEN report Of Drs. Lewis, Gay, and Stone, and
DO not disagree with It knew DIR. Psrkman we'll !;
he was then literally dry muscular subject; strong
solution of potash had been applied to the
psins the deposition In the hands Of the coun-
sci is mine all in my handwriting, except the title
the deposition received by Mr. Bemis; It related
to the action Of potash the remains, and to the
green fluid found the staircase, and detailed
minutely the purposes Of the chemical examination
into which the Doctor entered, by direction of the
police / took the bloodveseels l had delivered
to Doctor Gay; they In the same identi
| cal papers which I gave to Mr.. Richard Crosby
skilful chemist, who works in my laboratory;
he had made previous examination; gave the papers
to him to complete his researches he repeated their
results; the effect Of strong solution Of potash
dissolve the flesh after awhile IL Is done quicker with
heat
Q-How lorg would it take to dispose Of . body in
potAsh!
Alt would depend upon circumstances; II the
bcdy cut up into small pieces, It would be done
quicker; It would be done by boiling precisely like
making soap.
Q.-How much potash would II take to dissolve such
bodyf
Alt probably would have weighed one hundred
and forty pounds and about half that amount of pot
al would be required TO dissolve IT. ls.s could destroy
the dentity the largest vessel In the laboratory
tin boiler with copper bottom similar to those
used for washing; nitric acid would be the next bes.
substance to dissolve body the best, because 1t
would require vessels that would not be acted upon by
the acid: potash could be used In iron copper tim II
would require for nitric ssid, about the weigh.
Of the body to dissolve Il thoroughly, bones aud all;
the nitrous given o would be ruiuous TO health In
any great quantity; II moderately heated IL would
give little; IL boiled !. would of sbundantiyi
II might be easily sent up open chimney; few
bottles Of nitric acid; perhaps six quarts; no
lary 10 der
quantity OF Assh by nitric acid; there we're dark
stains on the stairs leading down to the lower
laboratory; and on the side wall there
fluid which seemed to have been spattsred
csnt srposs the stairs whore tbs stains were the dark
est, ard tovsrd the bottom OF the stairs; the hut
this Is . deiaue,ceht ,sit attracts moisture. aud
remains fluid for long tifne is might have been
thus d for ve,s d. tool de ,oSs Ss",pqs u had
Q.-Wtat would be the. effect Of nitrate OF copper
Alt "a q strong astrinsent I delivered that
pant Of the sxarpstion TO DR.. jeffrey wymau, as
more proper for mi.erosccpic observation saw rsn.s
loebs and clippers with blood on them left DR.. Wyman
TO examine them; blood being organization the mi
cIoseops Ia the ony proper tsstoi ~ the micro.copen
also sr osseptial instrument with which to watch the
prosre,. Of chemical action on it chemist might de-
stroy quantity Of blood before he hsd Uncovered
what VAS the microscope Is iaisielei there were
such punched out In making srr,irsrs, and
such as chemis,s commonly use for making nitrate
they bed been blackened By heat, and thinner
than the pieces found in Of the drawers TO which,
they had been used n making nitrate Of copper;
found In washing the cinder', forty i've grains and
SIX o. sSs DR. cay found 81 sT.s.
looihs In ell there l7s grains and looths Of
the market value Of SO el there v the osor Of oxide
Of gold one Of the bonss; have known DR. Web
stsr some years fsmsriy; have been on friendly
terms With him; = large Turkish iniis with
be ocgpssd IL the properly Of the prisoner, which
he had seep In his Laboratory In Mason street when
ut.s sOGa aSa o dI :. frshy cleaned aD.. % Dr. Park
man his height about the same ss bis own, which
S v. feet eleven the dr, 2, ,ns 70
rsd OF the odor Of burning neshi vemsht have found
zone more sold.
examined and sscertsined 10 myself the see salt
found With the pe's,h vas 'nsli the hair had been
ssb; enc eide vas r,d nom IL; did not essain.
the inside OF the furnace for potssh except who're
,.e! hs s'. . Al. on. ss S.ss sna the @ tso end:
we're Affected BY potash; the thigh was affected
Sn ~, -. s',s' mn had w.s. BE-. heat, =,
r,sh of the body could be dissolved in f.v hours
in nitric acid. II cut mp think all the as.h
half day; there would be appearance Of bones; 10
would be dun yellow liquid; could not tell With sc-
should ssy ssoot tie weight Of the body; specific
weight Of nitric acid IL four tenths there was no
csss,i' pe,s'n IN the belle, ,nss' s - v s s not ,ng
I
~ nearly fu thinks the green nuid on the vai
bed been there two weeks coal vas used In
the furpsee; part Of the ashes taken from the
furr ase that which nom the ssh pit, the potash
could not have been the body long for IL had at
tsped but little carbonio acid; II was stl csustc;
few ninuss could serve ty the copjoned action OF re
srd rctsfh 90 produce ell the decomposition there wrs;
tr.d the effect of nitrate of copper upon the Norvsy
pre of the staircase; produced brown stain upon
the vocd similar TO that found there there we're pieces
| OF voodicharcosi In the ashes.
TIE following IL the sepeition OF Dr. JACKSON refsr-
red o. In bir testimcny-
Charles T. Jachson being duiy dsrcse A. foovs
sn by rrofescn physician and chemist; the hFs day Of
December 1872 vas requested by Mr. James r. bsie ..
DR.. Martin Gay, MAKING some cbtni's ans
otksr the Medical college IN toe city ot
foson ococh In TIE afternoon q that Day neat
with DR. the Medical COLLEGE and hers net Dr Nins
lcv lewis and others With the Coroner of .he cuuy of
suncls the jury % that madsa seaereltt
smrson that afternoon, snd ssjourred unh sundy morn
vfen resumed Examination Dr. Jefrte- " tman
beng sssccated With aiding in tie taam nation
% the b,nes found In the furnace o. the Chemical
siorstory: and also took chips % wood which be
he'd teen thotn certain brown stans, whi.h wefe seb.
/ uitted 20 Ur Nyman 70 examine; DR.. v. - haswofth