The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-04-10
CIRCUMsrANTIAL EVIDENCE.
The Observation-Disclosures Case Crows ~
Witnessed

ton, on Nov. 70, 1919. Briefly, on that
day, DR.. Parkman, o man of influence
and standing in his profession, was.
traced to the laboratory of DIR. sWebster,
professor Of chemistry in prominent
institution In Boston. From that day
all traces of him we're lost, and the ex-
element regarding him became in
tense. 1t would appear that certain
pecuniary transactions had taken place
between the two men just named,
and that DIR. Webster was consider
ably in DIR. Parkman's debt, and was,
moreover, in embarrassed circumstances
On DIR. Webster laboratory being
searched the haunch-bones, the right
thigh, and the leg of q human body
were found. Associated with these re-
mains were several laboratory towels
bearing Webster's name. In the refuse
and Stag of chemical furnace were
found fragments OF bones, the skull and
spine bones, along with blocks of arti-
fetal teeth, and little melted gold A
further search brought to light tea.
chest in which, disposed among TAM
was the trunk of human body, along
with the left thigh. These latter parts
and the parts previously discovered
were found to belong to one and the
same body. Pieced together these relics.
showed they formed part of body, OF
which the head, arms, and hands, both.
feet, and the right leg, from the knee
to the ankle, were mi sing, but which
at the same time corresponded with the
frame OF the missing man IN every par
ticuiar. DIR. Parkman at the time OF his
disappearance was 90 years OF age. The
examination of the skeleton pointed to-
its being the remains of man about.
the age referred to. DIR. Parkman's
height was b feet ii inches, and the
skeleton, pieced out and proportion
ateiy measured, was found TO Indicate
height of D feet 10t inches. In these
points, therefore, the identity OF the.
remains seemed to be clearly shown.
But there were special points i'll DR..
Parkman's case which served to place
the identification well-nigh beyond a.
doubt. 1t was quite evident that an
attempt to destroy the head by fire had
not only been made but had well nigh
succeeded. The evidence of DIR. Keep,
the missing mans dentist, came to the
rescue IN most remarkable fashion,,
after an examination of the remains of
the artificial teeth which had escaped
the action OF DIR. Webster's furnace.
Keeps evidence was that, four years.
before the disappearance of DIR. Park
man, he fitted artificial teeth III blocks
for that gentleman, in both upper and
lower jaws. The dentist could also.
speak with certainty to seeing these
teeth in DIR. Parkman's mouth about
fortnight before his disappearance.
when lie had fitted the teeth with a
new spring. The artificial teeth rescued
from DIR. Mebster's furnace were sworn
to by Keep as those he had made for
DIR. Parkman, from their fitting the.
molds III which the teeth of the latter
had been made and the peculiarly of
make. The lett side of the lower Jaw
of DIR. Parkman exhibited certain ir-
regularity, which was recognized by
Keep in the form of the gold plates re-
covered from the furnace of DIR.
Webster. Other circumstances COM
| bined to weave the evidence strongly
! around the latter as the perpetrator of
n heinous crime. That the remains.
had not been used for anatomical pur-
poses was abundantly proven by
medical evidence; and t. at murder had
been committed was evident from an
examination of the chest, which re-
vealed wound on the left side. DIR.
| Webster was duly convicted by chain
| of CT, cumstantial evidence of the most,
complete kind, and was executed, show
| ing that the retinements and appliances
OF science may fail in the attempt to-
| destroy body or so mutilate it AS to
prevent identification.
Another evidence of the singular dis
covery of crime is recorded in the
work of q well-known author, published
in Germany i'll 1866. 1t is to the effect.
that German traveller fell among
thieves, who robbed and murdered him.
| As they were about to cut his throat.
in the last moment he espied a flock of
crows, and exclaimed: %, crows, take
you for my witnesses and avengers Of
my death About two or three days
after these thieves were carousing at an
inn, when some crows lighted on top of
the house. At this the robbers begun
to laugh, and one of them said ieer-
ingly, Look! yonder are they who are,
to avenge his death whom we lately
slew!' The tapster happened to over
hear this, repeated it to his master, who
forthwith informed magistrate. The
murderers were apprehended, and,
upon their disagreeing stories and con-
trary answers. were driven at last into q
confession, and received their just pun
ishment. This case shows how little
incidents sometimes betray guilt. 1t is.
painfully evident, however, that the old
saying that murder will out" under
any and all circumstances does not hold
good in almost numberless cases not
less than half dozen of which have
occurred within a few years past in the.
very heart of this great city. Some of
these cases are of such recent occur
renee as to be readily called to mind.
while others which occured some
years ago are entirely unknown to the
present generation of Chicago people
-ChicdQO Herald