|
TRIAL OF JOHN W. wEBSTER. 39
up stairs. Up stairs, I think that he was the calmest of any time, while
I saw him there. I should think that this scene, about drinking the
water, occurred while tile party were in the laboratory, and before they
event out to the trap-door to see the remains. I remember Mr. Andrews,
the jailer, coming into the laboratory while we were there.
The party passed out of the laboratory to the trap-door. Mr. Clapp,
Mr. Littlefield, and one or two others, went down; and I followed. We
crawled out to the back side of the building, on our hands and knees,
and there I saw the parts passed out through the hole. They were
brought out, and laid upon the floor. The Doctor was a good deal agi-
tated, while looking at them. He was taken back to the jail. I stayed
behind, at the College; and after the remains were put into a box, and
put into the privy, I came away, leaving the College in charge of sev-
eral officers.
The next day, Saturday, I issued a warrant for summoning a jury,
for four o'clock in the afternocn, at the College. When I arrived there,
at that hour, other parts of the body had also been found. I .think I
was there also in the morning of Saturday.-At any rate, I took out the
contents of the furnace with my own hands; but I cannot say, whether
before, or after, the meeting of the jury. The police-officers who were
there in the building, aiding in picking them over; but I took out almost
all, myself. I directed the officers to separate the portions of bone and
of metal. Among the ashes were pieces of metal, and small particles
that looked like gold. After taking out more than half of the contents,
I found pieces of cinder and bone fused together, of considerable size,
sticking to the bricks on the side of the furnace, and with a crooked
piece of iron I broke them off.
The Court at this point, at ten minutes past two, P. PEI., adjourned
to half-past three, P. M.
Wednesday, P. M., March 20th.
The Court came in at half-past three o'clock.
Jabez Pratt, resumes.-Down towards the bottom of the furnace, I
found something that looked like a piece of a jaw, with mineral teeth
in it, and other single teeth near it. The piece was about an inch long.
I cannot say, whether it was an entire block, originally, or not. It was
all in one piece. I afterwards handed the same piece to Dr. Winslow
Lewis, Jr. I should think it was found two=thirds of the depth of the
furnace down from the top. Two or three separate mineral teeth were
afterwards found. The bones were picked out from the ashes, and
put into a paper by themselves. The ashes remained there at that
time. I gave directions, that 'the contents of the furnace should be
passed into the hands of the chemists and medical men, to make what
examination of them they saw fit. A number of these gentlemen saw
them; some, on Saturday, some, on Sunday.
On Sunday, I sent for Dr. Jeffries Wyman, of Cambridge, to aid in
the examination. I do ,not know what portion, $e, or the others, took;
they settled that, among thmeselves. I did not take charge of any-
thing, but the bones, and the remains: I think some of the bones were
set into the privy, in a box, with the other parts of the body, Saturday
night and the door nailed up, as benng the safest place to keep them.
The contents of the furnace, I now recollect, were taken out, about
nine or ten o'clock in the morning, and the jury meet in the afternoon.
I cannot undertake to say, what, the portions of bone found, were. The
doctors were there in the afternoon; think, Dr. Martin Gay was there
in the morning. I don't remember all of the officers who were left in
chaxgo of the College that night. The bunch of teeth fell through
the grate when I was clearing out the furnace, and officer Trenholm
picked them up from the hearth. I have in my custody a tin box, which
I received from Mr. Waterman, by Mr. Parker's, (the county attorney's,)
direction.
[Box produced, and exhibited to the jury. A more particular de-
|
