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54 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER.
late as ten o'clock, or after; and being unwell, I had retired for the
night. The person who went to the door, happening to know Dr. Park-
man, asked him in, and came up and told me that it was him. Out of
regard for him, I sent word that I would come down and attend to him,
and dressed, as soon as possible. The Doctor told me his trouble; and
I took out his teeth, both upper and lower set, examined them all over,
to see that every part was right, repaired the spring, and spent half an
hour in doing what was necessary. This was my last professional
intercourse with him. He called on me, however, the day before his
disappearance, and stayed some fifteen minutes, inquiring about a ser-
vant that had lived with me.
I left the city, the Wednesday following, (November 28th,) and went
into the country, to Longmeadow, to spend Thanksgiving, and returned
the Monday after. I had heard of the Doctor's disappearance before I
left. On my return, Dr. Winslow Lewis, Jr. , presented to me these
three portions of mineral-teeth, [referring again to the blocks taken
from the furnace,] saying, that he was requested to bring them to me
for examination. On looking at them, I recognized them to be the
same teeth that I had made for Dr. Parkman. The most perfect por-
tion that remained, was that block, that belonged to the left lower
jaw. [Holding it in his hand.] I recognized the shape and the, outline,
as being identical with the impression left on my mind, of those that
I had labored on so long. [Here, the witness was strongly agitated.]
Several of the other portions had been very much injured by fire. I
proceeded to look for the models, by which these teeth were made.
On comparing the most perfect block with the model the resemblance
was so striking, that I could no longer have a'ny doubt that they were
his. [Here., the witness was so overcome by his feelings, as to be
unable, for a moment, to proceed. The prisoner exhibite[l no signs of
emotion.]
There was sufficient left of these blocks, to show where they belonged.
This, in my right hand, [holding it up,] belongs to the right
upper jaw. This, to the left upper jaw; and this, to the front
portion of the upper jaw. The three parts make up the whole
of the upper set. The left lower block is nearly entire. The
block attached to it, I take to be the right lower block, from exclu-
sion. This last, certainly does not belong elsewhere; and, as we have
found places for the others, I infer that this must belong in the, place
not supplied. There is a piece not identified, which may, or may not
be, the small front block, (of two or three teeth,) of the lower jaw. I
identify and assign places for five pieceg, and there is one other piece
not identified. These would, together, make the six pieces of the set. I
find the platinum pins remain attached to the teeth.
[The witness here exhibited to the jury, and afterwards to the Court,
the blocks of teeth in connection with the plaster-model or cast: call-
ing attention, particularly, to the coincidence between the left lower
block, a'n:d the model. He also pointed out the place of grinding, show-
ing a roughening of the inside, with a slight concave perpendicular
indentation.]
I found, more or less imbedded with these teeth, portions of gold,
and also minute portions of the natural bone of the jaw; what is called
cancellated bone, from its peculiar-shaped cells.
To a juror.-I saw the set of teeth in the Doctor's mouth at the last
interview.
Direct, again.-The presumption is very strong, that they went into
the fire' in the head, or with some portion of it, or in some way muffled.
These mineral-teeth, when worn, imbibe moisture; and, if suddenly
thrown into the fire, or heated with great rapidity, the outside becomes
glazed, and the expansive power of the steam which is generated inside,
explodes them. If put into the fire, surrounded by flesh, or other
muffling substance, o!n the contrary, the temperature would he raised
more gradually, and the moisture would evaporate from them, slowly.
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