56 TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER.
of the counsel for the Government, and the City Marshal, when the
latter delivered them to the former, under seal, and the seal was broken
by the Attorney General., I have had them in my custody since. They
struck me, at once, when I first looked at them, a.s the teeth made for
Dr. Parkman. The general shape was the same. I find a hole through
the block, at the same point as we were accustomed to make it: In look-
ing it over carefully, on the inside, I noticed a surface, which appeared
to have been ground. The moment that I saw it, I recollected that that
block of Dr. Parkman's had been ground in that way. I saw Dr. Keep
grind it. The grinding did not reach quite down to the plate, as this
does not.-(Showing the left lower block.) The grinding was done
after the Doctor went to the Medical College opening.
I have good reason to believe that these are Dr. Parkman's teeth,
as I have to believe any fact within my knowledge. I have not tile
slightest doubt, that these are the same blocks of teeth which I worked
on for Dr. Parkman.
I remember the circumstances accompanying their being ordered,
because we were obliged to be very prompt, in getting them ready, at
the time set. The Doctor was sure to call, at the time he set, for any of
his appointments. He had made appointments for trying them in, at
several times, and always kept them, punctually. The opening of the
Medical College, when President Everett delivered the address, was
the time set for the teeth to be done; and I recollect, that, an accident
occurred in baking them, we were compelled to sit up nearly all night
to finish them. We got them finished, just in time to let the Doctor go
over to the College. I went there, myself, and sat, where I could see
the Doctor, and observe, if he had occasion to speak, how well he used
them. I think the ceremony took place in the early part of November,
1846. I have the impression that Dr. Parkman did not speak; but that,
when complimented for his liberality by Governor Everett, he merely
acknowledged it with a bow. He might have said a few words, but
I rather think not. I understood the compliment to refer to the dona-
tion of the land for the College.
At this stage of the proceedings, it being two o'clock, P. M., the Court
adjourned to three and a half, P. M.
Thursday afternoon, March 21st
The Court resumed its session at three and a half o'clock.
Lester Noble.-Direct, resumed.-It was in the early part of my
studies, that I worked on Dr. Parkman's teeth. The first operation
towards a set of teeth, is to take the impression in wax. I made the
metallic moulds, myself. As there were quite a number of sets of teeth,
in process of manufacture at the time, I cannot tell precisely how much
time was spent upon this set, in particular; but it must have amounted
to a number of days, altogether. I have made the experiment of put-
ting mineral teeth into the fire without muffling, and then heating them
suddenly, and never knew them fail to crack. I coincide with Dr. Keep,
in his statement of the greater danger of those cracking, which have
been in wear, and imbibed moisture.
This set of Dr. Parkman's had to be annealed again, after being
once fitted to his mouth: Some accident happened to them,-I should
think about a year, after they were first fitted in. The lower set got
bent together, and it became necessary to bind them down, and anneal
them to the plate. The mark of the blow-pipe is still visible, on the
blocks. [Shows it.]
Cross-examination waived.
Jeffries Wyman, sworn,-examined by Mr. Bemis. I am a Professor
of Anatomy in Harvard College; have been a teacher of anatomy for
the last eight years.
|