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TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER. 308
You are next called to consider the proof arising from the remains of
a set of artificial teeth, found in the furnace, as bearing on the same
matter of identity.
I have already turned your attention to the question, whether these
different remains were part of one body, and whether their condition and
their situation were such as to indicate designed concealment; and, if so,
whether proof of the identity arising from one portion does not tend in
an equal degree to prove the identity of the others. The fleshy portions,
as well as the bones of the head and other extremities, and the artificial
teeth which we are now about more particularly to consider, were all
found, as you will recollect, in the same apartment, or in the appurten-
ances connected with it; -I mean the lower laboratory. From the fur-
nace standing in that apartment, the coroner and the police officers, as
they have told you, took out portions of bone, some partially calcined
and chiefly belonging to the head, together with parts of certain blocks
of artificial mineral teeth. In the same place, intermingled with the
slag, ashes, and the calcined bones, they also found a quantity of gold,
so far as separated from the other substances by chemical processes,
amounting to about a hundred and fifty grains.
It is certainly an interesting inquiry, whether teeth, under such cir-
cumstances, can be identified by. those who have constructed and fitted
them. The investigation is in some respects like that of fossil remains,
the study of which has led to such wonderful discoveries. Through the
pursuit of comparative anatomy, such a minute and exact knowledge of
the peculiarities of the lower orders of animals has been attained, that
persons are able from the examination of a single bone to determine the
character of the animal to which it belonged. This is carried still fur-
ther in human anatomy; and it has been testified to you by Dr. Wyman,
who has a high reputation in this branch of science, that from a small
piece of bone, it is practicable to determine the part of the head or body
to which it belonged. He has exemplified this by placing together and
showing, in the manner which he has particularly described to you, the
connection of many of the small pieces of bone belonging to the human
head, especially the parts of the jaw, found in the furnace.
In connection with a similar kind of inquiry, your attention may now
be properly called to an examination of the evidence arising from the
discovery of these mineral teeth. It comes mainly from Dr. Keep and
Dr. Noble.
Dr. Keep testifies, that about three years ago he made and fitted a
set of teeth for Dr. Parkma.n, a set for each jaw, consisting of manufac-
tured artificial teeth, formed in combinations of three blocks to each
jaw, and set upon gold plates fitted and adjusted to the jaws. He states
that several natural teeth and stumps remained, to which, as well as to
the natural shape and peculiarities of the jaws, it was necessary that the
plates should be adjusted and fitted. The gold had melted away; but
the teeth, composed of a material not easily acted on by fire, remained,
preserving more or less of their original shape. Dr. Keep had also
retained, and has produced here, marked with Dr. Parkman's name, the
metallic moulds in which the plates were formed.
But it is not necessary to restate Dr. Keep's testimony particularly.
The question is, whether he is able by these means and by his own mem-
ory to identify them as the teeth which he fitted for Dr. Parkman. He
is of the opinion that he can; and he gives you the means which he used,
and, generally, the grounds and reasons for his opinion that these are the
teeth of Dr. Parkman. You will judge of their weight, and of the credit
due to this testimony. If it satisfies you beyond reasonable doubt that
they were the teeth worn by Dr. Parkman, it would have a strong ten-
dency to prove the identity of the remains. You will recollect the
fact that Dr. Keep saw him wearing them within a week or two of his
disappearance, and the evidence arising from the condition of the teeth
when they were found, tending to show that they had not been exposed
suddenly to the action of heat, but that they were placed in the fire sur-.
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