23
Cross-examined-I have examined the brick taken up from the laboratory floor
on the suspi-
cion that some blood had percolated the crevices between them; did not find
any blood on them;
there was none on the mortar : did not examine the sattd'S I'saw a hole
between the ribs and-the
chestor thorax ; the flesh was torn near the hole, which might have been
caused by cutting the
cartilage of the sternum; a drop of blood falling from the bight of three
feet, and striking a
vertical surface, would trickle down and would sot be splashed as it is on
the.pantaiogns ; after
the first 48 Sours the blood would assume a dark brown hue, after which it
would not change even
for years ; the hue of the blood on the pantaloons and slippers was
somewhatobscured lay being
on a dark ground.
[Here a recess of tea minutes was granted to the jury.)
Resumed-The blood of a human being can be distinguished from that of come
animals
by microscopic examination.
Dr. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES called-I saw Dr, Parkman on the 28d November,
1849 ; am
Dean of the Medical Faculty of Harvard College ; Prof. W. lectures four
times a week, through-
out the course, and his laboratory and lecture rooms form a distinct part
of the College, en-
tirely separate from the rooms of all the other professors. Prof. W.
lectures from twelve to one
o'clock; myself from one to two o'clock; the separation of the parts very
evidently showed
some anatomical knowledge ; Dr. Wyman called my attention to the manner in
which the ster-
num was separated from the ribs.
I remarked that the sternum was cut from the ribs .by some person who knew
in what direa-
Lion to cut ; if a wound should be gives in the region of the heart,
protracted upwards, there
would be but very little effusion of blood ; if the wound was given
horizontally, then there would
be a considerable effusion of blood ; remember the day when Dr. P,
disappeared ; my, lectures
had commenced that day ; Dr. W.'s moms are not so situated that I ban hear
noises is them from,
my room; never was disturbed is my lecture room by noises in Prof. W.'s
rooms: the reason
why I do not hear noises in my lecture room from the Professor's, is that
when my lecture room
is occupied, his is not ; a part of his lecture room is under mine, but not
directly under the part
where I stand to lecture.
Cross' examined-Can't answer, except hypothetically, as to whether blood
would flow eater-
nally, or sot from a wound given in the region of the heart ; I have heard
applause from Dr.
W.'s students in his room, while I have been in my operating-room. A mortal
blow might be
given on the head of a person without there being any effusion of blood.
WILLIAM EATON, Policeman, called-I was present at the Medical College at
the time
the thorax was taken from the tea chest. .The thorax Was taken out of the
tea chest and laid on
its back ; saw that -the akin was burned over on the ribs ; saw the hole
between the ribs, and
remarked that it was about the size of the knife,
Cross-examined-I refer to the knife found in the tea chest ; put my hand on
the fissure be-
tween the ribs ; those around said, « Don't touch the body" I brushed off
the tan from the tho-
rax with my hand ; there were about five or six others in the room.
No one but myself, at the time I first saw the thorax, attempted to brush
the tan off; saw
the hole in the thorax when I took it up; did not know that the remains
were in the tea chest
until it was turned over ; officer Fuller stood for some time .side by,
side, taking out miner-
als ; there were two layers of them ; I unwrapped several species of
minerals ; I stayed night
and day at the Medical College after Professor W.'s arrest until the body
was taken away; did
not turn the body over myself, but knew that it was turned over; do not
know by whom.
At this juncture the Court adjourned until 9 o'clock, A.M., Friday.
' FOURTH DAY.
At nine o'clock the prisoner who had been placed in the dock a few minutes
before, was taken,
in custody of his official attendant, Td. J. Jones, to one of the
ante-rooms in the Court-house, to
consult with Judge Merrick, senior counsel for the defense. He entered at
ten minutes past
nine o'clock, and was shortly after followed by the Court. The names of the
jury were neat
called, and the proceedings commenced.
EPHRAIM LTTTJ.EFIELn Called-I have no middle name; my connection with the
Medical
College is that 'of Janitor ; have charge of the whole building ; mike
fires in the rooms, and
have been Janitor seven years ; since last October had charge of the
College in Mason street ;
have known Professor Webster since I first acted as Janitor ; knew Dr,
Parkman ; was present
at an interview between Dr. P. and Prof. W., on Monday, November lath,
towards evening; we
were in his (W.'s) private room ; I stood near the stove, stirring some
water with salt; there
wore three candles burning at the time.
The Professor was reading a chemical book, as I suppose, at the time while
I was stirring the
water. I didn't hear any footsteps, but on looking up suddenly I saw Dr. P.
in the loom. I ob-
served that Prof. W. was surprised to see him appear so suddenly. Dr. P,
said, as I thought,
°' Prof. W., are you ready to meet this to-night ?" The Dr. afterwards's
aid something about
Dr. Webster's having sold something to some person which he, Webster, had
before sold to him,
Parkman. Prof. W. said, °1 I do not remember that it is so-had forgotten
it."
1tDr. P. showed W. some papers; and then went toward the door, and raising
his hand odd :
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