Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis.

  • Webster, John White, 1793-1850.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the case of John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of George Parkman, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts : including the hearing on the petition for a writ of error, the prisoner's confessional statements and application for a commutation of sentence, and an appendix containing several interesting matters never before published / by George Bemis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Woodbkidge Strong, sworn, — examined by Mr. Clifford. I am a practising physician in this city, and have been such, since 1820. I have always given a special attention to the subject of anatomy. When I was a student, (with the late Dr. Nathan Smith.) I took every opportunity to practise dissec- tion ; and after commencing practice for myself, when not much engaged, devoted a good deal of time to the pursuit of that branch of the profession. One winter, in particular, I occupied most of my time in dissecting, sometimes contin- uing at it from eight o'clock in the morning, till twelve at night. I have had a subject, on my table, for three months together. For several years I attended the Hospital; also other medical institutions; have taken part in numerous post- mortem examinations: and, in general, I may say, have had a good deal of taste for the study of anatomy. In the pursuit of my anatomical studies, I have had con- siderable experience in burning up, or getting rid of human remains by fire. Where I had my office, at an early day, in Cornhill, I had poor accommodations for dissecting, and it was frequently necessary to burn up the remains of a subject. Once, in particular, I had a pirate given me by the United States' Marshal, for dissection ; and, it being warm weather, I wanted to get rid of the flesh, and only preserve the bones. He was a muscular, stout man, and I began upon it one night with a wood fire, in a large, old-fashioned fire-place. I built a rousing fire, and sat up all night, piling on the wood and the flesh, and had not got it consumed by morning. I was afraid of a visit from the police ; and by eleven o'clock, they gave me a call, to know what made such a smell in the street. I finished it up, somehow, that forenoon : but I look upon it, as no small operation, to burn up a body. It needs the right sort of fuel, to begin with. Wood is better than coal; and the lighter the kind of wood, the better. Pine kindlings would be good for the purpose. You need frequently to stir the fire up ; and you must have something that the flesh will not quench or put out. There is always a difficulty in getting rid of human remains by fire, on account of attract- ing suspicion by the smell. I have been called upon by my neighbors, or the police, several times, on this account. I was well acquainted with Dr. George Parkman; have known him ever since I have been in the city ; and for seve- ral years was a near neighbor, and used to see him almost daily. I last saw him, on Friday, November 23d, the day of his disappearance, at about half-past twelve o'clock, in Bea-