NLM logo

Gallery: True Account

Home
A pamphlet cover summarizing the contents with engraved portrait of Professor John W. Webster, print and publication information, and a library stamp from the Surgeon General’s Office Library.
Page 14 of a pamphlet, detailing a section of trial transcript and an engraving of the remains found in the medical college which consisted of the torso and partial legs of a body.
Pages 10 and 11 of a pamphlet with large engravings of the relevant scenes and text from the trial.
Page 18 includes trial text and four small engravings of dental bridges from Dr. Parkman’s mouth.
A full page engraving of Dr. Parkman, walking in a top hat and tail coat, “as last seen previous to the murder”.
An illustration of the skeletal remains recovered pictured in profile as though walking, with a detail of the partial lower jaw below.
On page 74, an engraving of the view of the interior of a small stone room with a narrow bed, table, and chair..
Head and shoulders engraving of Ephraim Littlefield, and below, an “accurate drawing” of the articles found in the laboratory.
Pamphlet page summarizing contents with two sections and an illustration of a bludgeon loaded with lead
Pamphlet cover with a summary of the contents and a library stamp from the Surgeon General’s Office Library.
A profile portrait of John Francis Knapp in a coat with a body of text underneath.
Official report and pamphlet cover with content summary, and print and publishing information.
Front cover of a pamphlet, featuring a head and shoulders portrait of Harriett Staunton.
An engraving of the head and shoulders, left profile of Mrs. Patrick Staunton wearing a hat.
An engraving of the head and shoulders, left profile of Miss Alice Rhodes wearing a hat.
Pages 8 and 9 of The life and trial of the four prisoners connected with the Penge murder. On page 8 is an engraving of the head and shoulders, left pose of Louis Staunton. On page 9 is an engraving of the head and shoulder, left pose of Patrick Staunton.
The printed cover of a pamphlet including a title, description of the contents, and a quotation from the bible as well as the printer’s name: Randal Taylor.

8 of 17

Head and shoulders engraving of Ephraim Littlefield, and below, an “accurate drawing” of the articles found in the laboratory.

Ephraim Littlefield and Articles in the Laboratory of Professor Webster, 1850

Ephraim Littlefield, the Janitor of the Medical College, discovered the remains in the vault of Professor Webster. The engraving was drawn by Rowse from a daguerreotype. The articles found in the Laboratory of Professor Webster, and produced in court during the trial included:

  1. Tea-chest in which the thorax and left thigh were found embedded in tan
  2. Bowie Knife found in the tea-chest with blood upon the blade
  3. Turkish Yatagan, elegantly chased silver handle
  4. Sledge-hammer, alluded to in testimony
  5. Hatchet, found in one of the drawers in the Professor’s cabinet
  6. Three large Fish-hooks, tied together, found attached to the remains in the vault

Trial of Professor John W. Webster, for the murder of Doctor George Parkman. Reported exclusively for the N.Y. Daily Globe... 76 pp. (New York, 1850). 

About the Case

The 1849 murder of the wealthy and prominent Dr. George Parkman was the subject of many pamphlets. Dr. John Webster, a chemistry professor at Harvard Medical College, borrowed money from Parkman and couldn’t pay it back. Parkman went missing and was last seen entering the College for an appointment with Webster. Read more…

View in NLM Digital Collections

View in NLM LocatorPlus Catalog

About the Book

A pamphlet cover summarizing the contents with engraved portrait of Professor John W. Webster, print and publication information, and a library stamp from the Surgeon General’s Office Library.
Trial of Professor John W. Webster, for the murder of Doctor George Parkman. Reported exclusively for the N.Y. Daily Globe... 76 pp. (New York, 1850) Go To NLM Catalog Record

View more

A pamphlet cover summarizing the contents with engraved portrait of Professor John W. Webster, print and publication information, and a library stamp from the Surgeon General’s Office Library.
Trial of Professor John W. Webster, 1850
Page 14 of a pamphlet, detailing a section of trial transcript and an engraving of the remains found in the medical college which consisted of the torso and partial legs of a body.
The Remains, 1850
Pages 10 and 11 of a pamphlet with large engravings of the relevant scenes and text from the trial.
Harvard Medical College, Boston, 1850
Page 18 includes trial text and four small engravings of dental bridges from Dr. Parkman’s mouth.
Dental Bridges from Dr. Parkman’s Mouth, 1850
An illustration of the skeletal remains recovered pictured in profile as though walking, with a detail of the partial lower jaw below.
Restoration of Dr. Parkman’s Skeleton, 1850
On page 74, an engraving of the view of the interior of a small stone room with a narrow bed, table, and chair..
Professor Webster’s Cell, 1850

More Information on this Topic

Visible Proofs Exhibition: The Rise of Forensics