Group of FOUR VOLUMES pertaining to the PARKMAN-WEBSTER MURDER TRIAL - with SIGNATURES, INSCRIPTIONS and ASSOCIATIONS. The volumes are:

(1) REPORT OF THE CASE OF JOHN W. WEBSTER, Doctor of Medicine of Harvard University...INDICTED for the MURDER OF GEORGE PARKMAN, M.A. Harvard University, Doctor of Medicine... by GEORGE BEMIS, Counsel in the Case. Published by Charles C. Little, 1850. First edition. This book has the following signatures and associations:

* PARKMAN SIGNATURE: Laid in is a printed announcement SIGNED BY DR. GEORGE PARKMAN, the murder victim. The announcement was for an annual meeting of the Boston Society for Medical Improvement. PARKMAN SIGNED the announcement as Secretary for the Society.

* SIGNATURE of JUSTICE SHAW (the Judge in the Case): Clipped note SIGNED BY JUSTICE LEMUEL SHAW tipped in. Clipped from a manuscript letter. The clipped section is 2.5x6 inches.

* PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION of the ATTORNEY GENERAL / PROSECUTOR (John H. Clifford): INSCRIBED by the ATTORNEY GENERAL on a blank front endpaper to THOMAS GILL (court reporter for the Boston Post): "Thomas Gill / with respects of the / Attorney General". The Attorney General of Massachusetts was JOHN H. CLIFFORD, who PROSECUTED the WEBSTER-PARKMAN case.

* Ownership SIGNATURE of JOSEPH W. P. FROST, b.1923 d.2008, in pencil at the top of the recent front free endpaper. Joseph W. P. Frost, b.1923 d.2008, was a cousin of Robert Frost. Robert Frost and his cousin Joseph William Pepperrell Frost were close friends and maintained a strong bond throughout their lives.

CONDITION: Professionally rebound in hardcovers. Internally, there is white tape reinforcement to the inner hinges, offsetting and foxing to the original blank endpapers, some foxing and toning here and there throughout. Overall a solid, clean copy. The signatures and the laid-in and tipped-in documents are bright and clear.

(2) REPORT OF THE CASE OF JOHN W. WEBSTER, Doctor of Medicine of Harvard University...INDICTED for the MURDER OF GEORGE PARKMAN, M.A. Harvard University, Doctor of Medicine... by GEORGE BEMIS, Counsel in the Case. Published by Charles C. Little, 1850. First edition. This book has the following attribute / association / signature:

* INSCRIBED by the AUTHOR to PROF. JEFFRIES WYMAN: "Prof. Jeffries Wyman / with the respects of the / Reporter." Professor Jeffries Wyman was an expert forensic science witness in the case. The "Reporter" is the Author, GEORGE BEMIS, who acted as co-counsel to the prosecution, and also acted as a Court Reporter during the trial. This book encompasses his notes on the case. There are some pencil margin marks and a bit of marginalia, possibly in the hand of Wyman.

* ASSOCIATION to the FORENSIC SCIENCE EXPERT JEFFRIES WYMAN. From Wikipedia: "Jeffries Wyman, b.1814 d.1874, was an American anatomist, curator, and professor. He taught anatomy at Harvard Medical School. In 1850, Wyman was called to testify for the prosecution in the Parkman-Webster murder case. His testimony contributed to the belief that the bones belonged to Parkman."

CONDITION: Original cloth covered boards, blind embossed designs on the front and rear boards, hinges are cracking but holding, foxing heavy on endpapers then just a bit throughout; there are pencil margin marks noting places where Prof. Wyman is mentioned.

(3) ILLEGALITY OF THE TRIAL OF JOHN W. WEBSTER, by Lysander Spooner. Published by Bela Marsh, Boston, 1850. Booklet, wrappers, 16 pages. Covers are toned and starting to split at the spine, folds are tender but holding, inner pages are nice, bright and clean.

(4) THE TRIAL OF PROF. JOHN W. WEBSTER Indicted for the MURDER of DR. GEORGE PARKMAN... Published by Redding & Company, Boston, 1850. Booklet, 56 pages, double columns of very small print. The covers are worn and the spine is splitting. Internally, the pages are creased at the corners, have some spotting and soiling, but are overall bright, clean, clear and legible.