The Disappearance of Dr. Parkman: Blood & Ivy at the Harvard Medical School with Judge Dennis Curran
Tue, Apr 14
|The Jenks Center
Join us to learn about this infamous scandal at Harvard Medical School.
Time & Location
Apr 14, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
The Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Rd, Winchester, MA 01890, USA
About the Event
The 1849 murder of Dr. George Parkman in Boston became one of the most sensational trials of the 19th century, featuring a grisly crime, a wealthy victim, and a respected suspect. Nearly 60,000 spectators passed through the courtroom as an international media frenzy turned the case into headline news. The trial was groundbreaking for its use of forensic science, including the first admission of dental evidence, and revealed the shadowy world of Harvard Medical School’s “Spunker” Club of body snatchers.
We will explore the lawyers, judges, controversies, and strange twists that shaped the proceedings, which ultimately made legal history by establishing the standard of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” now used across the nation.
Presented by the Honorable Justice Dennis J. Curran, Massachusetts Superior Court (Ret.). He has served as a Massachusetts trial judge for 15 years. During his judicial tenure, he presided over 450 civil and criminal trials.
Sponsored by…