Spotlight: Chopped by Dale Pollock

James Winchell Stone, a 23-year-old upwardly mobile physician in 1850 Boston finds himself called in as an expert medical witness in the most notorious murder trial up to that point in American history. Boston’s richest man, George Parkman, mysteriously vanishes, until his chopped-up remains are discovered in the privy of a diminutive Harvard Medical School chemistry professor, John Webster. For the first time in its history, Harvard sees a faculty member indicted for first degree murder, a capital offense.

Using the new science of stenography, James Stone uses his skills in taking down all the testimony in the sensational trial, which garnered worldwide press thanks to the recent introduction of the telegraph. Stone in effect becomes the first court reporter in American history, and publishes his account soon after the trial’s conclusion. This contravenes legal practice and leads to Stone being blackballed by Boston society.

Throughout the trial, Stone has conducted a passionate relationship with a young Irish immigrant, Ellen O’Keeffe. Together, they solve the mystery of how a meek and mild man like Webster could have killed Parkman, a foot taller and in excellent physical condition. Their doomed romance takes a tragic turn, and shows Stone how elusive the truth can be.

Excerpt

James’s head felt muddled. There were too many possibilities in this bizarre circumstance for the kind of clear thinking expected of him. Harvard men do not commit murder, James thought. He could not erase from his memory the images of that bloody torso with its half-detached leg hanging in the privy, and the horrible viscera in the tea chest. Someone had been brutally killed and hacked into the pieces that were found in the rooms of Dr. John Webster at the Medical College. What other explanation could suffice, other than it was at the hand of the man who sat humming and smiling on the way to his killing ground?

As they chatted, James noticed Webster calmly reach into his coat pocket, then saw him cough. He coughed again, covering his mouth with his hand; the next thing James saw was the professor downing the contents of a small phial of liquid he had concealed in his hand. Webster immediately looked pained. James was horrified. Webster had poisoned himself. Seeing James’s reaction, the police finally noticed that something was amiss. Webster’s hand at his mouth had blocked them from seeing anything.

“Professor Webster!” James exclaimed. “What have you done?” To the shocked constables, he shouted, “The man has poisoned himself, he has just swallowed poison!”

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About the Author

Dale M. Pollock is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He was head film critic for Daily Variety in Hollywood, and chief entertainment correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. He wrote SKYWALKING: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF GEORGE LUCAS in 1983, which remains in print, having sold more than 150,000 copies. Pollock produced 13 films including BLAZE with Paul Newman, MRS. WINTERBOURNE with Shirley MacLaine and Brendan Fraser, and THE MIGHTY QUINN with Denzel Washington. Pollock also produced the box-office hit SET IT OFF, which is now regarded as a classic Black female empowerment movie.

Pollock served as the Dean of the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and then as a professor of cinema studies. He is an Emeritus Faculty member, and teaches and lectures throughout North Carolina. CHOPPED is his first novel.