The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-27

ded even more fully than the occasion of the in
quest over the body OF Colt. The gallery was filled
with some OF the most respectable looking men in
the city Every portion Of the Court Room
crowded-every corner-all the jury seats, and the
steps leading to the Judges were covered with
spectators, anxious TO see how Webb would look
while undergoing the infection or the farce of a
sentence as the might turn out. For it was
the opinion OF many, like Burns, that
"Perhaps it might turn out a sang
Perhaps turn out Sermon
The specuations among the SPECTATORS were very
prolific and all sorts of remarks ran round the room
The predominating feelngiwas OF the comical ORDER
ecce signum 81 don't think Webb will be sentenc-
ed after ALL" Slows he get in through that crowd
with his lame leg" 81 understand Webb cried yes
| terday when Lee and Purdy went to see him; be-
cause, as he said, they brought him large petitions
for his pardon after he had abused them so shame
fully and causel-ssy'
The excitement at its height at 20 minutes
past IL, when the Court entered
| HAYs-Has of, gentlemen.
| REcoRDER-Will one of the officers tell the clerk
| that the Court is in.
| Enter HENRY VANDERvooRr with load of books
under his arm
|
handsome, and smiling, and standing close up to
the front of the Recorders desk, held very pleas
ant and familiar confab with that dignitary.
The RECORDER all this time looked rather serious,
| but very amiabe.
| half as amiabe.
| JACOB HAYS looked more comica and quizzical
than he has done for some time, and put on good
md IL g. 81.
An unusual number of militia officers were pre-.
sent but none of the regular army. OF lawyers
there were any quantity but few of the lawyers of
the old school were there.
In about five minutes after the Court entered, COL
Webb was brought into Court in the custody of two
officers. He walked very lame-had to support
himself entirely by his crutches, and looked exceed
ingy pale
The DIsTRIcTATToRNEY then rose and sad-"Ifth
Court please, in the case of Col. Webb who stands
convicted, by his own plea, of an offence against
statute of this State move that the Court do now
pass sentence upon him"
RECoRDER-Arraign him.
Col. Webb stood up straight as an arrow
HENRY VAspERvooRT-What have you now 20
say why judgment should not be pronounced against
you according to law!
tone OF voice)-l might say much gainst the policy
the justice and the constitutonality of the law un-
der which | have been indicted-I might say still
more In relation to the unjhst persecution by which
that Indictment was originally got up; but feel
satisfied that much as might say il would have no
Influence on the minds of this Court or alter your
Judgment. shall therefore simply content myself
with submitting to your decision without any fur
Their remark, satisfied as | am that whatever of
odium there Is In the matter, attaches to my perse-
cut0rs and not to me.
Recorder (also considerably affected You are
indicted under the 5,h section of the statute against
leaves the State for the purpose of evading this
statute, or for the purpose of giving or receiving
challenge, he shall be liable to all the penalties
connected with the same. as though the offence
was committed IN the State OF New York. To that
indictment you have thought proper to plead guilty.
and 1t now becomes the duty of the Court to pass
upon you the sentence of the law. The statute 10
which allude to be sure is somewhat of an ano-
ma'y IL makes 1t peremptory on the Court to punish
an Individual Tor an intent conceived here, which
leads to the commission of an overt act in another
state Sotarit forms an exception to all other statutes
by providing that individual shall be punished for
mere intent Again, in another point of view il
presents an anomaly; for whilst we in this State
punish the individual committing the offence for
the simple intent, the State OF Maryland the law of
which declares duelling 10 be felony, can punish
the otfenderfor the commission of the act itself So
that In this case person can be twice punished for
one ana the same offence In relation to the law
10 pass any comments Ii is found upon our Statute
Books. and such the Court is bound to endeavor
to enforce implicit obedience to it, and to punish
every violation thereof. 1t was passed by both
branches of the Legislature of our State, after ma
ture elaboration, and had its origin In that good
sense, sound discretion, humanity, and regard for
the Well-being OF society, which determined once
tor all to put stop to those offences that have so
frequently carried mourning death, and deselation
into the bosoms of some Of he best families in the
land. II IS equally true that this is the first offence
ncfs L.-L A
the csurt for punishment but it shows at the same
line that there is deep moral in the cOmmu
nifty determined 10 sustain and enforce the penalties
ofth statute, land TO punish all those who may violate
lsprovlsons 1t Is not the duty is it the desire Of
tn Court to make any comments on the conduct OF
the Grand Jury, who found the Indictment they
performed, doubtless, what they de.ne to be their
daa'y and are a"nenable only to a higher tribunal.
any remarks personally to yourself on this subject
as much out OF respect to your feelings as to spare
themselves unne cessary pain and they, therefore,
content themselves with announcing to YOU their
decision The punishment provided for this of.
fence, and alude TO it particularly, as there has
been some misunderstanding out OF doors in rela-
ton to 1t; the extent to which the Court can SEN
for offence of this nature is limited to seven
wears; at the same time, the Court cannot sentence
for less term than two years. The sentence of the
Court, therefore, is, that you. James Watson Webb
be imprisoned in the State Prison, at Sing Sing for
the term oil Two Years
Here Col. Webb's face broke out into comcal
sort Of smile. He bowed to the Court, turned round
got his crutches, and hobbled cut of court back to
his cell, paror we hardly know which to call it,
There was good deal of excitement on the sub
ject, and much conversation but the remark of
most common occurrence was, :" / say, won't it be
queer go, though. if the Governor shouldn't pardon
hunt / wonder what trade they'd put him to in
Sing-Sing %
The OTHER SIDE-CELEsrE AND EIIlorT-A cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Express, denies that