The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-10
Tvhe Hearing OF the Case OF Professor Web
ster, for Pardon, for the Murder of Doe
tor George Parkman.

tor George Parkman.
prom the Boston Traveller July 81
The Council Committee on Pardons met In the
Chamber Of the Council At eleven O'Clock this mora
ing all the members being present The Rev Charios
Spear opened the hearing by presenting the following
petitions for clemency Professor Webster He stated
that they were all fr IN other States, having been
ceived by Mrs Webster, aud by her given up To her
counsel-The Rev b. NJ. Tillo son and ~ Others, OF
Manchester, N. IL j. b. Flsnders and lS6 Others and
8. Barlow and $50 others, OF Frankln county, n. "
VIM. A. Ford and 9Si others, OF New York cityi j.
faber and SO others, Of Lenawha county, Michigan
These petitions, he said, somewhat unusual but
he hoped the Committed would given them whatever
weight they entitled to lie urged that the stus
ton OF the family was one ground for Communication
In regard to crime, he said the greatest suffering is
at home, in the family circle rather than in the cell
of the criminal He hoped this tribunal would
good reason to commute the punishment His own
opinion, and the opinion Of many OF the members of
the bar against In tho act that the
motive was not sufficient The petition from New
York he said, contained the names of ex.Chancelor
Kent and the Harpers lie also spoke of the eloquent
plea Of Dr. Putnam for the condemned man, OF one
heretofore not acting with those in of aboshag
capital punishment MIR. S. then proceeded to state
some OF the reasons which had occurred to him In
favor OF Communication, Keeping out OF view en-
tirely the great question OF the death penalty, OF
which he is known TO be zealous and active oppo-
nent. lie alluded to the condition of the prisoners
family 1t often found that the greatest su ring
In such cases experienced in the family circle
rather than in the prisoners ceand in this case IL
most emphatically He thought the confession,
at this late hour had great force and virtue in
and although the homicide in question had hardly its
oeedEg 1t, and that was,n England very similar in
respect to the mulation of the body-yet it the
members Of the Boston bar together with the 1900 p
titioners that the fate2 deed not premiditat,d
one He knew personally that Prof WebsteI's family,
previous t. his confession, all pc werfuy Impress
ed with his entire innocence urged that their ex
PLANTATION Of the original petition for pardon, she nd
have the fullest weight. He thought the unusual chs
raoter of the petitions frsm a-beng from per-
disinterested and unaffected prejuiice-shoud
have weight; and especially that from Michigan,
where the experiment Of the obction of the death
penalty had now had four years trial. with the best
effect, although 1t the only State in the Union
ly, he believed there was more fer tho exercise
Of mercy than before the confession and he ardenty
hoped the Council would show this by their dnsl
tion In the Rev John NJ Spear then stated that
the question having arisen regard to the hod Of
killing. and the result Of such blow that stated in
the confession several gentlemen desired speak
DR.. Edward Jarvis, of Dorchester, quoted several
Of death from blows on the head, &c. Among
Others that Of child who fell from chair, and died
from casson Of the brain. little girl playing
with others in room caught her foot in the carpet
suthortieS several sudden deaths from Of
the brain, where the party became insensibe, aud a
fatal result speedily ensued Another English surgeon
said that the conclusion be very severe all sense
and motion IL immediately abolished and death fol-
lows. DR.. J. made the following statements ABOUT
eight days before his death Dr. Parkman called to see
him in Dor chester and few days after Dr. Jarvis saw
his CDR Pa nephew Mr.. Sa nuel Parkmau, who AK
ed him IL he saw any thing strange when he replied
something the matter with DR. Parkman that he was
again insane He further stated to illustrate the vo
lence Of Webster's passion that letter had been
lately received by Dr. John Homans from DR. william
Perry relating an occurrence between DIR. Webster
and DIR. Romans, at DR.. Homanss Office. 1t appears
that DR.. Webster and DIR. Romans began to play at
knocking of hats finally they got angry, aud Web
ster struck at Homanss head they thon closed, and
Webster was thrown. Webster sprsng up, seized =
largo walking stick and raised it to strike blow at
Homans, when the writer, Dr. Perry, interfered and
arrested the blow. DR. Perry Judged that If Dr. Web
hah eaAdad in nfnrW int tim
might have caused instant death. The next day,
though there Was slight drawing down OF tho eyes,
He also stated n somewhat similar the violent
passions OF DIR. Webster, which occurred
DR.. Blatchford in joking way remarked Did you
ever . barber shave monkey" DIR. Webster In
great anger seized knife aud attempted to stab DR..
BlAtchford Il. but WAS prevented.
DR. Flint followed on the question whether instant
death would follow as consequences Of conclusion Of
the brain and quoted Taylors Medical Jurisprudsncs
10 show that death may follow from slight blow
DR. Charles N winship OF Roxbury stated the case
az Mr.. Goddard, son of Mr.. Nathaniel Goddard, Who
while driving at rapid rate, was thrown from his
chaise, and struck upon his head near the temple
causing instant death. He hardly gasped after the
accident. His skull not fractured.
The Rev Jsmes Richards related case OF death
where he was mqmper Of The corqners jury, mine or
ten years since. Two mex were In store drinking,
when account Of exciting word uttered BY one,
tho other struck him. The first then seized 4 rails
close at hand 16 inches In length a inches wide aud
not u inch thick, aud struck HIS opponent single
blow on the side of the head The man struck
round muttered something, and went towards the
door rs the bystanders thought, to get weapon
Ne went about ten steps from the door when he fell
dead. His skull was examined aud fracture found;
but the other side OF the head from the blow
found quantity Of extravasted blood and the pres
sure Of this blood upon the brain caused death. A
physician called said that II the head a, this place
had been Immediately tapped, life might have been
saved. It was not three minutes Alter the blow was
given that he vas dead.
DR. Jeffres wyman said that be appeared ct the re-
oucst DR. Webster friends to Atam
In regard TO opinion Of the thickness Of DR.. Park
mans skull, 10 must be taken With some allowance,
In consequeno Of its having been subjected to the
sston OF rre. lie thought that DE-. PsrkmAn's skull
vas a little below the average thickness. lie ass
stated that the age m after for consideration
person Of sixty years of age would Be likely to
have his skull hac,ured by given blow than per
at the middle period Of life Occasionally the
skulls of persons Of advanced ages become thin. Ito
had one thin In certain parts ~ be no thicker
than carte, p.per, and capable Of beias pushed
indications Of any such state Of things In the skull Of
DIR. Psrkmsn. lie was Of opinion that tbs wound In
the side was not formed By blow from knife from
the outside account OF Of the wound
IL might have boon possibly done In the act Of dis
mem bermcnt from the inside outvards In answer
to question Of DR. Bell, he replied that he should
think that the wound could not have been made from
the inside by kniie nins inches long.
Dir Wyman alluded 10 the case Of young child Who,
while going to school killed BY blow In tho head
from switch, dying almost instantly.
OF DIT Webster. The Rev Mr. Spear remarked, that In
consequence OF the pendng writ Of error and the
feesios hut little had boon done In the way Of p.tions
for mercy In Massachusetts,.
TIE Lieutenant Governor replied that very large
number Of petitions In his favor bad been received
from all quarters
The Rev Mr. Spear ssked for . months delay, In
order 10 give time for the community to In the
matter
The Lieutenant Governor thought thst such length
Of time could not be granted as vss necessary TO
settle the matter one way or another forthwith.
Lieut.. Gov Reed said he had received letter from
Prof webster In relation to newspaper statement
the dow Of water In the sink In which the
body he states was dismembsred. Mr. Reed said that
the matter In question not ON sally before the
committee The letter vas read by DR. Bell aud then
handed tie reporters sttheir request for pub
csiion. We give 10 below
Bosro,, July O. 1860
Ho~. your REsp, CHsIpasv rux Coxxfrrsn PAR- |
po-s or rHs HosoRapLE CousoiL:
The subscriber having read statement In the news |
this date that there IL pipe conveying the
water to the place In the Medical College
vhcre 10 allowed to now the parts Of tho b.
" OF DR. Parkman and desires thst all the facts should
y known begs leave respectfully to present the fol-
owing.
a.. Il n foo ~