The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-04-11
TELECRAPHIC DISPATCHES.
IL VERDICT OF THE JURY.
WEBSTER FOUNDGUILTY

w LOSC i LIN EOCANAS0A
Bosrox 29.h ul,.
The summing up Of M. Merck for defence wa'
very able, and occupied from six to seven hours
in ii. delivery. Towards the close the Judges
seemed deeply affected and the prisoner listened
with rapt attention.
The government, he says, has not produced
particle Of direct testimony, or one particle OF
evidence but circumstantial, to show that DR..
Parkman is not alive, or that the remains were
those Of DR.. P. It may turn out that he had no
agency in putting them there. He mentioned
the strong evidence that Dr. P. had been seen on
the afternoon Of the 23d. They had other wit
nesses to swear to the same thing, and unless the
testimony could be broken down, the govern
ment have nothing TO rest upon.
He then examined the evidence produced By
government, stating that he did It with simple
desire to obtain the truth. He was severe in his
remarks in reference to Mr.. Littlefield. The
evidence in regard 10 the teeth, he deemed far
from satisfactory. The medical evidence with
regard to death BY violence, disagreed. His ex-
PLANTATION with regard to the payment ofthe mon
ey BY DR.. w, was rather poor one.
Mr.. Clifford, counsel Tor the Commonwealth,
closed his eloquent argument ct five o'clock, and
Chief Justice Shaw remarked to the prisoner, that
il be had anything more 10 say to the jury before
he charged them upon the features ofthe case, he
had liberty to say it.
The prisoner arose and addressed the jury in a
few words. He commenced in rather confused
manner, without addressing directly either The
bench or the jury.
He spoke rather ironically Of his counsel, and
censured them for not bringing up all the proof Of
his innocence, that he had placed 10 their hands
He said, my counsel have urged me to keep
calm, and my very calmness has been made TO
bear against me, but my trust has been in my God
and my own innocence.
In regard to the money, must say word.-
The money Ipaid Dr. Parkman on the afternoon
Of Friday the 23d Of November, had saved from
time 10 time, and kept il in trunk at my house
in Cambridge, but unfortunately no one ever saw
me take il out
In regard 10 the s.Civis" letter, call my God
10 witness thar il it were the last hour Of my life,
believe that he never wrote that letter.
Since the trial commenced letter has been re-
reived from this very Civil. by one ofmy counsel;
il this person has any spark Of humanity, call
upon him 10 come forward-a notice 10 this ef-
feet has been put in the papers. Professor w.
having said this sat down. A deep impression
SO. ~ al. an fha Ir,, Con.t .nd .n..,,ta,s ~,
he solemn earnestness exhibited. Chief Justice
Shaw then rose TO deliver his charge in the case
o the Jury, remarking that he had thought proper
10 continue the proceedings as far as 10 deliver
his charge in the case 10 them, because the nature
Of the principles involved in the proceeding were
such as would not require their attention any
LONGER in the court assembled, and in about 5
minutes Prof Webster came in, in charge Of the
and took his seat ia the Dock. His
appearance was unchanged except serious de-
lection which was apparent in the contraction Of
muscles about the mouth. The clerk Of The Jury
came in, FIVE minutes after. The CLERK Of the
Court then said, addressing the Jury, 'sMr. Fore
man, have you agreed upon yourveTdict!" Mr.
Byron, the Foreman, bowel assent The Clerk
hen said-"John w. Webster, hold up your RICH,
land.n The prisoner rose and looked steadily
md inten,y upon the Foreman ofthe Jsry. The
Clerk said, "Mr. Foreman, look upon The prison.
er Prisoner, look upon the Jury Prof w.
still maintained his fixed and intense look upon
The Jury do you say Mr.. Fore,nan1 Is
he prisoner at the bar gailty or not guilty ~
sGuILrY." was the solemn response. The hand
81 the prisoner, which had hitherto been held
erect, fell 10 The bar in front of him, with dead
sound, as il he had lost all muscular action, and
ais head dropped upon his breast his limbs SEEM
ing TO give evidence of falling; he then closed his
eyes, and bowed his head down, aud an awful
IN unbroken silence ensued, during which, the
court, jury and spectators seemed TO be absorbed
in their own reflections. Chief Justice Shaw
broke the awful silence and suspense by dismiss
ling the Jury in manner full OF emotion. Soon
llter, the order was given that the prisoner bere-
moved.
Boston, April LIST.
The family were not informed OF the verdict
The night tibet it was rendered. The awful dis
closure was made 10 them on Sunday morning by
Mr.. VIM. II. Prescott. Tkescene was most heart
rending; the walls and shrieks coal.l not be con-
:ealed from the passers by. Judge Fay conceded
hat DR.. w. was guilty man, after hearing his
speech on Saturday evening. Prof W. was
brought into court this morning, at Q O'Clock, TO
'eceive his sentence. lie looked gloomy in the
but collected. The Court Room was
crowded, and at ten o'clock, the court came in
Atty. Gen. Clifford, narrated the facts of The IN
aictment, trial and verdict, and moved the court
hat the final sentence be pronounced. The
pri soner arose. He was asked by the Clerk what
he had TO say why sentence Of death should not
be pronounced against him. The prisoner bowed
lId took his seat. Chiefjustice Shaw, then ad.
dressed him. In conclusion the Judge said, sand
now nothing remains but the solemn duty Of pro-
nouncing the sentence which the law fixes Tor the
crime Of murder; for Of such you stand convicted;
" hich sentence is that yon John w W.hasar