Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-07-11
nearing I'm the Case OF John w.
Wehster.

Webster.
Ihs Council c. mniltee on Pardons met
IN The Chamber Of the Council a, eleven
, o'clock, this morning. all The members te.
ing Pres"nt. The Rev. Char'es Spear
opened The hearing by Iresen ing the fol-
lowing petitions for ccmrncy to Professor
Webster. He stated ,ha, they were all
from other States, having been lecei, ed by
Mrs. Webst 7, and by her given up 10 her
Coupsel The Rev. B M. I'll lo,son and
27l others, Of Manchester, N. II. J. b.
FLINDERS and 1856 others, and S Barlow
and 200 others, Of Ffankln county, n. Y; !;
Wm. A. Ford ard 9Si others. of New
York city }. Taber, and SO others. of Le-
nawa county Michigan. These petitions,
nc said, were soInewhat unusual, hut he
hoped the Committee would give them
whatever weigh, they were entitled 10. -
lie urged that the situation Of the family
WAS one ground for Communication.
In regard to cline, he said, the greatest
suffering is at home, in the family circle,
rather than ia the cell of the criminal. He
|, hoped this tribunal " ould see good reason
10 commute the punishment. His own
opinion and the opinion of many of the
members ol the bar was against premediia-
tion in the act that the motive was not
sufficient.
The petition from New York, he said,
contained the names of Ex-C Chancellor Kent
and the lIarpers. He also spoke of the el-
oquent plea of DR.. Putnam f,r the condemn
ed man, as of one heretofore not acting
with those in favor of abolishlng capital
punishment.
Rev. John M. Spear then stated that the
question having arisen in regard 10 the
method Of killing and the result OF such
blow as that stalled in the confession, seve-
raj gentlemen desired to speak upon the
subject.
DR.. Edward Jarvis, of Dorchester, ono
ted several cases Of death from blows in the
head, &c. Among others, that Of child
who fell from chair, AMI died from con-
cussion ,f the brain. A little girl playing
with others in room, caught her. foot in
the carpet, fell and died in five minutes.
He quoted from English authorities sew
eral sudden deaths from concussion Of the
brain, where the party became inscnsible,
and fatal result speedily ensucd. Ano,h-
er E iglsh Surgeon, said, that if the Con
csssion be very severe all sense and mo-
tion is Immediately abolished aud death fol-
lows.
DR.. Jarvis made the following statements
About eight days before his death, DR..
Parkman called to see him in Dorchester,
and few days after DR.. jarvis saw his
(Dr. P.'s) nephew, Mr.. Samuel Parknan,
who asked him if he saw anything strange,
when he replied no. lie tn IN srid that the
family thought there was something the
matter with DR.. Parkman tha, he was
again insane.
DR.. Jarvis further stated to Illustrate the
violence Of Webster's passion, that letter
had been lately received by DR." John Ho
mans from DR.. WIN. Perry, relating an oc-
currence between DR.. Webster and Dr. Ho-
mans at DR. Humans office. 1t appears
that DR.. Webster and DR.. Honans began
to play at Knocking Oft hats finally they
got angry and Webster struch at Iomans'
head they then closed, and Webster was
thrown. Webster sprung up, seized
large walking stick, and raised i, to strike
blow at Ii, mans, when the writer. Doc,.
Perry, interfered aud arrested the blow
DR.. Perry judged that if DR.. Webster had
succeeded in his momcniary intention, it
might have caused instant death. The next
day, though there was a slight drawing
down Of the eyes, both parties were much
as usual tow ward each other.
DR.. Jarvis also stated somewhat similar
case to the violent monetary passions Of
DR.. Webster, which occurred in London
DR.. Webster was at a shop shaving when
DR.. Bl.tchford in joking wsy remarked
-"Did you ever see barber shave a mon
key" DR.. Webster in great anger seized
knife and attempted TO stab DR.. Bla,ch-
ford, but was prevented.
DR.. Flint foIowe on the question whelh-
er instant death would follow as a copse-
quence Of conclusion Of the brain, and quo
ted Taylors Medical Jurisprudence 10 show
that death may follow from even slight
blow on the head.
DR.. Charles N. Winship, Of Roxbury,
stated the case Of Mr.. Goddard, son Of Mr..
Nathaniel Goddard, who, while driving a,
rapid rate, was thrown from his chaise,
ind struck upon his head near the temple,
causing instant death. He hardly gasped
after the accident. His skull was not frac-
tured.
The Rev. James Richards related a case
of death where he was member of the
Coroner's Jury, nine or ten years since
Two men were in a store drinking, when
on accoun, Of some exciting word uttered
by one. the ether struck him. The 6rst