New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-31
The Execution Of Professor John W.Webster
Mt Boston, for the Murder Of DIR. George
Parhmnn, November 23C, 1919.

BY 7eltgrapA TO The Tribune
BosToS, Friday, August so
Professor Webster ha: this morning paid the
last oebt Of Eature, and the Law is now satisfied.
Yesterday afternoon bis sniabe wife and three
intelligent daughters visited him in his cell. They
were with him the usual time, from two until about
hslfpsst six O'Clock. They appeared the same as
usual Singular "a it may appear, We were as
sured by the officers Of the prison that they parted
v ith that husband and father ignorant Of the fact
thst they would never see him again alive! We
saw them as they passed out OF the prison aud we
are Is fully satisfied that guch was the case, az We
are of any thing within the compass Of hOman judg
ment Immediately after they LEFT, guard was
placed in biz cell, and continued With him until
this morning.
Professor w ebster wac notified some days since
by DR.. Putnam that it was customary in such eases
to place guard over the prisoner the night before
execution Re made no objection, bu. asked as
favor, if they did DO 10 that he nigh. have the
privilege Of selecting Mr. j. G. Leighton, clerk OF
The jail add Constable Edward J Jones, TIE officer
4 no had charge Of him during bic trial. This re-.
quest was granted, and last night Immediately
alter bis family parted with him In his cell ths
above named officers entered upon the duty named,
ana renamed Win uill uhku morning. ne
perfectly free IN conversation, combining himself
" holly 10 morel and religious subjects. He read
the Bible and other bOoks with great degree of
esrneBtnefs and sincerity. he c9nversed Gnd read
until 10 O'Clock, when be laid down upon his cot,
spread upon en- iron bedstehd, and slept until hall
Psst four this morning, apparently as sound and
res,fsl az under ordinary circumstances De a.
cured Mr.. Leis hton thai his family parted with him
last evening st half past six entirely ignorant that
he r0S so soon 10 suffer death HsiTequen.y spoke
Of his family and seemed to DO quite happy 10
know that they were all isiously inclined. He
briefly spoke Of his execution and repeated the
passages Of Scripture, IL il be possible let Ehs
cup pass from ne, YET, not my viii bat Thine, D
Lord, DC done"
On ,rousipg from hi, plumbers, he engaged in
devotional exercises b. prayer and reading Of the
Scriptures He was "a calm as the sunny and al
most bfeezeless morning.
AS early az 81, Mir. Luther Dunbar, with posse
Of fome six or eight meD began the work Of erect
ing the Eoafoh. ItwAs located between the two
prisons, near the center OF the yard. twas the
sane instrument upon which W ashingtOn Goode
the coored man was executed IN May 1919. IL
was then new and consists Of platform OF about
fifteen feet Iqsare, raised h;ile higher than ones
head, ard single beam over IL a. much higher.
In the center OF the platform WAS trap door, sur
rounded vita a raised jOist frame. A rope wss
run through two holes In the beam and fastened on
the peat The moose was Suspended over toe trap,
which was so adjusted that the executoner might
l.. il fall by simply placing bis foot upon spring
fixed in the floor immediately In 'front.' OF the victim
AT "a O'Clock the machine Of death vas fully com.
pleted and in that direction the deathly notes Of
preparation ceased.
The scenes around the jail, upon the tops Of pri.
vate dwelling were mOst revolving. From the
windows and tops OF about thirty houses on Low
ell CsussW1y and Leveretg ats the hc-rid npecta-
Gle WAS witnessed by men. women and children.
On the top OF h0use No Lovell-st. planks
were arranged to accommodate about 100 persons.
The windows Of al the other houses north, exoep,
Sir. Andrews, the jaior, Mr.. Lovej1y's, and. two
Others, were filed principally with ssmen.
The follow ing il from the Bee Eztro 80 We no
decd that the top of DIR Noah Wyetns hoase, 81
Levere,t o., was lined By men and some few wo-