Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-07-18
der the usual and actual administration of
the law in Massachusetts.

am enabled to present from DR. Web
ster's own lips a statement of the facts
connected with the homocide. The cred
ibility and value of this statement must
depend partly on the date Of it, and the
circumstances under which it was made.
Before reading it, therefore, will relate
those circumstances to the committee.
My acquaintance with DR. Webster be-
fore his trial had been Of the slightest and
most casual kind. Soon after his sentenced
received from him a request, that would
visit him as clergyman, during his i'm
prisonment. 1t was service not TO be
declined.
had followed the reports Of the trial,
and acquiesced in the verdict as a righte-
Gus one, and had no thought but that the
sentence was to be, md ought to he carri-
ed into execution. did not make it my
object TO draw confes sion from him ear
ly, or to lead him to commit himself one
way or the other, on the question Of his
guilt or innocence. l carefully avoided
every remark and inquiry that might tempt
him to make any false declaration. He
seemed 10 understand me, and neither de-
MED or declared his guilt. Iexpected he
would finally be induced TO communicate
to me whatever he knew about the disap-
pearance of DR. Parkman, and about the
remains found at the college. But was
in no hurry about this. l thought should
be more likely to obtain from him the ex-
act truth, by waiting till a favorable time.
Accordingly it was my object for the first
weeks to become acquainted with him, to
win his confidence aud attachment, by at
tention and sympathy, and to endeavor 10
make those impressions of moral and
religious nature, which were suited to his
situation as a more or less sinful and GER
tainly dying man. As time passed, l
seemed to myself TO have succeeded in
these objects, almost beyond my hopes.
At length, on the 23d of May, had
made up my mind to address him in a
wholly new strain, and to demand of him
full statement Of facts. l then believed
myself to be on such terms with him, that
l could abruptly and authoritatively de-
mand his confidence. l did SO, and l was
not disappointed in the result. On enter
ing his cell that day, l told him that | was
going TO broach new and important SUBJ
ject to him, and he must listen to me Sc
riously, and not reply till | had done. /
then said to him, that he must have felt all
along that there was one barrier 10 our
free communication; one point OH which
We did not understand one another that
the embarrassment which attended the
avoiding of that point obviously went far
10 defea, the satisfaction and profit to him
self which ought to result from our inter-
views. said that he must certainly have
some knowledge respecting The iaIe OF Dr.
Parkman, which had not, and that the
unshared secret must be to him an op-
pressive and intolerable burden that the
time had come when he ought TO share il
with some one, and under the circum-
stances with me !; that | had scrupulously
foreborne hitherto TO press him Oh this
point, and urged it now only because
believed it would be for his relief and
peace of mind that | thought he must fee
by thi, time that he owed me the truth
and tha: he could trust me that he neet
not fear TO tell me the whole truth, for
was not there 10 reproach him, nor to
Judge him, but TO comfort him in his dis
tress, and 10 help him in making peace
with God and his conscience, and to as
sist him, if might, to live while he lived
and die when he should die, with the hu.
mility Of a sinner, and the tirmness of 4
man, and trusted, the hope of a Chris.
tan that in order TO my being Of any rea
service TO him, there must be truth ant
true relations between us. l cautioned
him not to answer me hastily, not to speak
till he was prepared to tell the whole ant
absolute truth-that | would endeavor tc
put favorable construction upon his 81.
lence that | was in no hurry, and thai
lie might take day or two more TO con-
slider whether my advice TO him to make
full disclosure was not reasonable anc
good.
spoke to him some time in strail
which have thus indicated. He seemed
to me much affected by what | said ant
when paused, he said Immediately, 81
am ready to tell you all. II will be IA re-
lief to me. He then proceeded TO relate
the facts which have since embodied II
the statement now 10 be presented, and pu
to him great number of questions, all o
which he answered promptly, and wit,
every appearance it seemed TO me of al
honest purposeto tell the truth. Some ol
the minor facts and explanations were
given by him on subsequent day, but
the outline of the whole narrative, and the
more important details were given at the
interview of May 23d.
1t is important 10 observe that at 'ha,
date the writ Of error was pending, and
also that DR. Webster's petition for full
pardon, with strong declarations of entire
innocence. was in the hands Of the Gov.
ernor. Ii the writ should fail, he consid-
cred every thing as staked upon that Pc
tition, the declarations il contained and the
documen, and aiiilavits lie believed ouil
be obtained for its support. His imme.
diate family firmly and sincerely believ-
} ing him entirely innocent, were engaged
in seeking facts and papers TO sustain his
petition. am confident that at that time
he had not the remotest idea Of approach
ing the executive in any other way thar
according to the tenor Of tha, petition, moi
} began to contemplate the question, wheth
} er communication would be practicable ol
even a desirable alternative. His whole