Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-23


s.s,,,.i t. -. u.a,, ran,i6ie', =. ..'tah
m 49, .n.s e.m....,u .i.." ~ proceedings "a i.'i'
ne, n fore lie 'teIs snStvaaS' "
:. a., ~, @ ln to make application 10 the Supreme
Co.. ~ ,r At nor t. issued in hi1 case, on accoun;
Of oe:tnn ALLEGED Irregularities when h9u "e
n ia. csir.c al III. noc6l dn@ !ilnst fi a dfic"-
ion WAS head i.ciore the inii court and oVerfn,d.
In IN. opinion III The c"df: nl"a '!e al'lioa'o,' Io
nanncel by he Chief Justice ali The rpcccdns' IN tie ca
nrc dsr Il, 10 acco:ra. established Judicial orIs AMI
The ,las .i the Cu'unGn"ci!tii , -.
On go, m, II June and before the question on the writ 81
cr,nr i a h,n settled Dy the coa The Rcv Dr iainan
,r il ,snner hei permitted 10 withdraw the peii-
lion which had been presented 10 the Governor ana Counc
Tar f,r consideration. This request was computed win
by Ihe Governor and Council and the petition III day or
,wo was handed Ia Dr.. Putnam 49,, !.
On ihc first day Of July DR.. Putnam placed IN the hands OF
the another petition signed b' e isoef' aSA"s
for communication OF hs sentence ,
On lin, second ay of July this petition referred 10 the
Committee on Pardors, and the same day " futraa
,nnca, ct,rc them and made statement which he said
was authorized by the prisoner, in which me prisoner ad
i,tcd ,a, hc killed D Parknan al the time and place
charged against MN, hht acfiea 'ha' NV Nv "' fS
He narrated what the prisoner declared 10 be the man
ncr Of killing and described infinitely tie mode ana process
in which the body al Dr. Parklan was disposed u 'c
death
The prisoner alleges tina, the single blow win stick Of
wood two feet long and inches thick, by which Dr.
parkInan killed, given by him IN insinen wlen
she was excited tu the highest degree Of PASSION and While
DR. Palknan was speaking and gcscuatng III mos; VIC
lent and ncnacng manner hrustin the letter ana his list
IN his that in his fury he seized whatever tns was
hances and that stick ol wood and dealt 10 nm an
blow with all the force that passion could
1--WE and that hc did not know think, nor care where
he should hit him. how hard nor what the ELECT would
pon this statement upon The other facts proved upon
The trial Dr Putnam addressed the Committee nj length in
All able and impressive argument in favor Of committing The
sentence the Court. petition from the family OF the
prisoner before the Committee, and large number al
other petitions 4 full pardon and others for
mutation in the hands Of the Committee.
fl..n ~ ran
in States and generally placed their petition ior re-
mitigation Of The sentence on The ground OF The
great doubts Of the prisoners guilt The Committee gave
three hearings alter the meeting nj wiich ~ fna 40
dressed listened those who desired L. Ge heard
in aid The prisoners petition and III support 81 r Put
MANS views.
The Committee pIrdons, consisting 81 the Lieut. Gov
orno other Councillors, after FULL careful and pa
tient hearing of all could bc offered by the friends 81
The prisoner an, be others who pleased 10 BE- heard in
his behalf IT. the unanimous opinion that there were
sufficient reasons 10 justify them III recommending lc
ine.pnsition Of executive clcncncy.
They recommended that the Governor be advised 10 have
the the law pronounced by the court carried into
,lrcr On the ,Jh day III Angus, ncNi.
The Council with bat exception CONQUERED with The
report Committee and advised the Governor Ia carry
o, the sentence Of the Court recommended By them
In caei:y and anXious!y examining and considering Tie
case Do feel authorised by considerations winch
have presented ony mind TO set aside The deliberate
verdict o the Jury arrest the solemn decree oi n' iw rs
~ npunc.d by the highest Judicial tribunal al tic Cont
onwcal and di-rcgarcd the opinion and advice OF the
Council.
II me circumstances Of the killing stated by the pris
oner are taken true may be well questioned whether
the Executive Council could interfere wiih ia" sentence with
nui violating The settled lax Of the land.
In hi car!: the Iry in this case the Chic! Justice
s;.vs: Il" is 4 settled rule that NJ pr"rocaon with words
only will Justify mortal blow. Then il upon provoking Ian
nuaat III party Intentionally eseng" himself with NOR
L., lnw, i: j. umircs onally Murder.
The only brought I" light y I" the killns de-
penls upon the word lie prisoner II will hardly b. IRE
i.;, hy any one ,a, ii" declaration ol pers,a Under
sentence death should he permitted 10 outweigh the do
ines Of the Cour; and Jury and Ifscac han i'"n the cof
adj IA ~ I,lln their
!; cand.ly stated BY Dr. Putnam IN ms able argument
aud by several The petitions presented in favor Of conu-
taon received since his confession that standing aS he docs
the word e" the prisoner i entitled t. no cf,'tit
II the circumstances disclosed on The trial are relied on To
support hs statement the reply IS that those circumstances
in his favor before the Jury and they have dri-
10. against him The facts If this app !ng are before
t world hcv will hereafter fill Of c ,looniest pages
in the record !: crime amongst civilized men.
II j. nm sl,:ei that the I'D day IT November lcl9,
John White Webster professor in Harvard University aud
il me Medical College in Boston, did At midday, in hi room
i, i,r co!.cgc within feet o the place where lie Il nils
stood ana delivered scientific lcc!es I" iafge class 81
yan. men v't! anawu! violence take The life pr George
parSna. i respectable citizen If Boston who had come
i, la tin repeated request oil The prisoner
That after taking his lie lie "iscealrd and in manner
most shocking humanity mni!iatcd the body Of is We
Tim burning pat of in furnace and ceposiing other
carts of i, different places in the bIIh!inS. WHERE they
we're found ~ persons who were seeking after Dr. Park
That after hl!n him lie robbed Lis liclcss creditor by
lin. iI.m hin. cf hand signed - himself t.
Ahi, IL had ri,!, nni committed sill ahoii"i crne by
rnthag .a. marks u,o the notes and that lury - hs
cr.y rpanncird arcor!- !" law, under tn direction
.. ou ~ The judge constituting tn Supreme
io g: Massachusetts, alter l1rs patient ana impartial
rial AM hearing in hi defence the Arguments ~ ham
81 and eloquent counsel upon Their oats f'and ii; guilty
oi murder.
,,acc Of !.ah. Ia srch there should he obror ami
conc,a !sc reasons adlho.2J The paTd1nns Pawt t. IN
t.po-- ard The sword ~ J~t!c" II" a"i set les
reasons
me combined circumstances Of the force 10 ih
- ,ial