Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-04-04
Sentence of Prof. Webster,

MURDER OF DIR. GEO. PARKMAN,
At the Medical College in Grove Street, Bos-
ton, Nou. %, lS49.
On Monday morning, DR.. Webster was
brought before the supreme judicial court for
sentence, all the judges being on the bench,
viz: Chief Justice Shaw, and associate
Judges Wilde, Dewey, MetcaIf, and Fletcher.
Alter some remarks by the attorney gem
eral, George c. Wilde, Esq, the clerk arose.
and addressed the prisoner" John w.
Webster, have you any thing to show why
sentence Of death should not be passed upon
you p
The prisoner rose slowly, and placing his
hand upon the rail, looked moment at the
clerk, bowed. and resumed is seat.
The Chief Justice then arose, and in q
tone of profound solemuity, proc eeded to
pass upon the unhappy man the following
sentence
THAT you. John w. Webster, be remov.
ed from this place. and detained IN close
custody in the prison of this county, and
lherce taken, at such time as the executive
government of this common wealth may by
their warrant appoint, TO the place of execu-
ton, and there be hung by the neck until
you are dead.
And may God, of his infinite goodness,
have mercy on your SOUL"
The sentence was accompanied by prefa-
tory remarks Of an unusually solemn and
impressive character.
The prisoner now sank back upon his
seat and after rubbing his eyes and forehead
10 most singular manner, gave way to
few tears.
Up to that moment he appeared to be in
confirmed stupor. There was not a ray Of
intelligence in his eyes or coun,enance.
The chief justice, after the lapse of
| few minutes, said" MIR. Sheriff. the prison.
er is in your custody" The sheriff then, by
request of the court, desired the audience to
reIire from the court-room, and 10 Withdraw
| from the court house and avenues around it
as quietly us possible. The court was now
adjourned till Tuesday, and The prisoner was
remanded.
The Post has the following in regard TO
Prof Webster, his trial, &c.,
| II has been satisfactorily ascertained that
he did take a small porlIon of very active
poison at the time the charge OF murder was
announced TO him in jail. His reflections
upon his counsel in court on Saturday show
ed how utterly incapable he was OF compre-
hendIng the exigencies of his case The
evidence which he wished them to produce
would not only have strengthened his de-
4 hut
corroborated testimony for The prosecution.
Thai his counsel did Tor him all that the ex-
! lraordnary circumstances admitted Of is
conceded by all vino. witnessed the uial
throughout. Tney had not one fact to rest
on, beyond his standing ia society, general
character for The observance of the duties OF
social life, and his uncoucerned demeanor
during the week OF the search for Dr. Park
man. let under this palciry Of evidence
Tor the deence, Mr.. MerrIck argued about
seven hours, with a degree of force and IN
gcnuuy which completely surprised all who
understood the real difficulties OF the case
HIS attacks on The evidence were well con-
cereG aud vigorously urged, and the in
senlous Interences he suggested were most
| elaborately aud at the same time most splr-
Iledly argued. MIR. Clifford, the attorney,
general, lahored under difficulty of very
different character. HIS facts were SO nlI-
mer0us, and 50 many of them were So near
" OF equal weight and significance, that it
was scarcely po>si lie 10 decide to which
precedence should be given in The order Of
arrangement, or which should be presented
Us OF +. edo mating force.
The charge Of Chief Justice Shaw has
been remarked upon rs strongly against the
prisoner, and II was So from lie very nature
OF the case. II was Impossible 10 arrange
the uuconirOverted tacIs IN any manner. aud
Suggest the .egai and natural inferences
winch followed from them, without, MS they
say III court, making out u case
The JudIcI0us manner III whsch the Jury
proceeded 10 consider the case after II was
committed to them, was calculated 10 inspire
perfect confidence IN The decision at winch
they arrived.
DR.. Webster's family were not prepared
Tor the result, which was not known 10 them
until near noon on Sunday. The dreadful
tIdlngs were communicated 10 them by Airs
William Prescott, Mrs. Web.ier's aunt
They were over whelmed by the shock, and
leart-rendlng were the shIieks aud groans
with which the terrible announcement was
received. la the afternoon, President Sparks,
of the University, Ex- president Everett,
Judge Fay. and other friends united in let
ter OF sympathy aud coincidence with the
family. and assurances of a continuance of
the respect and esteem with which they had
always regarded Them.
Monday they were more composed, and
in the afternoon Mrs. Webster and three of
her daughters visited him in jnil. tie APP
pears 10 be about the same as he was be-
fore his trial.