The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-04

Having taken his usual supper on Thursday evening,
DR.. Webster was chiefly engaged IN conversation and
10 his bed, and slept I'LL Friday morning, when
he awoke much refreshed From that hour till 7,
he spoke freely upon various matters, all having more
or less relation 10 the appointed event OF the day
nqurng into all the minute OF the proposed ex-
ecu,lon commenting upon The improvements made IN
the machinery for nsurng certainty and despatch. max
log suggestions 10 the best mode OF binding the arms
and legs. and giving directions for deposng his body IN
mahogany coin and removing il TO the residence OF
his family a, Cambridge after dark
AT he breakfasled and smoked, and soon after
received the Rev Dr. Putnam. bis spiritual adviser,
who continued with him until all was over, 10 the
mean time, the "busy note Of preparation was heard on
every hand the last experimental trial was being made
with the newly invented spring Tor the drops The moose
was formed and the rope roved through The upper beam
OF the scafold, which was erected IN the centre OF me
Jail yard, and commanded by the upper stories OF the
taller houses IN the vicinity In some instances, he
occupants of some OF these permitted Their windows or
roofs 10 be occupied by friends who wished 70 witness
the AT early hour several representatives OF
the press, daily and weekly secular and religious from
the city and country, and New York, had been ad
mliied to examine the preparations in the yard,
AT o'clock, Joseph Eyeleh, esq sheriff OF the coun
~ OF Suffolk repaired TO the Jail oce TO meet The per-
sons there attending al his request FIRST the Official
Witnesses OF the execution selected from the citizens al
large required by law second, the deputy sherffs,
Freeman, Coburn, Rugg, Pratt, Bayley, and Willard
third, officers OF various branches OF the public service
municipal, State, and national, VIZ: MAJ. Gen. D. r.
Edmands, OF the first division OF the militia, Col Robert
Cowdn OF the Boston regiment OF artillery Col Ezra
Lincoln, of the governors siaff Gen Samuel Chandler,
sheriff OF Middesex. Col Thomas Adams, sheriof Nor
iok, Samuel l.. Hinckley, esq, sbenn OF hampshire,
Hon Charles Devens, U. ). marshal, ). r. Sptague,
esq. clerk U. 5, district court, Col Isaac II Wright,
navy agent Capt Barnicoa chief esgiaser OF the fre
department, Alderman Holbrook, and. Messrs. Joseph
Smith and J Z. Bradee, oil the common council. Hav-
ing called the gentlemen present Witnesses he read to
them the law. and placed them under the immediate d.
rection OF Col Freeman deputy sheriff to conduct them,
when the time should arrive, 10 the Jail arch, where the
final prayer was 10 be made by the Rev DIR, Putnam.
few minutes before ., small procession was formed
within the Office, and, headed by the sheriff and his depn-
ties descended to the jail, entered the CORRIDOR where
the legal witnesses were formed into semi circle IN
front OF the prisoners cell The remainder OF the space
within the arch occupied by the others
AT O'Clock, the Rev. DR. Putnam came forth from the
prisoners CELL and standing in the doorway, offered up
feeling feryen and The brolser
who about TO De removed from this world TO another
might receive all needed aid OF the Holy Spirit, and that
his repentance might be accepted and that the humble
hope OF forgiveness that the prisoner had been permitted
10 entertain might be realized Them praying for the
prisoners family he did not overlook the affections OF
those who had been beeaved through the errors and the
sins OF the prisoner.
The prayer concluded the sheriff directed the process
sion of witnesses be conducted the appointed place in
front OF the scallod, and notified Mr. Andrews the ailer
that the prisoners hour had come The witnesses
led through long double line of police to their station,
while the prisoners arms plnoned in his cell with
leather strap Things passed rapidly The various
parties disposed around the scatfod IN order the
lines from the Jail 10 the spot widened the police forces
within and without rearrauged and where necessary
REINFORCED, under the directions of Colonel Pratt, depu
y sheriff and the prisoner led forth from the jail by
officer Dexter the right and officer Esterbrook the
lett, with Dr. PutEan on the same side, and Mr. An
drews, Jaller, following
AT the door they received by the sheriff and his
deputies Upon arriving al the foot Of the scafold the
sheriff and deputies Freeman and Coburn assembled the
platform, and were followed by deputy Rugg, Mr. An
drews laer and Mr.. Holiness turnkey, with the prison
er, accompanied by Dr. Putnam The prisoner assembled
with firm STEP and a, took his station the drop
The spectacle no less awfuliy solemn than extrao-
binary. On OF the clearest and brightest mornings
we have bad this summer there stood John White Web
sler known personally to thousands tnrougho the
length and breadth of the land for quarter OF century
professor OF chemistry In the most celebrated unvet
slty OF the New World, with but plank between hun
and shameful death, and that plank IN few moments
10 be suddenly dashed from under his feet HIS depo-
men was solemn aud his appearance fm, yet indicative
OF iuii CONSCIOUSNESS OF ms s'tuaton mere was
nothing IN the expression OF his countenance which
could be tortured ao sefbance of assumed hardhood,
but was evident that be had schooled his mind and
braced his for the he about 10 take IN the
tragedy tie replied IN brief sentences IN nDdertone,
and sometimes BY mods, 10 the words OF encouragement
addressed to him b. DR. Putnam, ill the coloauy was
interrupted by the sheriff announcing to the witnesses that
he about TO read the tor the execution Du-
ring the reading he conversed before with DR. Putnam
The reading over, chair handed up, and he sal
down while his legs being tied. He then shook
hands with the aef and turnkey thanked them for their
uniform Kindness 10 him while under tbero ge, referred
to his lae and said MS doom just Being requested
he STOOL again and deputy Rugg placed the moose over
bis head, and drew to the size OF his neck lie moved
hs LEAD, ana SAID III was not quite close enough, ana
thereupon Mr. Rugg frightened 1t. He then remark ed
that Is litie TOO tight Mr. Rugg having slackened
it liule TIE prisoner seized hin by the hand shook
atectonaely and thanked him Tor his attention TO his
wishes Excepting slight flush upon the brow, and the
hrm compression o his lips. his countenance underwent
no change. black cap now drawn over his face.
DR. Putnam stepped to the south railing oil the scatold,
and sveed hs lace from the last in the dread drama
| by resting II on his hand supported by the rail.
Al rs minutes before TO- the sheriff announced 10 the
witnesses that he should then proceed the
for h4fh h. hah IA. nj and
tbereupon, with firm step, he irod upon the spring. the
bolt dared back, the irap-doors flew apart and the
doomed one dropped like shot distance OF nine feet
and after two three spasmodie conirsctons ceased to
exhibit any sign Of notion In the course u twenty five
minutes DIR N g. Clark, city physician, and DR.. G. N.
Stedman superintendent OF the asylum at South Boston,
certified IN the usual form, the sheriff that life
extinct The sheriff now officially announced the fact 10
the witnesses IN brief and impressive address, and
thanked them for their attendance on the melancholy oc.
caslon They then withdrew; the officers descended
from the platform. and the body cut down. placed
10 she'll and removed TO the cell subject TO the orer OF
the friends
So persisted John White Webster within nine months
and one week OF the day which he murdered one OF
the most jealous and influential friends OF his early
hood-Dr George Parkman-who had in the course OF
me become his deceived, wronged, disappointed, and,
IN consequence, exaggerated creditor. DR.. Webster
IN his hty-bith year. five years the junior Of his
victim In addition TO his income of full $4,000 from
his protessorsbip and lectures the Medical College, he
had within few years made away with about $40 900,
inherited from his father, the late Redford Webster, a
welLk apothecary al the norh end. Many who
have sought TO exienuae his offence and have proesse
TO look IN vain for motive Tor the commission of that
for which he has suffered have shrunk from the terrible
l Nfnan1 .orIn q