The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-04-15


WEBSTER TRIAL.-One of the Jurors who sat in
judgement upon the life of DR.. Webster, has given
in the Boston Traveller the following interesting
statement of the conduct of the jury. 1t is due to
the jury that they should be heard as public opn-
ion is much divided upon their verdict:
The jury was composed of twelve men, from as
many different branches Of the mechanical and mer-
camille professions. They were of various religious
denominations, and their ages varied from Is to &c
years. They were men whom should designate
possessing good sound common sense-men ca
pable of judging-of dscerning-of approaching
evidence and estimating its importance. The jurors,
after they had become better acquainted with each
other, and the evidence began bear with crush
ing weight upon the prisoner, and the network OF
implicated circumstances" seemed to encircle him,
felt strongly in need of that wisdom which cometh
from above to guide and direct their minds Alright
in their most momentous and responsible situation.
1t was then that worthy foreman Whom we
all most highly respect and whom we shall ever
remember with pleasure) proposed to the Jury that
they should have religious services every morning.
The proposition was eheerfully responded to, and
ever after that time the voice of praise and prayer
daily assembled, as trust from sincere hearts, to
the throne OF infinite wisdom and mercy. | need
not say that the burden of every prayer for wis
dom to guide and direct until right decision, and
for blessings most rich and precious to descend upon
the prisoner and his afflicted family.
now come to the closing part Of this momentous
trial When the witnesses for the defence had given
in their testimony, and the counsel for the prls
announced the evidence their part closed, feel
ing OF pain and anguish must have the
mind OF every juror" w hat can no more be said
no more be done in behalf of the unhappy prisoner
Is that the evidence-the only evidence on which
we to base verdict Of Not GHihy?'
AT that very time, with the light which the able
charge of the Chief Justice afterwards gave us on
several points of the Z" law and evidence" think
speak the sentiments Of nearly if not quite all the
jury, when ! say that they were fully prepared
for their verdict they when they retired to
the juryroom, after listening to the most able and
eloquent pleas of the prisoners senior counsel and
the Attorney General-so strongly so fully had the
evidence pointed to the prisoner the guilty mar
aud TO no one else. After the jury had gone tC
their room, with the various evidences OF guilt or
the table before them, and the door locked upor
them, shut out it were, entirely from the world
with nothing but the eye OF Omnisclent God upor
them, so painful was the sense OF responsibility, 81
unwilling were they to come to the result which al
lelt they must to- that thirty to forty minutes
were spent ere any thing was done-when at las
the voice of the Foreman was heard calling them tC
order and reminding them OF duty, however painful
and when they had taken their seats around the
table-then it was that one OF the jurors rose and
said " Mr.. Foreman before entering upon the fur
Their consideration and decision of this important
matter, | would propose that we seek for divine
wisdom and guidance"
The proposition met with a cordial response, and
the foreman called upon juror TO offer prayer
This was done, most feeliDgy and sincerely. We
then proceeded to the most trying and painful par
of our arduous duty. The various articles which
were put into the case were examined by the jury
and particularly those things which seemed to bea
most strongly against the prisoner. The final de.
cision Of the question was resolved into three parts
First-Are the remains of a human body found
in the Medical College on the Both November, 1919
those of The late Dr. George Parkman!
Second--Did DIR. George Parkman come 10 his
death by the hands of DR.. John w, Webster, iI
the Medical College, on the 23d Nov 1849!
Thirds DIR. John w. Webster guilty, as Sc
forth in the Indictment Of the wilful murder Of DR.
George Parkman!
| When the vote on the first question was put
| twelve hands arose Immediately Some little dis
cussion then took place, when the second was test
| ed, and twelve hands at once arose. The third
the most important question of all-was next 10 bt
tried. Quite pause ensued One juror-in hi
| sympathies of kindness for the prisoner (who was
his personal acquaintance or friend and his at1ict
ed family-shrunk from the " fiery ordeal" Can
we stop here cant the law be indicated ant
justice satisfied if we pause herel Must we TAKE
| the life Of the unhappy prisoner :" Some discus
sion ensued-the mind of the juror seemed more
calm-and he expressed his willingness to vote OF
the final question, which was then put and twelve
| hands arose. The die was cast-and John w
| Webster was pronounced guilty of murder.
Thus ensued the closing scene in the jury room
What afterwards transpired in the court room il
already known TO the public When our foreman
then pronounced that awful wonderfully! the iu
ry as well as The prisoner, trembed and grew faint
And what a relief it was to us when we wer
again allowed TO i" go free" and rejoin our fami
lies and friends after so long and painful separa
ton, and there was noi jurors heart but woulC
have leaped for joy could the prisoner have beef
Justly allowed the same unspeakabe blessing
ONE OF THE JURY.