The Daily spy., 1850-07-10
From the Boston Traveller of Monday.
HEARING IN THE CASE OF JOHN w.
WEBSTER


WEBSTER.
The Council Committee on Pardons met in the
Chamber of the Council at eleven O'clock this
morning, all the members being present. The Rev.
Charles Spear opened the hearing by presenting sun
dry petitions for clemency to Professor Webster
He stated that they all from other States, hav-
ing been received by Mrs Webster, and by her Civ
en- up to her Counsel. He urged that the situation
of the family was one ground for Communication.
In regard to the crime, he said, the greatest suf-
fering is at home, in the family CIRCLE rather than in
the cell of the criminal. He hoped this tribunal
would see good reason to commute the Punishment.
His own opinion and the opinion ofmany of the MEM
bers OF the bar was against premedation in the act
that the motive was not sufficient
Dr. Edward Jarvis of Dorchester quoted several
cases of death from blows in the head, &C. Among
others, that of a child who fell from chair, and
died, from conclusion of the brain. little girl
playing with others in room caught her foot in the
carpe;, fell and died in five minutes
He quoted from English authorities several sudden
deaths from conclusion of the brain where the par
ty became nsenslble, and fatal result speedily en-
sued Another English surgeon, said, that if the
conclusion be very severe, all sense and motion is
Immediately abolished and death follows
Dr. Jarvis made the following statements-About
eight days before his death, Dr. Parkman called to
see him in Dorchester, and few days after DR. Jar
Wis saw his (Dr PSI nephew, Mr. Samuel Parkman,
who asked him if he saw anything strange, when he
replied no. He then said that the family thought
there was something the matter of DIR Parknan that
he was again insane.
DIR. Jarvis further stated to illustrate the violence
OF Webster's passion, that letter had been lately
received by DIR John Homans from DR. VIM Perry,
relating an occurrence between DIR Webster and Dir.
Homans at DR.. Homans' office. 1t appears that DR.
Webster and DIR Homans began to play at knocking
Oft hats; finally they got angry and Webster struck
at Homans's head; they then closed and Webster
was thrown. Webster sprung up, seized large
walking stick, and raised it to strike blow at Ho-
mans, when the writer, DIR Perry, interfered and ar
rested the blow DIR Perry judged that if DR. Web
ster had succeeded in his momentary intention. it
might have caused instant death. The next day,
though there was slight drawing down of the eyes,
both parties were much as usual toward each other.
DIR. Jarvis also stated a somewhat similar case to
the violent momentary passions of DIR: Webster,
which occurred in London. DR.. Webster was at a
shop shaving when DR.. Batchford in Joking way
remarked-"Dd you ever see barber shave mon
key" Dr. Webster in great anger seized knife
and attempted to stab DR.. Blatchford, but was pre-
vented.
DR.. Flint quoted TayIor's Medical Jurisprudence
to show that death may follow from even a slight
blow on the head.
Dr. Charles N. Winshp of Roxbury stated the
case of MIR Goddards son of Mr. Nathaniel Goddard,
who, while driving at a rapid rate, was thrown from
his chaise and struck upon his head near the tenn
pie, causing instant death. He hardly gasped after
the accident. His skull was not fractured.
The Rev. James Richards related case of death
where he was member of the COroner's Jury, nine
or ten years since. Two men were in store drink
ing when account of some exciting words uttered
by one, the other struck him. The first then seized
rule close al hand, Is inches in length IA inches
wide, and not inch thick, and struck bis oppo-
nent sing lie blow on the side of the head. The
man struck turned round, muttered something, and
went towards the door, the bystanders thought to
get some weapon. He went about ten steps from
the door when he fell dead. His skull was exalnin-
ed and no fracture found but on the side opposite
the blow, was found quantity of extravasated blood
and the pressure Of this blood upon the brain caused
death, in three minutes after the blow was given
DIR. Jefries Wyman said that he thought that DIR.
Parlman's skull little below the average thick
ness. He also stated that the age was matter for
consideration. A person Of sixty years of age would
be more likely to have his skull fractured by given
blow than a person at the middle period of life.
He was Of opinion that the wound in the side
was not formed by blow from knife from the out
side, on account of the raggedness of the wound. 1t
might have been possibly done in the act of fdsmem-
berment, from the inside outwards.
DR.. Wynan alluded to the case of young child
who while going to school, was killed by blow in
TIE ledd from d SWltCn, uyIlS diulosC lHstdHuy
This closed the statements on the part ofthe friends
of DR.. Webster.
The Rev Mr. Spear asked for months delay, in
order to give time for the community to in the
matter
The Lieut. Governor thought that such length Of
time could not be granted, as it was necessary to
settle the matter one way or another forthwith.
Here petition was presented from about fifty Of
the citizens of Cambridge for commutation of pun
ishment. The petition is based on the ground of the
improbabty that the act was premeditated, and moi
on the confession, saying that the condemned man
had forfeited all right to be believed in the matter
This petition is signed by the President and nearly
all the Professors of Harvard University, the Rev.
Mr. Newell, Sidney Willard, Esq, and other leading
citizens.
Professor Bowen, who came in wi h the petition,
asked for further time for the friends of Prof Web
ster to IN the matter. 1t was not until Friday
that petition was got up, and the names were OBJ
tanned within the last "a hours.
The Governor has postponed the final decision in
the matter until the 18th inst.
GREAT CoNFLAGR ALTON. About four o'clock
Sunday morning fire broke out in the attic story
.oof of .bo Ia roo hniIdnr Eurr,an stroot Rrooz