Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-06
PROFESSOR JOHN W. WEBSTER CONVICTED.

BosToN, MARCH 31.-Mr. CLIFFORD, the Attor-
ney General, closed his argument in the case o.
DR.. Webster yesterday evening. At eight o'clock
the case was given to the Jury. and at eleven they
returned into Court with verdict of gully Of muir
der in the first degree. On the rendition of the
verdict Dr. Webster tainted, and remained insen-
sble for ten minutes. He was then conveyed to
Jail. to await his sentence. By the Courts per-
mission he had addressed the Jury before they re-
tired for deliberaon.
On. WEBsTERs PLEA.
At the close of the arguments Of counsel on both Sides i'm
the case Of Dr. WEBSTER convicted Boston on Saturday
last Of the murder Of DR.. PARKMAs, Chief Justice SHAw
with much emotion stated to the Prisoner that il was his
privilege to address The jury, he had any thing to say
any explanation TO make
Professor WEBSTER rose and, in very distinct voice.
made the following remarks
81 have desired to enter into explanation Of the
pcated network OF circumstances which, by my peculiar po
tion, the government has thrown around me- and which,
in nine cases out of ten, completely distorted and pro-
badly nnetenths Of which could be satisfactorily explained
All the points of the testimony have been placed in the hands
my counsel by whom my innocence could have been firm
y established Acting entirely under their direction, have
sealed my lips during the period Of my confinement trusting
myself entirely them. They have deemed necessary
in their superior WISDOM [ths said in ironica Tone
to bring forward the evidence which to ,nerate
from variety of these acts. The government have brought
whatever consummae ingenuity could suggest against me-
and hope will not have undue influence upon my Jury
will not aude TO many of the charges but there one
which touches me- and that the letter which been pro-
duced ne not The first had read in the daily prints which
have been distributed in my apartments and publca-
tons which have been made respecting them One statement
was that had after the disappearance Of Dr. Pakman pur
chased quantity Of oxac acid to the stains Of blood
and it instantly occurred that this parcel might be
saved and produced when necessary For days Mrs
W. had requested purchase acid for domestic
and wife had repeatedly laughed at because had
purchased it. had borne it in my mind that afternoon
1 md he HOuse
made the purchase, and waited till the Cambridge omnibus
along and then jumped into the omnibus with the bun
die. went home and gave the bundle to my wife and
when afterwards heard much said about the bundle it
flashed my mind in that this be the bum
die. 1t was to this bundle and not to any document that
referred in the direction to my wife, As regards the nitrate
of copper in the usual lectures preceding my arrest had
the influence of chemical agents in producing
changes of various subjects; among others, gases
prepared large quantity Of oxac acid gas. gallon jar
filled with gas order produce the changes from dark
color orange and also On great heat being applied
to the jar the gas drawn through water As to the nj
tae Of copper spilled the floor of the laboratory,
spilled accidentally from quantity used by me- in my lee
lures between the day of Dr. Paknans disappearance
my arrest So might go explaining variety Of
circumstances which have been distorted My counsel have
pressed keep calm My very calness has made
TO bear against but my rus, has been in my God and
my innocence. In regard to money must say word.
The money which paid Dr. Parkman the afternoon of
Friday, November 2sd had saved up from time time, and
kept in trunk in my house in Cambridge unfortunately
take ii out therefore, only give
my word that such the fact Several years ago had
dents who in the habit Of being in my laboratory, and
who injured my apparatus therefore, prepared every thing
for my in my lectures with my hands, and that
is the why excluded persons from my laboratory
As regards my whereabouts from the hour of Dr. P dsap
peaance, have put counses hands satisfactory
formations which will account for every day had spent dur
ing that week; for every day and every hour
absent from home As to being by Mr. Sanderson,
at home evening One thing that has been omitted
by my counsel was, that the Friday which the alleged
murder said to have been committed, had purchased
Humboldfs work Cosmos and while waiting for an
omnibus stepped into Brgham take mutton chop and,
coming out to take the omnibus had forgotten my book
but after my arrest remembered the place where had left is
and mentioned it my counsel They had Brgham,
and the book had been found"
The Professor here down. but almost instantly arose
and said
81 will say word have felt very much dis
resed by the production Of those anonymous letters
than by any thing that has occurred during the trial
call my God witness that, it the last hour Of my
life never wrote those letters Since the trial commenced
letter has been received from this very Cvis by Of my
counsel. Ifths person has any spark of humanity call
upon him to forward notice this effect has been
| put in the papers
DR.. Webster again took his seat, having evidently made
deep impression upon all present by the seriousness of his
remarks and the earnestness Of bis manner.
Bosros, APRIL Professor Webster brought into
Court this morning 10 O'clock received the dread SEN
tence Of the law. pronounced by Judge SHAW and
closed as follows
You John w. Webster after fair trial, and with every
opportunity for Defence have been found guilty by jury
your fellow citizens of having, Friday the 23d day of
November in the year of Lord eighteen hundred and
orty-nine with malice aorethough, murdered Doctor Geo.
Parkman in your private room in the Medical College in
Grove street. in Boston II the duty Of the Court
pronounce upon you the sentence which the law imposes
upon such crime is therefore adudged declared and
commanded by this Court that you be taken hence by the
proper officer to the prison of the county, and there kept in
close custody until such time the Chief Magistrate of this
Commonwealth shall by his official warrant appoint. when
you shall be taken thence the place of public execution
and there be hung by the neck until you dead. And
God in his infinite goodness have mercy your soul
The prisoner heard the sentence with an unblenched
cheek but appeared the eye of the spectator with
a troubled and saddened heart
He Immediately removed from the Court the prison.
followed by the crowd who curious catch glance Of
his face
II not supposed that the execution will take place very
soon is the desire Of every give the prisoner full
time to make his peace with Heaven and that if any one
knows ought which would tighten his crime, remove the
charge from him, opportunity may be afforded produce the
testimony.
wholly unprpared for the terrible result Of his trial They
.te his direction, for Faya for the goth Of this month
They have all along had the strongest persuasion of
and completely Frustrated by the overwhelming
intelligence Of his conviction.
The Times says that letter OF coincidence to the unfortu-
nat in he If