The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-05
EXECUTION OF PROFESSOR WEBSTER.

BosToN, august 80, 1850.
Professor Webster, after his family left him last
evening--in happy Inconsistencies, as be believed
and declared that the period of his execution was
so near at hand--was searched, and then conveyed
to different cell from that he had occupied, to
p event any possibility of suicide, in case he had
meditated such purpose. DR.. Putnam remained
with him until nine O'Clock, and from that hour
until twelve, he passed the time in conversation
on devotional subjects with his watchers. At
twelve, he fell into a doze and though not sleep
ing for any long period, his slumbers were light
and apparently easy During the intervals Of
waking he conversed freely with his companions
speaking of his impending fate with fortitude and
resignation, and expressing special qualification
that his family had been kept in ignorance Of the
time fixed for his death. As the day began to
break, and the various sounds peculiar to the
dawn reached his cell, he exhibited some agita-
tion-probably at the reflection that he had heard
them for the last tme-but he soon regained his
composure
By advice, he made a light breakfast, taking
only tea and bread, and invited the officers to par
take, Offering them the bread himself and exhibit
ing great courtesy well as selfpossession in his
manner. He subsequently made the necessary
preparations for ascending the scaffold with COOL
ness and elaboration. About nine this morning
the final religious ceremonies were commenced by
III Tu'utm re tuRtXtu III n IeTVent prayer, In
which he invoked the presence, spirit and grace
Of God for the uhappy man so soon to die He
prayed that his repentance, which he trusted and
believed was sincere, might be accepted, and that
ne might be prepared, through mercy, to meet the
awful doom which awaited him He prayed also
Tor the prisoners family that when their time of
death should come, they might meet the prisoner
In heaven, where there would be no sundering
the ties Of affection. lie prayed also for the
murdered mans family and for the sheriff, his
assistants, the Witnesses of the execution, and
generally for all persons
After the prayer, the prisoners arms were PIN
,oned, and about twenty minutes after nine he was
brought forth TO die. He was accompanied to
the gaiiows by DR. Putnam, and on his way thith-
er ms step was firm, though his face was Of a
deadly pslior. His look was that of one Who had
committed deadly Gin, which he was about TO ex.
plate with his life
On arriving at the scsfold the sheriff read
Tue death-warrsnt, during which Prof Webster
was engaged In earnest conversation with DR.. Put
nam AT its conclusion, his legs were pinioned,
and the rope was placed about his neck. This
caused him TO blush, and there were evident signs
OF suppressed powerful feeling The black cap
was then placed on his head, and the sheriff pro-
GAINED with loud voice that he was about TO do
eiecution on the body Of John W. Webster, for
.ue murder Of DR.. George Psrkman. This an
IVIheement caused a movement Of the prisoners
way whose face was hid from view.
Ht'senty minutes before ten, everything being
- ieaainess, the spring was touched the drop
20. a' opened, and with fall Of nearly eight feet,
,pe "retehed man WAS cast into eternity, TO meet
,u' uod whose commands he had 30 fearfully vio-
lie died apparently without a struggle.
Mter being suspended half an hour, the body
aken down and examined, and life being
''uhd extinct, il was placed in Jail coffin TO be
sent 10 Cambridge
Ui ne Interest excited by the case Of Professor
MISTER was universal, and there was manifested
~ intense anxiety, among all classes, TO witness
~ ~ ,A'e' About three hundred persons, including
~ p"nee and newspaper reporters, we're admitted
sS;H ne Jhl'yardi and the house-tops and windows
olning were crowded With spectators, among
I'm I'm mere we're number Of ladies' The streets
sI' 10 and In the vicinity Of the prison we're
no oo hled' The scafold-which vas erected this
'"''A'hs-was 50 placed that 1t could be seen