The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-04
DR.. WEBSTER'S PLEA.

At the close of the arguments of counsel on both
sides, in the case OF DIR. Webster, convicted at
Boston, on Saturday last, Of the murder of Dr.
Parkman, Chief Justice Shaw, with much emotion,
stated to the prisoner that it was his privilege
to address the jury IL he bad anything to
say, or any explanation TO make.
Professor Webster rose, and, in very distinct
voice, made the following remarks:
q have desired to enter into an explanation of
the complicated network Of circumstances which,
by my peculiar position, the Government has
thrown around me- and which, in nine cases out
of ten, are completely distorted, and probably
nne-teuths of which could be satisfactorily ex-
planned. All the points of the testimony have
been placed in the hands Of my counsel, by whom
my innocence could have been firmly established
Acting entirely under their direction, | have
sealed my lips during the period Of my confne
ment, trusting myself entirely to them. They
have not deemed it necessary, in their superior
wisdom, this WAS said in an ironica tone 10
bring forward the evidence which was to exoner-
ate me from variety Of these acts. The Govern
ment have brought whatever consummate ingenu-
ity could suggest against me, and | hope 10 will
not have an undue influence upon my jury. |
will not allude to many of the charges; but there
is one which touches VIZ ~ <sssst is the letter
which has been produced. 1t is not the first had
- sAs ~, - - rSshieS have bsen sise
which have been made respecting them One
statement was, that had, after the disappearance
of DR.. Parkman. purchased q qnantity of oxalic
acid to remove the stains Of blood, and it instantly
occurred to me that this parcel might be saved,
and produced when necessary. For several days,
Mrs. w. had requested me TO purchase some acid
for domestic use and rs my wife had repeatedly
laughed at me because | had not purchased il,
had borne it in my mind that afternoon, and had
gone into 'Thayer's store under the Revere
House. made the purchase, and waited till the
Cambridge omnibus came along and then jumped
into the omnibus with the bundle. | went home
and gave the bundle to my wife; and when after
wards heard so much said about the bundle it
flashed on my mind in moment that this must
be the bundle II 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 occasion
to use the influence of chemical agents in producing
changes of various subjects; among others, on
gases. 4! prepared large quantity of oxalic acid
gas A gallon jar was filled with gas in ORDER to pro-
duce the changes from dark color orange and also
in air On great heat being applied to the jar, the
gas was drawn through water. As to the nitrate
of copper spilled ON the floor Of the laboratory, it
was spilled accidentally from quantity used by
me, in my lectures, between the day Of DR.. Park
mans disappearance and my own arrest. So |
might go on explaining variety of circumstances
which have been distorted. My counsel have
pressed me to keep calm. My very calmness has
| been made to bear against me; but my trust has
been in my God and my own innocence
Ia regard to money, must say word The
money which ! paid DR.. Parkman, on the after
noon of Friday November 23l, had saved ur
from time to time, and kept II In trunk in my
house in Cambridge; but unfortunately no one
ever saw me take it out; therefore, | can only
give my word that such is the fact
"Several years ago, | had students who were in
the habit of being in my laboratory and who in
| jured my apparatus; therefore, prepared every
thing for my own use in my lectures with my own
hands, and that is the reason why excluded per-
sons from my laboratory.
"As regards my whereabouts from the hour of
DR. P.'s disappearance have put into my coun-
sells hands satisfactory information, which will
account for every day spent during that week
for every day and every hour. never was alb.
sent from home. AS TO being seen by Mr. San
derson, was at home every evening. One thing
that has been omitted by my counsel was, that on
the Friday on which the alleged murder was said
to have been committed | had purchased Hum
boldts new work. Cosmos and while waiting
for an omnibus stepped into Brighams TO take a
mutton chop, and, in coming out to take the ON
nbus, had forgotten my book but after my ar
~,
and mentioned it TO my counsel They had sent
to Brgham's, and the book had been foundn
The Professor here sat down, but almost in
stantly arose and said
al will say one word more. have felt very
much distressed by the production Of those anon
ymous letters, more 80 than by anything that
has occurred during the trial | call my God TO
witness that If IL was the last hour OF my life, |
never wrote those letters Since the trial COM
menced, a letter has been received from this very
'Civis by one of my counsel. II this person has
any spark of humanity, call upon him to come
forward. A notice to this effect has been put in
the papers,
Dr. Webster again took his seat, having evident
ly made deep impression upon all present by
the seriousness of his remarks and the earnestnees
of his manner.
BosTos APRIL Professor Webster was
brought into court this morning Mt o o'clock, and
received the dread sentence Of the law II was
pronounced by Judge Shaw, and closed as fol-
lows:
You, John W. Webster, after fair trial, and
with every opportunity for defence, have been
found guilty by jury Of your fellow citizens, Of
having, on Friday, the 23d day of November, in
the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty
nine, with malice aforethought, murdered Doctor
George Parkman, in your private room, in the
Medical College In Grove street, In Boston. Ii is
now the duty Of the Court to pronounce upon you
the sentence which the law imposes upon such a
crime. II Is therefore adjudged, 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 as
the Chief Magistrate Of this Commonwealth shall
by his official warrant appoint when you shall be
taken thence to the place Of public execution, and
there be hung by the neck until You are dead
Add may God, Ia his infinite goodness, have mer-
cy on your soul
The prisoner heard the sentence with an I'M
blenched cheek, but, as it appeared to the eye Of
the spectator, with troubled and saddened heart.
lie was immediately removed from the Court
TO the prison, followed by the crowd, who were
curious TO catch glance Of his face.
II Is not supposed that the execution will take
place very soon, ~ IL IL the desire Of every one
to give the prisoner full time to make his peace
with Heaven and that, II any one knows aught
which would tighten his crime, or remove the
charge from him, opportunity may be afforded to