The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-13
gho JaFy In the webster Trial.


Having read III several papers what purport- |
ed to Be relation Of the scene and events |
which tranzpired in the Jury room on the trial
Of Dr. John w. Webster, felt desirous fnow
1hat TIE subisct has been brought before the |
pablo mind) that a plain atement Of the more
impsrians matters connected with the jury
room shonld be made as il might prove inter-
estiAg Il not instructive to the community
The Jury was composed of twelve men, from
. many different branches OF the mechanical
aud mercantile professions" they were from
f3ar different religi gious determinations and their
ages varied from % 70 66 years They ywerel
men whom should designate as possessing
good sound coEnnon sense-uaeu capable Of
judging of Discerning Of approaching .ev
idencc and estimating its Importance. The
Jurors, after they had become better acquaint-
"a with each other. and as the evidence be-
gan 10 bear with crushing weight on the pris-
oner, and the "net work Of complicated cir
.eumssances' seemed to encirele him, felt
strongly the need of "that wisdom which com
eth from above" TO guide and direct their
minds Alright In their most mementous and re-
sponsibie situation.
1t was then that our worthy Foreman
{1ham VIC all most higly respect. and whom
ss shall ever remember with pleasure) pro-
posed 10 the jury that they should have relig-
Gus services every evening The proposition
was most cheerfully responded to, and ever
after that time, the voice of praise and prayer
daily assembled, as we trust from sincere hearts.
to the Throne Of Infinite wisdom and mercy.
4 need not saw that the burden of every pray
er was for wisdom TO guide and direct unto a
right decision. and for blessings most rich and
precious to decend upon the prisoner and his
afflicted family. s
now come to the closing part of this mo-
mcntous trial. When the, witnesses for the
defence had given in their testimony, and the
counsel for the prisoner announced the eri-
dence on their part closed. feeling of pain
and anguish must have come over the mind
of every Juror What can no more be said
mo more be done in behalf of the unhappy
prisoner Is that the evidence-the only eu-.
idence on which we are to base our verdict of
Not Glslty r,
At that very time. with the light which the
able charge OF the Chief Justice afterwards
gave us on. several points of 'the law and the
evidence Z think speak the sentiments of
nearly If not quite all the jury, when / say,
that they were as fully prepared for their ver-
dict Is they we're when they retired to the ju-
~ room, 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
as the guilty man--ANB no no ONE ELSE
After the Jury had gone to their room-with
hewarious evidences of guilt spread out on the
table before then and the door locked upon
them; shut out as it were entirely from the
world, with nothing but the eye of the Om-
niscent God upon them-so painful was the
sense Of responsibility, 50 unwilling were they
to come to the. result which all felt they must
come to. that 30.or 40 minutes were spent ere
of the foreman w as heard calling them to or
der and reminding them Of duty. however
painful; and when they had all taken their
seat around the table-then il was thatsone of
the Jurors rose and said, Mr.. Foreman. befoee
entering upon the further consideration and
decision of this most important matter, / would
propose that we seek for Divine wisdom
and guidance" The proposition met with &.
cordial response, and the foreman called on .
Juror to offer prayer. This was done. most
=Hs..-a----.,eis see.---.,eisaincarelE We then proceeded
e the most trying and painful part .. -.
-auoss various articles which were
put into the case we've exsffTsssis.ea BY the iu-
~. and particularly those things which seem
ed to bear most strongly against the prisoner.
The final decision of the question was resolved
into three parts
First Are the remains of human body
found in the Medical College on the 3oth1
Nov, 184s. those of the late DR.. Geo Park
man
Second Did Dr. George Parkman come to
hissdeath by the hands Of DIR. John w. Web
ster, 10 the Medical College, on the 23d Nov,
16492
Third. Is DR. John W. Webster guilty, as
set forth in the indictment. of the wilful muir
der of DR. George Parkman?
When the vote on the first question was
put, twelve hands arose Immediately. Some
little discussion then took place, when the sec
ond question was tested-and twelve hands
at once arose. The thrd--the most impor-
tant question Of all-was next to be tried
Quite pause ensued. One juror in his sym
pathies Of kindness for the prisoner (who was
his personal acquaintance or frend) and his
afflicted family y-shrank from the fiery ordeal
Can't we stop here Cant the law be vindi-
Gated. justice saiisfed.i we pause here? Must
we take The life Of the unhappy prisoner p
Some discussion ensued-the mind of the iu.
ror seemed more calm-and he expressed bis
readiness to vote on the 6nal question. which
was then put, and twelve hands arose The
die was cast ?-and John w. Webster was
pronounced guilty Of murder
Thus ended the closing scene in the Jury
room. What afterwards transpired in the
Court room is already known to the public
When our foreman there pronounced that aw-
full word-guilty the jury as well as the pris-
oner, trembled and grew faint And what a
relief it was to rs when we were again allow
ed to go free, and rejoin our family and friends
after so long and painful separation; and
their was not a jurors heart but would have
leaped for Joy could the prisoner have been
Justly allowed the same unspeakable blessing
ONE OF THE JURT.
Boston April Sd. 1850.
fasasafN
SPA1N AND PorUsA AL-The Heraldoof Mad
rid Is publishing a series of articles relative
to the proposed Unionof spain and Portugal
TT,f.T, tI,ie y,r,aet tl,.a f,ra,,ica - ,f ork