Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-04
SENTENCE OF PROF. J. w. WEBSTER

of Littlefeld.
SENTENCE OF PROF. J. w. WEBSTER,
BY CHIEF JUSTICE SHAW.
DR.. Webster, we learn from the Boston papers,
was brought into Court Monday morning, to re-
ceive the solemn sentence of the law.
After some minutes silence, Mr.. Attorney Ge-
neral Clifford narrated the facts of the indictment,
nal sentence be now pronounced. The prisoner
rose and was asked by the Clerk what he had to
show why sentence of death should not be pro-
nounced against him. The prisoner bowed and
took his seat in silence. Chief Justice Shaw
then addressed him in the following words:
John w. Webster: In meeting you here for
the last time, to pronounce that sentence which
the law has affixed to this high offence of which YOU
stand convicted, it is impossible for language to
give utterance to the deep consciousness Of re-
sponsbility, t. the keen sense of sadness and
sympathy with which we approach this solemn
duty. Circumstances, which all who hear me
will duly appreciate, and which it may seem hard
ly fit to alude to more in detail, render the per-
formanceof this duty on the present occasion I'M
speakably painful.
At all times and under all circumstances
feeling of indescribable solemnty attaches to the
utterance of the stern voice of retrbutive Justice
which consigns fellow-being to an untimey and
ignominious death, but when we consider all the
circumstances of your past life, your various re-
lations to society, the claims upon you by others,
the hopes and expectations you have cherished.
with your present condition and the ignominious
death which awaits you, we are oppressed with
grief and anguish, and nothing but sense of i'm
perative duty imposed on US by the law whose off,
GERS and ministers are, could sustain us in pro-
nouncing such Judgment against the crime of
wilful murder, of which you stand convicted;
crime at which humanity shudders; crime every
where, and under all forms of society, regarded
with the deepest adherence.
The law has pronounced its severest penalty in
these few and simple but solemn and impressive
words, Every person who shall commit the crime
of murder, shall suffer the punishment of death
for the same"
The manifest object of this law is the protection
and security of human life, the most important
object Of a just and paternal Government. 1t is
made the duty of this Court to declare this penal
ty against any one who shall have been found
guilty in due course of the administration of ius-
tee of having violated the law.
1t is one of the most solemn acts of judicial
power which an earthly tribunal can be called
upon to exercise. 1t is high and exemplary ma
nitestaton OF the sovereign authority of the law,
as well in its stern and in1exibe SEVERITY as in
its protecting and paternal dignity
1t Furnishes the guilty with severity, in order
that the right to the enjoyment of life, the most
precious of all rights, may be more effectually
secured.
By the record before us, it appears that you
have been indicted by the grand jury of this coun-
ty for the crime of murder, alleging that on the
23d of November last, you made an assault on the
| of h,,
violence deprived him of life, with malice afore-
thought
This is alleged to have been done within the
apartments of public institution in this city,
the Medical College-of which you were profess
sor and Instructor, upon the person of man of
mature age, we'll known, and of extensive con-
nections in this community, and a benefactor to
that institution.
The charge of an offence so aggravated, under
such circumstances, in the midst of peaceful
community, created an instantaneous outburst of
SURPRISE alarm and terror, and was followed by
universal and intense anxiety to learn by the
results of judicial proceeding, whether this
charge was true.
The day of trial came. A Court was organic
ed to conduct it. A jury, almost of your own
choosing, was selected in the manner best calcu-
lated to insure intelligence andimpartality. Coun-
sci were appointed to assist you in conducting
your defence, who have done all that learning,
eloquence, and skill could accomplish in present.
ing your defence in its best aspects.
A very large number of witnesses was care
fully examined, and after very laborous trial of
unprecedented length, conducted as we hope with
patience and fidelity, that jury have pronounced
you guilty. To this verdict, upon careful revi-
sion of the whole proceedings, | am constrained
to say, in behalf of the Court, that they can see
no just or legal ground of exception.
Guilty How much, under all these thrilling
circumstances which cluster around the case, and
throng our memories in the retrospect, does this
single word impart The wilful violent and ma
liclous destruction of the life of felow-man, in
the lace OF God and under the protection of the
law. Yes, OF one in the midst of life, with bright
hopes'warm affections, mutual attachments, strong,
extensive and numerous friends, making life
| blessing to himself and others.
we allude thus to the injury you have inflicted
not Tor Inc purpose OF awakening one unneces-
sary pang IN heart already lacerated. but to re-
mind you of the incompatible wrong done to the
victim of your cruelty-in sheer Justice to him
whose voice is now hushed in death and whose
wrong can only be vindicated by the living actions
of the law.
II, therefore, you may at any moment think your
case hard one, and your punishment too heavy;
il one repining thought arises in your mind, or
one murmuring word seeks utterance from your
lips, think, oh think, Of him instantly deprived of
lie by your guilty hand; then, if not lost to all
sense OF retrlbutive justice, if you have any CON-
puheuous vsitings of conscience, you may be