Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-07-26

J dfU1OulH Ut. IulHBF V. ieIi f1On s1aInuCi
Wood, of Grafton Hon. John Tenuey, Of Me-
thuen and Hon. Charles NJ. Owen of Stock
bridge, submitted their final report in the case
Of John w Webster, to the Governor and Coun-
Gil, yesterday morning. The Council met in
their chamber, and held the session with closed
doors. After assembling, and being called to
order, the following Report was presented By
Lieutenant Governor REED, Chairman of the
Committee on Pardons
REPORT.
The Committee on Pardons, TO whom was re-
ferred the petition Of John w. Webster, con-
vict under sentence of Death, praying, in behalf
of himself and his wife and children, the Gov
ernor and Council to extend to the petitioner
commutation Of the punishment awarded 10 him
also, a copy of the records Of the Court, con-
tanning the trial and sentence Of said Webster,
and also sundry other petitions and arguments
referring to, or in support Of the petition Of said
Webster, now report,
That by said record, it appears that said Web
stcr was regularly indicted for the crime of the
murder Of DR.. George PaFknan, and set to the
bar Of the Supreme Court at the March Term
/ thereof, A. ID. l650--and there having been en-
quired of how he would acquit himself concern
ing the premises, for answer, said he was not
guilty, and thereof put himself upon the country.
Counsel was thereupOn assigned for the pris-
oner. On the nineteenth day Of March follow
ing, said Webster again set 10 the bar to be
tried. a jury was empanneled and sworn, and
after full hearing, on their oaths declared that
the said John w. Webster was guilty. And
thereafterwards, viz the lst day Of April,
in said Court, said Webster being placed at the
bar for sentence il was demanded of him, BY
said Court, if he had anything to say wherefore
sentence should not be declared upon the premi-
ses and verdict aforesaid. To which said Web
ster nothing further answered.
Thereupon ii was considered by the Court,
that the said John w. Webster be taken to the
Jail whence he came, and thence to the place Of
execution, and there be hanged by the neck until
he be dead.
Since the passing said sentence by the said
Court, numerous petitions and arguments have
been presented to the Executive for the full par
don of said Webster, founded upon the belief
and assumption that he never committed even
a homicide. Recent events, however, relieve
the Committee in great measure, from the con-
sideraton of all such arguments and petitions
On the Cd Of July, A. ID. 1850, the Rev. DR.
Putnam, by appointment, appeared IN behalf Of
said Webster, before the Committee on Pardons,
and read a confession made by said Webster,
acknowledging that ne committed the homicide,
and declaring the manner and circumstances
thereof-and at the same time presented said
Webster's petition for commutation of the
sentence aforesaid. The petition and confession
were supported by an able argument by DR..
Putnam.
To this confession and argument, and all argu-
ments and evidence supporting it, we have given
our most serious and anxious attention, and we
have proceeded TO consider the same with hearts
and minds deslrous TO know the truth, and our
duty, and with firm purpose to do l7hat both shall
require.
IL seems TO your Committee that the sentence
in the case OF Webster, having been passed by
the Court, after full and fair trial. in the course
. of which all the facts and circumstances which
/ could then be brought to light, were patiently
and thoroughly investigated and weighed BY the
jury-and having been fully affirmed, after a
careful revision Of the law upon trial, since had
by the full Court on solemn argument of both
sides, there appears TO be no grounds for Exec
utive interposuion, except it may be found in the
subsequent confession OF the prisoner.
/ In this view, the only questions, il seems to
Us, are, whether the statements which said Web
ster now makes in his Confession, of the manner
/ and circumstances of the homicide, are SO con-
frmed by other evidence or so intrinsically pro-
bable that they ought TO be received as true; and
if true, whether they justify the Executive in
Communication of the punishment.
To these questions the minds Of the Commit
tee have been most carefully directed and, as
they trust, with no unwilingness on their part te
. come TO an affirmative conclusion if they could
do so consistently with supreme regard TO truth
and justice. But after all the consideration
which they have been able to bestow upon this
confession, and under the light Of all the evil
. dence and the comments with which il has been
accompanied and supported they feel constrained d
TO say, that the effect has not been such as to
satisfy their minds that the position of the case
. Is materially changed. In other words, the pa
liatng facts and circumstances set forth in the
confession, have not been so confirmed by other
I evidence and circumstances, as to form proper
and sufficient basis for Executive interference
To this painful conclusion the committee have
I unanimously come.
The committee, therefore respectfully report,
that they cannot consistently with what they
conceive their duty, recommend communication
of the sentence in the case of John W. Webster,
as prayed for in his petition.
Nothing now remains for the committee, in
the discharge of this painful duty, but 10 advise
your EXcelency in determining upon time for
the execution, and they name FRIpAY, THE
THiRTIETH DAY OF AUGCsT EExT, the day
and recommend to your Excellency TO decide
upon that day as the time for the execution OF
John w. Webster.
JOHN REED. Chairman.
CoUNcu CHAMBER, July l9, 1850
After the conclusion Of the reading of the re.
port, His Excellency, Governor Briggs, read tc
the Council an address, from which We copy the
concluding paragraphs;
d" 1t is undisputed, that on the 23d day Of No.
vember, I549, John White Webster, q professor
IN harvard university, ana IN the Neulcal Col
lege in Boston, did at midday in his room, in
that college, within a few feet of the place
where he daily stood and delivered scientific
lectures to large class of young men, with
unlawful violence, take the life of DR.. George
Parkman, a respectable citizen of Boston, who
had come to that room at the repeated requests
of the said prisoner; and that after taking his life
he eviscerated and in manner most shocking
to humanity, mutilated the body Of his victim
burning parts of it in furnace, and depositing
other parts of il in different places in the build
ing, where they were found by persons who
were seeking after DR.. Parkman; that after
killing him, he robbed his lifeless creditor, by
taking from him two notes of hand, signed by
himself to which he had no right, and commit
ted still another crime by making false marks
upon those notes and that Jury of his coun-
try, empanneled according TO law, under the