Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-02
Transmitted for the Baltimore American.
CONVICTION OF PROFESSOR WEBSTER.

CONVICTION OF PROFESSOR WEBSTER.
Mr.. Clifford, the Attorney for the Government, closed
his speech about half past seven O'Clock on Saturday
evening After this, by permission OF the Court, the
prisoner addressed the jury tor short time. The jury
then RETIRED about eight o'clock, and alter being in
sutaon for about three hours, returned and rendered
their verdicpronouncng the prisoner guilty OF murder
in the first degree. The excitement this unctue was
intense and painful The prisoner, upon hearing the
verdict sunk back in his chair with his hands upon the
railing and his face his hands, and remained for
the space OF about ten minutes. After recovering from
the Shock he turned to the officer who had him in
charge, and said-"Why you keeping me here to bel
gazed att" He then forthwith taken to the prison,
and locked up for the night His razor, knife and other
Implement by which suicide might be perpetrated We're
carefully put out OF his reach
Mr.. Cleand, one of the witnesses for the defence,
has retraced part Of his evidence in reference the
day which he saw DR.. Parkman. The Rev.
Mr.. Wells convinced him that the note received
the 22d, and not on the 23d November, as he hac
testified.
# is further stated that Mrs Rhodes has written let
ter OF the Judges in which she retracts her state
ment given to the Jury that it was Doctor Parkman
whom she
The excitement until the Jury returned to the court
room and the result OF their deliberations known
was beyond description. Every ear was open to hear
the verdict
SECOND DESPATCH.
The Attorney General having concluded his remarks,
Chief Justice Shaw, with much emotion, stated the
prisoner it his privilege now to address the Jury
he had anything to say, or any explanation 70 's.ahe
Professor Webster arose, and In very distinct voice
made the following remarks:
have desired to enter into explanation of the me-
work of circumstances which by my peculiar position
the government has thrown around me, and which mi
nine cases out of ten are completely distorted and pro-
badly nine tenths OF which could be subsequently ex
planned. All the points of testimony have been placed
in the hands of my counsel by whom my innocencel
could have been firmly established. Acting entirely I'M
der their direction lhave sealed my lips during the pc
Rod of my confinement trusting myself entirely to|
them They have not deemed it necessary in their su-
nc tn
bring forward evidence to exonerate me from the va
riety OF these arts.
The Government has brought whatever consummate|
ingenuity could suggest against me, and hopeit will
not have an undue influence upon my jury. will not|
aude to many of the charges, but there is one which,
touches me- and that is the letter which has been pro-
duced 1t is not the first had read in the daily prnts
which have been distributed in my apartments, and
rious publications which have been made respecting
them One statement was that had, alter the dsap-I
pearance OF Dr. Parkman, purchased quantity OF oxa
lie acid to remove stains OF Blood and it instantly
cured to me that this parcel might me saved and pro
duced when necessary For several days Mrs. Webb
had requested to purchase some acid for domes
tic use and my wife had repeatedly laughed at me
because | had not purchased it, had borne it in my
mind that afternoon and had gone into Ihayers store
under the Revere House, and made the purchase andI
waited until Cambridge omnibus came by, and jumped
into with the bundle. went home and gave the bum
die to my wife, and when afterwards | heard so much
said about the bundle it flashed my mind in moment
that this must be the bundle was to this bundle and
my wife.
As regards the nitrate of copper in the usual lectures
preceding my arrest had occasion Tor the use OF che
mcal agents in producing changes on various subjects
among others on gases. prepared large quantity oil
oxac acid gas. A gallon jar was filled with gas, nI
order produce changes from dark colorto orange
and also in air great heat being applied to the jar the
gas drawn through water AS the nitrate OF copper
spilled the floor of the laboratory, it spilled ac
cidentay, from the quantity used in my laboratory be
tween the day OF DR.. Pakmans disappearance and my
oNyn arraSt n | mi nj oil
circumstances which have been distorted, My COUNSEL
have pressed me to keep calm-my very camness has
been made declare against me- but my trust has been
in my God and my own innocence.
In regard to money must say word. The money!
which paid DIR. Pdrkman on the afternoon OF Friday
Nov 30, had saved up from time to time and kept inI
trunk in my house in Cambridge Unfortunately mol
one saw take it out-hereiore can only give
my word that such is the fact Several years ago had
students who were in the habit OF being In my abnra
tory and who injured my apparatus, therefore pre-
pared every thing for my own use with my own hands.
That is the reason why exclude persons from my Ia
boratory AS regards my whereabouts from the hour of
DR. Parkman's disappearance have put into my coun-
ellis hands salts factory information which will ac-
count for every day had spent during that week. and
for every day and every hour. neverw absent from
home.
evening One thing that has been omitted by my coun
sell was that on Friday, the day which the alleged
murder was said to have been committed, | had pur
chased Humbodts new work Cosmos, and while wait
ing for omnibus, stepped into Brghams to take a
mutton chop and in coming out to take the omnibus
had forgotten my book but aitermy arrest remembered
the place where had left it and mentioned it to my
counsel They had sent to Brghams and the book had
been found
The Professor here sat down, but almost Instantly
arose and said | will say word more-l have felt
very much distressed by the production OF these anony
nous leers-nore so than by anything else which has