The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-08

of tone that Was master of, | abruptly addressed
him in substance thus: 'Dr. Webster, in all proba
blity your days arc numbered. You cannot, you
dare not, speak falsely TO me now. You must not
die with lie in your mouth, and 80 prove To your
self that your repentance for the sins OF your life 10
insincerc and Intellectual Tell me the truth then,
in confidence 10 be kept sacred during your HE
time, and as much longer my regard for the
Happiness OF your family shall seem to me TO re
quirr and the interest of truth and justice to per
init Search to the bottom OF your heart for the his
tory of your motives, and tell me- before God, did
II never occur to you before the decessc of DR.
Parkman. that his death, ii you could bring il 10
pass, would be great advantage To you, at least
that personal injury TO him might possibly be the
result OF your expected conference with hun, Asa
dying man, charge you to answer me truly and
exactly or else be silent Had you not such a
thought" "No. never said he with energy and
ieehng 'As live, and as God is my witness
never was no more capable of such thought
than one OF my innocent children"
never had the rcnotcst idea OF injurng DIR. p.
until the moment the blow struck. DR.. p. WAS
extremely severe and sharp tongued the most pro-
voking OF men; and ] am irritable and passionate.
quckness and brief violence of temper has been
the besetting sin Of my life. was ali only child,
troll over my passions that ought to have acquired
early, and the consequence is-all this - But
you notified DIR. Parkman to met you at a certain
hour, and told him you would pay him, when you
knew you had not the means of paying him.
+" No. he replied, did not tell him should pay
him; and there Is no evidence that told him so,
except my own words, spoken after his disappear
snce and after had determined to Ia Ike the ground
that HAD paid him. Those words of the
miserable tissue OF falsehood to which was com
United from the moment began to conceal the
homicide never had a thought of injuring DR..
Parkman."
Having finished reading his notes of the state :
inent made by Dr. w cbster the Odd Of May, DR..
Putnam referred generally to the supplementary
statements made by DR.. Webster, viz, his
for inquring of Litt!ctied about the defect In the
vault attached To the dissccting department, from
which noxious cffiuvia escaped; his application
to lIttlehed 10 procure some blood for him, for
perimenal purposes; his letter to his family re-
questing that certain package should be pre-,
served, which hc said contained nitric acid and its
preservation he supposed 10 be necessary to dis
prove IA statement made in newspaper, that il
was oxalIc acid; also ii more particular account OF
the keys found in his and finally, expla-
nation about the tan and grape vines, with whirh
lac proposed TO make some experiments.
Professor Webster's Original Petition for
Pardon.
The following is the first petition of DR.. Web
ster 10 the Executive, TO which Dr. Putnam refers,
and which was Withdrawn on his recommendations
To his erceIlency George N. Briggs, LII. d., aud
TO The honorable Council Of the Slate IF Massachusetts,
Having been convicted before the Supreme judicial
Court of the murder Of DR.. George Patkman |
would most respectfully and humbly petition your
oxcelency and the honorable Council, to be permit
ted 10 declare, in the most solemn manner that
entirely innocent OF this awful crime thnt /
never entertained any other than the kindest feel
ings towards him; and that never had any in
,iuoemcnt 10 injure, in any way, him whom have
bong numbered among my best friends.
To Him who seetl in secret, and before whom
may ere long be called to appear, would appeal
for thc'truth of what now declare also for the
truth OF the solemn declaration, that l had no
agency IN placing the remains oil a human body in
under my rooms in the Medical College in Bos-
ton, nor do know by whom they placed
am the victim OF circumstances, or foul CON
rpiracy, or of the attempt of some individual to
cause suspicion to- fall upon me; influenced per
haps by the prospect of obtaining large reward.
When first charged with this dreadful crime ]
did not publish To the world declaration of my
Innocence. or any explanation of the circumstances
tendingto bring suspicion on me, solely in consc-
quence oi entire ignorance Of the course ought to
adopt, and implicit reliance on the camer judg
ment OF others. had however, prepared for pub
LEGATION document to that effect, but there Was
strong disposition from the first, misinterprct
my every look action and expression, it was deem
ed most advisable for Inc to preserve and maintain
silence; the document was, therefore, with no lit
tie struggle on my part, withheld. Immediately
upon my arrest every means resorted to, to
bend even the most triiiing appearances in my la
boratory, and insignificant circumstances To add
10 suspicion, and To pervert them to my disadvan-
tage
In the state of mind in which was, silence was
constantly urged upon me, and complied, NOR,
strictly perhaps than ought To have done. Every
method of poisoning the public mind, and OF OK
citing prejudice against resorted to; false
hoods, imputations and fabrications were daily
dihused, and soon perceived that the contradic
ton Of one would lead % Others and that the refu
tation of them all would be endless task.
therefore submitted in silence and resignation, be
lievng that the time NJ shortly arrive when IA,
who bdngeth light out u darkness would cause ia,
truth 30 appear, and my innocence be made mani
fest to all.
Had previously been aware of the use that wai
10 be made of some circumstances my trial, tC
give an unjust and erroneous impression If unex-
a a..
denoc To explain them most satisfactorily.
Some of the statements, references, and circun-
stances however, could not be fully explained OF
dspruyed without the testimony Of my wife, o
which, unfortunately, ! could not avail myself
nov pray your honors that the evidence may be re-
viewed by you, and that the testimony of my viii,
may be heard and received also my own state
ments and explanations.
Repeating in the most solemn and positive
ner, and under the fullest sense OF my responsible
~ as man and a Christian, that am wholly
innocent Of this charge, 10 the truth OF which thu
sesrcher Of all hearts is a witness, would humbl,
and respectfully pray that the privilege ] hav'
asked may be granted. do this under the full belle
that the testimony and explanations ] would nov
offer are such a. will disproyc many things, impa
very greatly the evidence Of at least two witnesses
and place ia their true light circumstances now Oh
scure.
On reviewing my case, your honors will, ! trust
find sufficient reasons for reversing the decision
the court and for the interposition Of mercy.
The knowledge Of my feelings and habits, and o
my various cngs gements and occupation of time
both before and after thu dssppearsnce OF Dr. Park
nan. have from the first been sufficient assurance
90 my afflicted family Of my innocence; and mel
ti,er that, their trust in Him who has sustained
both them and me in days and nights Of sorrow
and sadness, have been shaken by the unloo ed fo
result Of my trial. They would pray 10 be permit
ted to unite with him who Is their sole earthly de
pendence in this petition, believing that your en-
cccncy and the honorable council will find suff
rient grounds for granting To INC pardon. and o
AZ. -
most respectfully and humbly pray.
(sgned) J. W. WEBSTER.
BosToS, April ~, 1850.
Withdrawn, application OF Dr.. Webster
June {, 1901