The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-04-12

| against any one, VINO snail have been lOunt
guilty, in due course of the administration
OF Justice, OF having violated this law.
is one of the most solemn acts OF iudcia
power which an earthly tribunal can bt
called upon to exercise. !, is high ant
exemplary manifestation of the sovereign
authority of the law. as well in its ster,
and iniiexible severity, as in its protecting
and palernal benieniry. 1t Furnishes tho
guilty with severity. IN order that the rgb
TO the en- joyment OF life, the most precious
OF all rights, may be more enecrua!y se'
cured. by the record before us, it appears
that you have been indicted by the Grand
Jury Of this county. for the crime Of mur.
der, alleging that on the 23rd of Novembe,
last, you made an assault on the person OF
DIR. Geo. Parkman, and by acts Of violence
you deprived hlm Of life, with malice alore
thought.
This is alleged to have been done within
the apartments Of public institution in
this cily-the Medical College, of which
you were Professor and Instructor, upon
the person OF man of mature age, well
known, and Of extensive connexions in this
community, nnI benefac6r of that Insi-
tuition. The charge of an offence so ag-
gravated, in the midst of a peaceful COM
munity, created an instantaneous out burst OF
surprise, alarm and terror, and was follow
ed by universal and intense anxiety 10 learn,
by the results Of a judlclal proceeding
whether this charge was true. The day DI
trial came, court was organiZed to con.
duct l-a ury almost Of your own choos-
ing was selected, in the mariner best cacu.
lated to insure intelligence and mparrallty
Counsel were appointed to assist you in
conducting your defence, who have done
all that learning. eloquence, and skill could
accomplish. in presenting your defence in
It's best aspects. A very large number oI
witnesses were carefully examined, and
after laborious trial. of unprece den,ed
length, conducted as we hope, with pa
llence and li1el'y-ihat jury have pro
nounced you guilty.
The last sad duty of pronouncns sen.
tencc, which is indeed the voice OF the law
and not our own,-Yet in giving it utter
ance, we cannot do 1t with the feelings u
Indifference, rs a formal and official act
God forbid iha, we should be prevented
rrom indulging and expressing those ire
presshle feelings o. interest, sympathy, anC
compassion, which arise spontaneously il
ou: hearts. Aud we do most sincerely anC
cordially dep!ore the distressing condition
into which CRIME has brought you, and
though we have 10 word of present con.
ISOLATION. or of earthly hope, to offer you in
this hour of your affection, yet we devoutly
commend YOU to tie mercy of our Heaven.
Iy Father, with whom is abundance oi
mercy, and from whom we may all hope
for pardon and peace. And now nothing
remains hit the solemn duty Of pronouoc.
ing the sentence which the law fixes for the
crime of murder, of which you stand con
victed, which sentence is, that you, Joh,
w. Webster, be removed from this place,
and detained in close custody in the prison
of this County. and thence taken, at such
time as the Executive Government of this
Commonwealth may, by Their warrent ap.
prove, to the place of execution, AMI there
be hung by the neck unIil you are dead
and may God, oI his infinite goodness
have mercy on your soul.