Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-04-04
Conviction of Prof. webster.

occupied eleven days, exciting a deep interest
everywhere throughout the country, and the whole
of the circumstances and proceedings from one of
the most remarkable cases in criminal annals
The entire evidence fom first to last has been cir
cumstantial, and even if we believe all the wit
nesses testifies truly, far from complete But the
course of the defence has surprised every one
! The counsel, while the government was produc-
ing its strongest testimony, have crept along with
| a mildness amounting to indecison; and no one
can carefully survey the ground they occupied
and their efforts in behalf of their client without
coming 10 the conclusion that their hearts were not
| in the work. The reasons for this may remain
for all time secret but it has had as powerful
influence in producing the conviction Of the pris
oner, as though they had at once admitted guilt
and that they were at work in the face Of full
confession. There is evidently great deal, in
the case very great deal, which has not been
made to appear
The arguments OF counsel having been conclud-
ed, the prisoner spoke in his own defence, thing
rather unusual in our criminal trials. What he
says will be read with deep and painful interest.
He complains much of the course Of his counsel.
The following are the proceedings in the case ai
ter the conclusion of the argument
PROFESSOR wEBsTER's SPEECH
The attorney general having concluded his re-
marks, Chief Justice Shaw, with much emotion,
stated to the prisoner that ii his privilege now
to address the jury, if he had anything TO say, or
any explanation 10 make.
Professor Webster arose, and in very distinct
voice, made the following remarks:
- H., ! ,>lo tirr nf
the complicated network of circumstances which,
in nine cases out ften, are completely distorted,
and probably nine -tenihs of which, could be sat
isiactorily explained. All the points of testimony
have been placed in the hands Of my counsel, by
whom my innocence could have been firmly
tablished. Acting entirely under their direction,
| have sealed my lips during the period OF my con-
hnement, trusting myself entirely TO them. They
have not deemed il necessary, in their superior
wisdom, (thiS said in ironical lone) to bring
forward the evidence which was to exonerate me
from variety of these acts The government
have brought whatever conSnmmate ingenuity
could suggest against me, and hope 1t will not
have an undue influence upon my jury. will (
not alude to many of the charges, but there is
which touches me. and that is The letter which has
been produced 1t is not the frs, had read in
the daily prints which have been distributed in
my apartments, and various publications which !
have been made respecting them. One statement
was that had, after the disappearance OF Doctor /
Parkman. purchased quantity OF oXalIc acid to
remove the stains OF blood, and it instantly oc-
Cured 10 me that this parcel might be saved and
produced when necessary. For several days Mrs. |
W. had requested me To purchase some acid for
domestic use, ard as my wife had repeatedly |
laughed at me because had no, purchased it, |
had borne it in my mind that afternoon, and had
gone into Thayer's store, under the Revere House,
made the purchase, and waited till the Cambridge
Hourly came along, and then Jumped INTO the ON
nibus with the bundle. | went home and gave
he bundle 10 my wife and when afterwards |
heard so much said about the bundle, 1t flashed
'n my mind in a moment that this must be the
1undle 1t was 10 this bundle, and not 10 any
document that referred in the direction to my
wife As regards the nitrate OF copper in the
usual lectures preceding NY arrest had Occa-
ION 10 use the influence of chemical agents in
changes of various subjects. Among
thers on gases. prepared large quantity of
xallc acid gas. A gallon jar was filled with gas
n order TO produce the changes from dark color 10
range, and also in air. On great heat being ap-
lied 10 the jar the gas was drawn through wafer. ;
s to the nitrate of copper spilled the floor of
ne laboratory, il spilled accidentally from a
quantity, and by me, in my lectures between the
lay Of Dr. Parkmans disappearance and my own
rrest. So might go on explaining variety OF
circumstances which have been distorted My
ounSel nave pressed me 10 keep calm MY very
almness has been made 10 bear against me /; but I
~ trust has been in my God and my own inno- /
ence. In regard 10 money must say word. {
he money which paid Dr. Parkman on the af-
srnoon Of Friday Nov. 23d, had saved up from
me 10 time and kept it in a trunk in my house
l Cambridge; but, unfortunately, no one ever ,
aw me take it out-therefore, can only give
~ word that such is the fact, Several years :
CO. had students who were in the habit OF being
! my laboratory, and who injured my apparatus
lerefere, prepared everything for my own use in
~ lectures with my own hands, and that is the !
'ason why excluded persons from my aborato- J
:. As regards my Whereabouts from the hour OF !
II. P.s disappearance, have put into my coun- .
Els hands satisfactory information, which will i
ccount for every day had spent during that 4
eek-for every day and every hour. ] never a
as absent from home. AS TO being seen by Mr.. s
anderson was at home every evening. One 9
ing that has been omitted by my counsel was that It
4 the Friday on which the alleged murder was V
nd to have been committed had purchased q
nmboldt'S new work, Cosmos" and while wait u
g for an omnibus, stepped into Brighams TO take y
mutton chop, and, in coming out to take the om-
bus, had forgotten my book but after my ar
st remembered the place where had left it, and c
entoned it to my counsel They had sent to ?
tigham's and the book had been found u
The Professor here sat down. but almost instant u
arose and said, I" will say one word more. | o
We ieltvery much distressed oy the production Q
those anonymous letters, more than by any IL
ing that has occurred during the trial. call II
Y God W HAITI if waS The last hour