The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-30
Professor Webster ordered for Execution

The case of Dr. Webster was finally dis
posed of by the Governor and Council, on
Friday morning. The Council met at ten
o'clock, when Lieut.. Governor Reed, as
Chairman of the Committee on Pardons, sub
mt'ed the following report against commu-
tation, and fixing the day of execution
The Committee on Pardons, to whom was
referred the petition of John w. Webster, a
convict uuder sentence of death, praying. in
behalf of himself and his wifo and children,
the Governor and Council to extend to the
petitioner Communication of the punishment
awarded 10 him-also a copy Of the records
of the Court, containing the trial and sem
tence 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
Webster was regularly indicted for the crime
of the murder of DIR. George Parkmail, and
set to the bar of the Supreme Court at the
Term thereof. 4. d. 1850, and there having
beer. inquired of, how he would acquil him
self concerning the premises, for answer, said
he was not guilty, and thereof put himself
upon the county,
Counsel was thercupon assigned for the
prisoner. On the nineteenth day of March
following. said Webster was again sci to the
bar to be tried. 4 jury was empanneled
and sworn, ard after full hearing. on their
oaths declared that the said John w. Web.
ser was guilty. And thereafterwards, viz,
on the lst day of April, in said Court, said
Webster being placed at the bar for SEN
tence it was demanded of him by said Court,
if he had anything 70 say wherefore sentence
should not be declared upon the premises
and verdict aforesaid. To which said Web.
ster nothing further answered.
Thereupon it 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 said
Court, numerous petitions and arguments
have been presented to the Executive fol
the full pardon Of said Webster, founded
upon the belief and presumption that h,
never committed even a homicide. Rccen
events, however, relieve the committee in
great measure, from the consideration of al
such arguments and petitions.
On the I'd of July, A. ID. 1850, the Rev
DIR. Putnam, by appointment. appeared il
behalf of said Webster, before the Commit
tee on Pardons, and read a confession made
by said Webster, acknowledging that ht
committed the homicide, and declaring tn,
manner and circumstances thereof-and a
the same time presented said Webster's pc
tion for a commutation Of the sentence afore
asid. I he petition and confession were sup
ported by an able argument by DIR. Putnam
To this confession and argument. and al
arguments and evidences supporting it, w
have given our most serious aud anxious at
ton, and we have proceeded TO consider th
same with hearts and minds desirous to h no,
the truth, and our dufy, and with frm pu,
pose to do phdt both should require.
1t seems to your Committee that the sen
tence in the case of said Webster, hayin
been passed by the Court, after full an
fair trial, IN the course of which, all the fac
and circumstances which could then b
brought 10 light, were patiently and thcl
oughly investigated and weighed by the jur,
and having been fully affirmed, after care
ful revision of the law upon trial, since ha
by the full Court, on solemn argument o
both sides. there appears 10 be no ground f
) Executive interpOsition, except il may
found in the subsequent confession Of IL
prisoner.
o In this view the only questions, as ii seen
to us, are whether the statements which sal
Webster now makes in his confession, Of II
= manner and circumstances of the homicid
!, are so confirmed by other evidence, or
d intrinsically probable that they ought to