Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-05
CLOSING SCENES OF BIZ. WEBsTER's
TRIAL,

multitude in The vicinity became intense, and various
were the conjectues made There could be seen In all
directions in Court Square groups OF people engaged IN
serious discussions concerning the trial. The scene
within the Court, though more solemn, was not less ex-
citing and Notwithstanding the lateness OF the hour at
which the result made known, there Were present
in the Supreme Court many OF Oldest and most res
pectable citizens. The scenes within and without the
Court house will be forgotten by those who wit
messed them.
The Jury after retiring passed some forty minutes in
GREATNESS silence scarcely exchanging glances OF the
eye. The strong, unbroken chain OF evidence together
with the powerful argument OF the Attorney General,
had so fastened the marks of guilt upon the prisoner,
that almost the only question for the Jury to upon
was that Of tormality-to vote upon their verdict.
At halt past nine O'Clock, the foreman, Mr. Byram,
his associates upon their duty which he sta
ted to be to render verdict in accordance with law
and evidence. There were three questions to be set
tied, in order to justify the jurors in the rendition OF
verdict OF guilty, and these were-Was proved that
the fragments of human body found on Prot. Web
sers premises at the Medical College were the remains
Of the late Dr. George Parkman7 Was it proved that
Professor Webster, and he alone, murdered Dr Park
man! And was the murder the result OF deberatou
and malice aforehought On each OF these questions,
the jury voted by holding up their right hands as fol
lows:
First Question-Has the identity OF DR.. Parkman's
ing up his right hand
Second Questionable Prof John White Webster,
and no one else, murder DR.. George Parknan? Yes
each juror again holding up his right hand.
Third QueSti0n-Wa as the murder the result OF pre-
vious preparation, and was it ''mace aoIethoughl"
On this uterrogaory, the jury stood eleuen to one.
After this vote the jury rose from their tabe--some
walked the room, others looked hxedy upon indifferent
Objects and all were Ill tears and terrible state OF an
gulsh. The dissenting juror was allowed 10 remain un-
questioned TOR some thirty minutes while he collected
his thoughts and the evidence again in his mind
Finally he called upon his associates to vote again upon
the question, when he held up his hand with the other
eleven, and then unanimous verdict was declared
There was very little discussion in the jury room, and
the testimony OF those witnesses who swore to having
the deceased after the time that the murder
stated to have been committed, we'll and fully
sdered but the jury could not bring themselves to be-
let that the witnesses could have been correct.
Attwenty minutes OF eleven o'clock, it was rumored
throughout the Court room that the jury had agreed
upon verdict and that they about report The
which Immediately ensued was awful. The
tire Court room crowded with seated and standing
spectators, all watching, with fixed gaze, the door
through which was expected the jury would enter.
AT thirteen minutes OF eleven, the prisoueI unmana-
led in custody OF officer Jones, in and took his
seatin the dock. He looked down-cast. His lips
compressed and his face pale In three minutes alter
the OF the prisoner the Court and Jury entered
simultaneous ythe Judges through the Western door,
and the Jurors through the Eastern door,
All eyes were now turned upon the jury whose faces
bespoke suppressed emotion and soemnity and whose
cheeks in several instances. were wet with tears Alter
a short pause Judge Shaw instructed the Clerk OF the
Court to nterogate the Jury TO their agreemenupon
verdict and the latter proceeded as follows:
CIerhGentlemen OF the jury, have you agreed upon
a verdict?
Foreman of the Jury-We have.
Clerk-Who shall speak for you7
The Jwy-Our Foreman.
C2erk-John w. Webster, rise and hold up your right
hand. Mr.. Foreman look at the prsoner-John W.
Webster, you look at the Foreman OF the Jury What
say you, Mr. Foreman, is the prisoner the bar, John
w. Webster, guilty or not guiltyl
Foreman-GUILTY.
Cerk-So you say, Mr. Foreman, so you all say, gen.
tlemen OF the Jury}
The .Jury-WE DO.
The announcement OF the verdict had terrible effect
upon the prisoner His upled arm dropped, as if the
circulation of the blood through it had been stopped
and his hand struck upon the bar in front Of the dock
Indeed there was an appearance OF something like a
paraytic shock visible throughout his entire Frame and
he sank backwards into his chair He raised his
right hand to his face but for time there was not
strength enough in his hold it there. The mus
cles OF his face evinced great internal emotion and in
all respects he presented most appalling spectacle He
seemed like man whose last hope had been scattered
by single blow. During the minutes which elapsed
i'll this solemn ceremony the Court presented sight
seldom if ever witnessed before We shall not UNDER
take to describe the appearance OF the audience dur
ing the rendition OF the verdict the which
they depored themselves because truthful picture OF
this scene is beyond the power OF our pen.
From the atlas.
After the rendition OF the verdict, Judge Merrick went
up to the convicted man, who had remained in faint
ing condition, apparently, and whispered something in
his ear Whether the words those OF hope or no.
the victim OF legal retrbutlon became calm and,
when the learned counsel took his passive hand and
shook it, he lett the DOCK few tears were seen to
tricke down the unfortunate mans cheek after which
he seemed to be collected He took his hand
kerchet, and putting to his eyes, sat in this
until Sheriff Eveleh gave the order for his REMOVAL
On hearing the command, he started up, and lett the
Court with officer Jones, with much of the usual springy
gait and OF manner, and was instantly conveyed
Jail The crowd around the entrance great as
he stepped into the carriage.
Among those in court who seemed more affected by
the scene than Others was Littleheld We noticed him
in tears, and remarked that the which had Just
passed was an awful one. He conceded and added
lf was conscious OF having uttered single word
that had any doubt about, would never forgive my
self"
We learn that upon DR.. Websters arrival in the Jail
office, from the Court House. his first inquiry was
"Have my things been sentl" (meaning change of
under cothing3 to which Mr. Andrews the JaiIor re-
piled in the affirmative. He was accompanied to his
cell by Mr.. Andrews, and when within ii, said-"Well
Mr.. Andrews, they have found me guilty, and must
meals from Parkef's, usua!" Mr.. Andrews replied
atirmatvely His taken from the CELL and
thereupon he said-"There is no need OF taking them
away. am too much of a Christian to do that" He
had been in the habit, during his confinement of using
alcohol TO heat liquids, and having exhausted all that
he had requested Mr. Andrews obtain some more Tor
him. In feeling In his pockets for money pay for the
same tremor came over him similar to that with
which he was visited the night OF his commitment-
His language during the time Saturday night Mr.
Andrews was with him, was very incoherent. He APP |
peared yesterday IN much the condition he had
been Tor some days pevous and partook Of the food
prepared for him.
We learn that the rumor that letters had been re-
ceived by the judges from Mrs. khoades and Mr. Gle
land revokng their testimony, is without foundation
In reference to Mr. Cleland, we have received the fol-
lowing note -
SIR regret to find it stated IN the american Ssn-
tine and Daily Times that | had retracted nv state
ment as 10 the day on which saw Dr. Parkman in
reply whe&, beg say that said statement is un-
true, and thu khave never for moment doubted, in
my own mn zine day or the hour on which saw |
Boston, March 81 W. SAMUEL CLELAND |
[From tl7e4 ston Bee,l
Those who were present b. court when the verdict (
was declared, will remembs That when Judge Merrick
parted with him in the dock he holding white
to his face and THAT immediately follow
ing it, he nerved himself up, and rose upon his feet, and
seemed to have perfect command othis limbs 1t is be.
eved by many that the handkerchief contained Their
from reliable source and il will not now create an
influence against the prisoner state it, that when in
the jail office with officer Starkweher on the night of