The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-21
INTELLIGENCE By THE MAILS.
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DIR. WEBSTER TO BE HUNG.
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DECISION Of THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
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COMPUTATION REFUSED.
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Friday, August 80, fixed as the Day Of Execution.
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
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ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR BRIGGS.
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS.
COMPUTATION REFUSED.
Friday, August 80, fixed as the Day Of Execution
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR BRIGGS
From the Boston Traveller. July 10 !

FROM the Boston Traveller July 10
The Governor and Council met this morning, when
unanimous report from the Committee OF Pardonn
against a communication of the punishment of death In
the ease OF Professor Webster for the murder of DR.
Psrkman, was presented This report was accepted by
the Council one member, Mr.. Copeland OF Norfolk
voting in the negative Friday, August thrtieth
was fixed as the day Of execution.
Below we give the report Of the Committee on Par
dons and the address Of the Governor to the Council
COMMITTEES REPORT.
The Committee on Psrdons to whom was referred
tence Of Death praying, in behalf Of himself and his
wife and children the Governor and Council to extend
to the petitioner Q Communication Of the punishment
Court containing the trial and sentence Of said Web
ster and also sundry other petitions and arguments
referring to- or in support Of the petition Of said Web
That, by said record 1t appears that said Webster
was regularly indicted for the crime Of the murder Of
Dr. George Parkman and set to the bar OF the Supreme
Court at the March Term thereof A. d. 1850-and
there having been inquired of how he would acquit
himself concerning the premises, for answer, said
he not guilty, and thereof put himself upon the
Counsel was thereupon assigned to the prisoner On
the 18th day of March following said Webster
again set to the bar TO be tried A jury empsn-
need and and after full hearing their oaths
declared that the said John W Webster was guilty.
And thcreaerwards wis., on the LIST day OF April, In
said Court said Webster being placed at the bar for
sentence It demanded Of him by said Court IL he
had TO WnereIOre benteuce buOuiu Dc
declared upon the pre- and verdict aforesaid To
which said Webster nothing further answered.
Thersupon, 1t 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 hume
rous petitions and arguments have been presented
the Executive for the full pardon OF said Webster
founded upon the belief and presumption that he
never committed even . homicide. Recent events
however relieve the committee, in . great measure
the consideration of eli such arguments and Pc
titiops
On the second Of July, A. D. 1850, the Rev. Dr. Put
nam by appointment appeared in behalf Of said Web
ster, before the Committee on Psrdons, and read
confession made by said Webster acknowledging that
he committed the homicide, and declaring the manner
and circumstances thereof and at the same time pre-
sented said Websters petition for communication Of
the sentence aforesaid The petition and confession
were supported by able argument by DR. Putnam.
To this confession and argument and all arguments
and evidence supporting 1t, we have given our most
serious and attention, and we have proceeded
to consider the with hearts and minds DESTROYS
to know the truth, and our duty and with firm pur-
pose to do what both should require
seems to committee that the sentence In the
of said Webster having been passed by the court
after full and fair trial. in the course Of which, all
the facts and circumstances which could then be
brought to light patiently and thoroughly In
fully affrmed after careful revision Of the law upon
trial since had by the full court on solemn argument
of both sides there appears be ground for Exc
cutive interpretation except 1t may be found In the
subsequent confession OF the prisoner.
In this view the only questions, ss 1t seems to u.s.
makes in his confession, of the manner and orcum-
of the homicide are so confirmed BY other evil
asnce or 50 inrinsicay probable the. they ought 70
the Executive In Communication OF the punishment
To these questions the minds Of the Commtttee have
been most carefully directed and they trust, with
no unwilingness their part to come to an afhrma-
tive conclusisn they could do 30 consistently with
supreme regard to truth and justice But after all
the Considerations which they have been able to be-
stow upon this confession and under the light OF the
evidences and comments with which u mas oeen &C
,k.d tad theyf qe an
that the effect has not been such ~ 20 satisfy their
minds, that the position Of the ease 10 materially
In other words, the pAlliating facts and circum.
stances forth In the confession, have not been
form proper and suncsnt basis for Executive inter
To this painful conclusion the Committee hsv,
The Committee therefore, respectfully report, that
they cannot, consistently, with what they conceive
their duty recommend Communication Of the sentence
In the of John w. Webster, o. prayed for In his
petition.
charge this painful duty but to advise your Excel
and they name Friday the thirteth day Of ugust
eide upon that day the time for the execution Of
John W. Webster. JOHN READ, Chairman
CoSscIL CBAnsrs, July 10, 1850.
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
To IHr HoSoRAHLE CouscIL:
The Council having considered and acted on the
Of John W Webster, convict under sentence Of
death, II kccome my duty, rs the Chief Executive
Magistrate Of the Commonwealth, TO make anal de-
cision question involving the life Of the prisoner
feel the weigh Of is rcsponsbility hut IL rcspon.
sbility found In the path of Official duty, and not
Opposed to eyade II or to shrink from It. For eight
months past this extraordinary case has created q
deep and painful interest among the people Of MAssa
chusetts and Of the Who'll. Union Its history 10 -
brief as 1t Is terrible and insrnetivs Every new de-
yelopement in its progress has been more strange and
has Increased that interest.
on the ed day Of November 1s4e, DR.. George Park
man, well known and highly respectable citissn Of
Re- I'm ts hon anil nm buai
usual tor him, and never returned to them. His un-
expected absence alan med his family and excited the
attention Of the people In and around Boston In the
course aday or It Understood that the pri
sonsr had said that Dr. Park him his rooms
In the Medical College In the vest par, OF the city not
pesranee ana that he then and there paid him SUE
Of money which he DR.. Psrkmsn. took into his hands
and hastily rushed towards the outer door.
DR. ParEmsn was slso by other persons, about
the time Of day within forty feet OF the door Of
The eSsse and .ns 9asay 'o IVA .,s;,, rnss.
towards the College buildings the nett Friday, one
week aftsr the sPpesrsnce OF DR. PIkmaD, the dis
member ed parts Of a human body fosnd In dide-
rent places In and under the occupied by the
prisoner sn that College, some Of them Ina q furnsce
eh.st and other parts in the vault Of prvy attached
to his laboratory.
suspicions we're strongly fixed on him, and he vs
arrested and committed TO Lever.tt street jail A
coroners inquest called. ssd after long exami-
nation into the facts Of the ease, conducted In secret
rportsd that the remains found were parts Of
10 his death BY violence In the Medical Coilegs In Bss
ton on Friday the 2jd day II November aud that he
was killed by John W. Webster. The evidence taken
before tn. inquest not gives 20 the public. In
January 1850 the laid bef>re the Grand Jsry
for the county Of suffolk and the investigation before
that Body resulted In nBding an Indictment against
the prisoner tor the murder Of DR. Psrkman.
He vas arrsigned on the indictnspt, aud plead not
guilty Two Of the most sble and distinguished Law
ysrs q the Common wealth upon his ovo s.lsc
ton assigned TO him counsel by the supreme Court,
and nj. trial before he full bench 81 that COURT AZ
cd On he 18th day Of March. Some time before the
ss- oftfiai the Attorney General furnished the
Sol % the prisoner not only with st of the names u
the witnessef 70 10 cslisd sgzin-e him which "
ouired he done all capital cs'ss IN this Common
sssltb hun alec With a copy Of the testimony taksa
b. ore the Coroner loo and ~hich had been pro-
duced against hiIn b-fofe the Grand Jury
The ms ryointed iuf TIE trial arrived, When four
Judgc, Of tho eupr,me court were present, aod
curing the trial In pursuanca OF the provisions %
law SIXTY jurors had drs from the Jury box IA
the county Of SuaolE ~ Law, the prisoner hal q
right Tcremtorly without giving any reason 20 chat
Is ~ twenty jugOEt and r goua 10 object 10
any others VI slig at hs called In snpau.