Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-04-16
PRoEEssoR WEBSTER.

The trial and conviction of Professor Web
ster, for the murder of DIR. Parkman, has pro-
duccd much dissatisfaction, the general inn
preston being that the evidence was insult
cient to justify the verdict given. The whole
trial has been ably reviewed and commented
on in some of papers in Philadelphia and
New York; and 1t Is insisted, that the Jury
had no-right to presume that the six or seven
tPerDoas--ysho- -ssEoss to- seeing -Drs-Psrlmsa
after the hour at which Webster was charged
with having murdered him, were mistaken.
If the portrait given of DR.. Parkman in the
pamphlet report of the trial resemble the O.
riginal, We think that It would be a difficult
matter for any one acquainted with the DIR.
to mistake another for him
In this city, Philadelphia and New York.
the general feeling is: that Professor Webster
should not be hung and public sentiment in
Boston appears to have changed in his favor.
The Governor of Massachusetts viii, ofeourse.
give the testimony given on the trial a fair
and candid consideration, and If 4 doubt exiSt
in his mind as to its suficiency to convict the
prisoner, he will not enforce the sentence of
the law.
Littlefeld, 1t seems, has received the re-
ward of three thousand dollars, although in
his testimony he disavowed all intention 10
claim it, or expectation of receiving it tits
said that the family voluntarily gave him the
reward but under the circumstances he
should have declined to receive II, in order TO
be consistent. Indeed, the whole proceedings
of this man Littlefeid In regard to the dis
coyery of the body and the proseestion Of
Professor Webster, were strange and tnsatis-
factory. In less than three hours fr9rn the
time DR. Parkman Is said 20 have beer, killed
and before even his own family could have
had any suspicion Of his disappearance. Lit
tlefeld is heard to speak of his absenoe In
> few hours later he has fixed his susbicions
s0n DIR. Webster, and manifests the cfeatest
lesire to discover the fate of DR.. Parxnnau
hnd yet, with his feelings thus enlisted IN The
:ause of humanity, and his heart oyerfiowing
With sympathy for the Doctors family. he oc:
cupies his nights in dancing and frolicking,
as though he wished by excitement to dissi-
pate reflections which he dreaded Suspect
ing Professor Webster of the murder. he not
only supposed that a portion If not the whole
of the body was secreted in the College but he
decides that 1t Is IN 4 certain vault, which he
opens at the precise spot where It has been
thrown. We shall not say that, in this IN
stance, the old saying was verified, that e he
who hides can fnd,n but We do say that IL ex-s
hibited a wonderful accuracy of judgment In
Mr.. i. to cut hole in the Half of the vault
at the exact spot where the body Law. Had
he not been dancing and fddliDg all the week
ne might nave been suspected of obtaining
has knowledge OF locations through . mos
meric process
According 70 6 or 2 Witnesses they saw DR..
Parkman from two to Eve O'Clock on the day
be is said to have been murdered Some Of
these Witnesses had known him for years;
and We ask the reader TO examine the like
ness of the Doctor contained IN the pamphlet
edition of the trial, and then say whether he
thinks it possible that he could mistake the
person of the Doctor previously acquainted
with him. The Dentist could make no mis-.
take in identifying the artificial teeth found, 81
although they bad been subjected to the ac-
ton Of fire; and yet sixor seven individuals
mistaken as to having seen Dr. Parkrnan -
stated BY them The Governor of Massachn-.
setts will pause before be causes a man 10 Be !.
executed, who has been senteneed under such
circumstances.-Ba Baltimore CEfpper.