The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-23
-s@ CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, APRIL %, 1850

must have como over the mind Of every juror
=" What! can no more be said-no more be
done in behalf of the unhappy prisoner! Is that
the evidence--the only evidence, on which we
are to base our verdict Of MOI Guilty." Z. s,
At that very time, with the light which the
able charge of the Chief Justice afterwards gave
us on several poins of "the law and evidence ?
think speak the sentiments Of nearly if not
quite all the jury, when | say, that they were as
fully prepared for their verdict as they were
when they retired to the jury room, after lis.
tening to the most able and eloquent pleas OF
the prisoners senior counsel and the Attorney
General-so strongly, so fully had the evidence
pointed to the prisoner as the guilty man-and
to no one else After the jury had gone to their
room-with the various evidences Of guilt out
on the table before them, and the door locked
upon them, shut out as Il were entirely from the
world, with nothing but the eye Of Omniscient
God upon them, SO painful was the sense Of re.
sponsibility, SO unwilling were they to come 70
the result which all felt they must come to, that
80 to 40 minutes were spent ere anything was
done-when at last the voice Of the Foreman
was heard calling them to order and reminding
them Of duty, however painful, and when they
had taken their seats around the table-then It
was that one Of the Jurors rose and said, "Mr.
Foreman, before entering upon the further con-
sideration and decision Of this important mat
tel, / would propose that we seek for divine
wisdom and guidance" s r. i..5
The proposition met with cordial response,
and the foreman called upon juror to offer
PRAYER. This was done, most feeiingiy and
sincerely. We then proceeded to the most try.
ing and painful part Of our arduous duty. The
various articles which were pnt into the case
were examined by The jury, and particularly
those things which seemed to bear most strong
ly against the prisoner. The final decision Of
the question was resolved into three psrtA
First Are the remains Of human body
found in the Medical College, on the 30th No
vennber ls49, those of the late Dr.. George Park.
man. 80
Second. Did DR.. George Parkman, come to
his death by the hands of DR.. John w. Webster,
in the Medical College, on the 23d Nov, ls49.
Third. Is DR.. John w. Webster guilty a.
set forth in the Indictment of the Wilful murder
Of Dr.. George Psrkmani $
When the vote on the FIRST question was put,
twelve hands arose Immediately. Some Little
discussion then took place, when the second
was tested, and twelve hands at once arose.--
The third-the most important question Of all
was next to be tried. Quite pause ensued.
One iuror-in his sympathies of kindness for
the prisoner (who was his personal acquaintance
or friend) and bis afflicted family from
the "fiery ordeal" Cant we stop herei can't
the law be vindicated and justice satisfied d we
pause herei Must we take the life Of the un-
happy prisoneH" Some discussion ensuea-
the mind of the juror seemed more ealn-a -aud
he expressed bis readiness to vote on the fsal
question, which was then put, and twelve hands
arose. The die was cast! aud John w. Web.
ster was pronounced guilty Of murder.
Thus ended the closing scene in the jury
room. What afterwards transpired in the court
room is already known to the public. When
our foreman then pronounced that awful word
Guilty! the jury, as well as the prisoner,
trembled and grew faint And what relief il
was to us when We were again allowed 70 $50
Free" and rejom our families and friends after
SO long and painful separation, and there was
not Jurors heart but would have leaped for
Joy could the prisoner have been justly allow.
ed the same unspeakable blessing.
One OF THE jury.