Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-18

Ssor WEBSTER estate was worth seyerai thousand dot
GLARS, and that he not in such strait TO commit
! such a crime deliberately.
The previous petition from Professor Webster pro-
tesiing his Innocence and praying for absolute pardon
khe said got up by his family, who were unwaver-
King IN their belief in bis innocence until his confessons
Twas communicated to them about week since
3 He concluded in asserting bis belief that the con-
.fesson was true Members Of the Council have re-
tanned copy Of The petition previously presented,
aud Withdrawn by the advice of Dr. Putnam, which,
Evil probably be published 1t his innocence,
sand it also asserts that Liuefed other per-
son placed the remains in his room to compass his
& ruin.
y From the Boston Traveller Of Wednesday.
s Further particulars of the Confession of
81 JOHN w. WEBSTER.
q Hearing before the Pardon Committee Of The Gorer
g nor'S Council the Petition Of John w. Websfe,
4 for Communication Of Sentence.
4 The Governor and Council met yesterday morning
pursuant adjournment, and after disposng of some
oller papers Governor Briggs announced the recep-
|; ton of The following petition from DIR. Webster:
3 To his Erceency the Gorernor, and To the Honorable
Executive Council Of The State Of Massachusetts.
q John White Webster convict, under sentence of
deah. in Boston jail. in behalf of himself and of his
wife and his children, respectfully petitions, that the
Essentence awarded against hin by the law may be-
commuied such other less horrible and ignominos
Ipunlshment as your honorable body may merclfulbl
zdecree
8 Your petitioner fully admits that he tried be-
fOre fair and impartial irbunl, and that, under the
s. law exists. his jury, composed it of hon
jSOrabe and high minded men, could have returned mol
ssverdct other than they did But he respectfully rel
minds your honorable body that the two great mora
q ingredients of the crime of MURDER malice and pre-
Punctuation, have never been found against him by al
Iury but have been necessarily inferred by the arb
Estrary rules of the law from certain general facts
k5yvhI will dpnv hnf
Eating details of which no man in your petitioners
4situation possess legal evidence prove
These details your petitioner has condeG TO the friend
no presents his petition, with authority to state
them your honorable body in the hope that you Wi
Mind therein to extend TO your petitioner and
Chs family that mercy of which the law has made you
Ks the dispensers. J. w. WEBSTER.
b Boston, June, 1850.
z This petition was forthwith referred to the com
Emtiee on pardons. of which Lieut. Governor Reed s
Echarman, and II o'clock was assigned at his request
5 for hearing the Rev. DR.. Putnam explanation Of
Eand in support of the petition. AT the hour named
Ethe committee met in the antechamber and the Rev
HDr. Pullman appeared, aud having read the petition,
Eproceeded to make the following
z PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
- The grounds which | am authorized TO take in aid
Rof the petition of J. w. Webster, and which take
S not as an advocate pledged to Il side, but in good
Hfaith. as expressing my own personal belief,
follows:
q That the human remains found in the medical col
Sege in November last, those of the late George
9Parkman, and that he came to his death by the hands
Got Or. Webster q moment of passion under great
Eprovocafion; that there generalization nor
SmurderOus intent; that there was homicide, but n,j
"a murder,-or if 1t could be called murder under
Fhe rigid Interpretation of the rules of law
fspreyalllng in this commonwealth, -yet that il was
Znot murder according the moral judgments of
Epeople or of mankind. NOT the crime which she
Epublic sense of Justice awards the punishment of
dea,h. for which that punishment inflicted under
Ethe usual ard actual administration of the law IN
HAlassachuse,ts.
= ] a,n ena bled to present from Dr. Webster's own
slips, statement of the facts connected with the no.
Hmicide The credlbIli,y and value of his statement
Unjust depend partly the date of it. and the
distances under which II made Before reading
H,herefore. will relate those circumstances TO the
Ecormttee.
g My acquaintance with DIR. Webster before his trial
zhad been of Tie slightest aud casual kbd. Som
after his sentence received from him request,
III would visit him a clergyman during his impris-
Honment. IL was service not to be declined.
81 had followed the reports of line trial. and acquies,
Eced IN the verdict a righteous one. and had nc
hought but that tue sentence was be, and ought
I8be, carried into execution. dad dot make it my Oh
Meet 10 draw confession from him early, 10 lead
Ehlm TO commit himself way or the other, ON the
zquestion of his guilt innocence carefully avoid.
k;ed every remark aud inquiry that might tempt him
Eimake any false declaration. He seemed TO under
Ssiand me and neither denied nor declared his guilt
Sexpected he would finally be induced To cOmmunicat
k3o whatever he knew sbout the disappearance OF
HDr. Parkman, aud about the reIna ns found at the
EIcollege. But 10 no hurry about this. though
Ell should be likely to obtain from him the exaci
Strulh by waiting till a favorable time Accordingly
III my object for the first weeks To become nc
Equained with him, TO win his confidence aud attach
Ement, by attention and sympathy. and TO endeavor Il
Hmake those impressions OF mural aud relsgssus
E,ture, which suited to his situation a OF
EIess sinful and certainly dying man. As time passed
81 seemed self To succeeded in these objects
E!amost beyond my hopes.
II AT length, on the 2ad day Of May. / had made W
Hmy mind to address him in n wholly new strain, anc
sito demand of him full statement of facts. | ther
Hbelleyed myself TO be on such Terms with him, that
sicould abruptly and anhoriaiively demand his conf
E.dence. | did do So, aud 4 disappointed ia
kilhe result. On epterng his cell that day, told hin
fitbat ] was going Ia breach and important sub
Eject 10 him. and he listen to seriously, ans
f,nv reply till had DONE then said 10 him that he
inusi felt all along lhat there was barrier I,
-Four free communication; one pont on which we die
not understand ano.her; that the embarrassment
(which attended the avoiding of that point obyiousl,
went far defeat the satisfaction and profit himself
(which ought result from interviews
Z said that lie certainly must have sumo knowledg,
Prospecting the fate Of DR.. Parknam which had not
land that the uns,ared must be 10 him an OPP
,,ressve aud intolerable burden; that the time hat
ccuIe when Be ought to share il with one, ant
under the circumstances with me I; that had scrupu
lously forborne hitherto TO press him on this point
and urged IL now only because believed 1t would bs
for his relief and peace Of mind; that thought h,
must feel by this time that he owed me the truth