New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-11
~ns Cambridge Petition.

eS.af
80 Bowen, signed by President Sparks aud
..,,r all the Professors Of Harvard, praying for
,n,t.tion. Prof Bowen urged for delay, to OBJ
-, ~ore direct petitions;
= NJ Ese~a~sv ne cs,rror a.S fs H's''aoS o'S"sN"
Tns.. 0s ~~sas, aith Of AsssaeAsssfh' . -
- .ndersigned, citizens OF Cambridge and the
"a, respectfully pray that the sentence OF
- law recorded az nst DR.. John w. w o6fter
Ia oommuted into imprisonment for LIE a.
pyJi.bor 10 the State Prison. They make thus
e..',;o, because they have doubts, which they be-
"a he reasonable doubts. whether the crime
S.fs.sedly perpeusted by him did amount TO mar.
s~vhether il was a dehberats and Premeditated
ssr;cide. fully conceived and planned before twas
s,scu,ed, in order To crafty the malignant passions
-. had heart The design or intention 10 klll Is
-. M the essential elements OF that crime to
h;ch the laws OF this Commonwealth. aud the
~, mon Judgment aud moral sense Of mankind,
ave ,fised the punishment Of death. Dr.. Web
ssy .eAording to his own confession, has commit
81 an atrociour crime, which merits severe pun
;.hment; and we do not ask that tkis punishment
raw be- RENTED or aevisted. But after careful
rsviev Of the facts which were brought to light by
as witnesses NJ his trial, and by his subsequent
cobfession, aud by the statements Of Kew DR.. Pat
nam. 70 whom tha. confession was made, We are
cot convinced that he intended 70 kill Dr.. Patkman
ar that he deliberately conte plated the act before
n was performed. or that be made any prepare
lions iox it.
He bad no sufficient motive for the dsed.-The
death Of Dr. PerkmaB would have been OF DO ma
.erial benefit 20 bis pecunisry interests, even be
had succeeded in concssOg the act aud tho notes
shch be took from the body. He had no. pre-
JARED tbs way, either by arranging his accounts
vita the bank, or by conversations with iadlvidu.
Il, kr turning the death Of bis victim 70 advantage
% relieving himself from bis pecuuiary embarrs"-
uepis
His temper and disposition, a. far a. known, bis
sltu,tion in life, and the domestic Influences by
vh;chhe vas surrounded were not such as to rem
der him liable TO temptation To commit an awful
srue Many Of the undersigned are able to con-
trm from their personal observation the general
account Of his character which was given by sevs
raj witnesses at his trial; they have known him as
tirnid person. tickle in his nclinations care ess ia
Lis expenditures, quickly excited TO anger, and
sate az quickly sppeased. They have never sus-
pected him of berg malignant or rev sngetul; they
haze never seen in him any indications OF that
srepgth Of passion or 6rmnen OF purpose, which
could qualify him 10 become an assassin. He has
avsys appeared peculiarly gentle and atectlonate
IN bis relations As husband and father; by bis
previous conduct, be had apparently msrited the
Affections OF a very amiable and excellent family,
whom he has now overwhelmed with stficton
worse than death. Ii 10 conceivable that such a
man should suddenly kill another 10 the heat OF
passion. and not have courage enough TO avow the
deed il is not conceivable that he should deliber-
s:ely plan wful murder.
The uodersisned place no stress on the confes-
sicn Of Dr. Webster, or on his statement Of the cir
enmstspces under which the homicide took place;
BY his previous disregard OF truth he has forfeited
nj claim to be believed. Bat they submit that this
s;s'ement is not disproved-thst il 10 rather con.
frnlsd by all the evidence that was given at this
sIis and that it IL, ON the whole the most plausi-
bic hypothesis that can be framed to accountr5r all
fhe circumstances and facts which were then
l. IL L.. H.
In me way Of reconoling these circumstances with
the hypothesis Of manslsughter bat there are still
gre alter difficulties In the way OF reconcilng them
with the hypothesis OF murder Whatever deci.
sOa is had, then q doabt must intervene az to its
Justice and the prayer Of this petition is, that this
doubt will be turned on the side OF mercy The
guilty will not then escape the consequences OF his
crime he will yet suffer punishment which must
be terrible to all, and douoly terrible to one who
has been educated a. DR.. Webster has been, and
who has moved in his position In life. 10 either
case, the reputation Of our courts Of law remains
without a blemish, and the majesty Of the Law is
indicated by its terrors But by merciful con-
sructon Of the doubt TO the fall measure OF DR..
Webster's guilt q most wretched though wholly
Innocent and deserving family will receive the only
comfort that man can give them in their athctIon'
and no portion OF the Dom munity will have an OPP
portunity TO complain that life has been taken
which possibly was not forfeit to the law.
In view OF these couside atoms, sudOf many 9th
srs that might be urged. the uncerslgned again ex
press their desire that the punishment may be
committed, and yosr petitioners will ever pray.
sdrev willard, Charles c. Little John g. Pslfrey.
Samuel p r Fay, J. b. Dana John oven,
j T Rockingham, v y. Vsleotne, Jacob II. Bates,
i.,so soarhs Charles C. Foster, Sales
WinIsm Novel;. francis Bowen, Nicholas Hoppin,
fbsopPs Parsons, Daniel rresdwen n. b Chase,
Rich'o n Hodges, William W1e, Jonn Holmes
lanes Walker John Chamberlain, atnbs Monroe,
j d Hedge j. Wilson, Morrill, Wyman,
COnyers Fraseis Jonas Wyehe, ID u Feton.
Joe Psrher Thsd VIM Harris BENJAMIN PIERCE,
Et,es Howe W. g. 9tearns, q Bradford,
George Nichols, John Bartlett
The following is copy Of the letter alluded to in
the remarks Of DR. Edward Jarvis before the Coun-
oil on Monday last, in relation to Prof. Websters
attack upon DIR. Homans many years since
ExErER, March 50, 1850. j
NJ DEAN SIR; 1 have yours, OF yesterday |
ssking what remembered of an occurrence which l
took place between yoa- and Dr. Webster. The |
circumstances | distinctly remember. Toe occur 4
renee took place while We three were together In |
Dr. Gorham's Office Dr.. Webster having finished Il
his afternoon reading, go. up and put on hs over \
coat and hat, to 60 home 70 tea You and ne then \
began, ia perfect good nature, 10 play knocking on
hats. You being larger and taller than he, he o.
ways came oil second best he, in Consequence.
growing somewhat angry, began to strike, 10. 50
much at the hat as your head which began 10