New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-22

eminent IN fnvor Of Committing the sentence Of the
Court. petition from the family OF the prisoner
Va "a before the Committee, and large number OF
q, he, petitiun. come Tor full pardon and others for
a communication, were Ia the bands Of the Commit
tee.
Nost of these petitions were from people, men
ard uomep In other States, aud generally placed
their pet too for remission mitigation OF the
sentence Oh the ground Of the great doubts OF the
pri,ouer . guilt The Committee gave three hear
ipss after the meeting at which Dr.. Putnam adj
dressed them, and listened to those who desired -
be heard in aid Of the prisoners petition aud 10
support OF DIR. Putnams views.
The Committee on PardOIs, consisting OF the
Lieut. Governor and four other Councillors, after
full careful and patient be airing of all that could be
offered by the friends Of the prisoner and by others,
who were pleased to be heard in bis behalf came
10 the unanimous opinion that there were no suih-
cient reasons 10 justify them in recommending the
interpostion OF executive clemency.
They recommended that the Governor be advised
10 have the sentence Of the law, as pronounced By
the Court carried into effect on the goth day Of
August next.
The Council, with but one exception, concurred
with the report Of the Committee, and advised the
Governor 70 carry out the sentence OF the Court az
recomm ended by them.
In carefully and anxioualy ex amining and consld'
erng the case, do not feel authorized by any con,
siderations which have been presented TO my nina
to set aside the deliberate verdict Of the Jury, Al
rest the solemn decree Of the Ia ~ as pronounced -
the highest judicial tribunal OF the CommonWeai'tu'
and disregard the opinion and advice OF 'ue 80 hy
IL the circumstances Of the killing u s'so.
the prisoner are taken TO be true, II msy u oond
questioned whether the Executive OIia,;,, The
interfere with the sentence without ''''"'i"e wv
settled laws OF the land .,.-,.o ,bo ch;,s
1rst;ca ,sys" II az a settei rule mat no Prorocd-
49,. go ,,o,ds Onlv aoiH justify mortal bIOr.
yrIs, az s1on oropoktag language the party tnten'
RONALD receage AiDaset puh mortal 6L0T, as
Internationally Msrdsr' I'm
ing depends upon the word Of the prisoner. Ii
Will hardly be pretended by any one that the
declaration of person under sentence OF death
should be permitted 10 outweigh the doings OF the
Court and Jury, ana rescue him from the conso
quences which are to follow their proceedings.
1t is canddly stated by Dr. Putnam ia bic able
argument, en- by several Of the petitions pre-
scented in favor Of communication received siace his
confession, that standing as he does, the word OF
the prisoner is entitled to no credit.
II the circumstances disclosed on the trial are re-
lied to support his statement, the reply 10, that
those circumstances were urged in his favor be-
fore the Jury, and they have decided against him
The facts Of this appalling case are before the
world they will hereafter gil one Of the glOomiest
pages in the record Of crime among civilized men,
II 10 undfputed that on the 23d day OF Novem
Der, ls49 John White Webster, a professor in
Harvard University, and in the Medical College in
Boston, did at dday in his room, in that college,
within a few feet of the place where he daily
stood and delivered scientific lectures TO large
class of young men, with unlawful violence take
the life of DR.. George Parkman, a respectable cit
zen Of Boston, who had come to that room at the
repeated requests of the prisoner.
That after taking ais life, he eviscerated and Ia
manner most shocking TO humanity mutilated the
body ofhs victim, burning parts OF It in furnace
and depositing other parts OF It In different places In
the building. where they were found by persons
who were seeking after DR.. Parkman.
That after killing, him he robbed his lfeless cred.
itor. by taking from him two notes Of hand, signed
by himself, 10 which he had no right, and commit
ted still another crime by making false marks upon
those notes, and that jury OF bis country empane
led according to law under the direction of four OF
the five eminent Judges constituting the Supreme
Court of Massachusetts, after long, patient, and
impartial trial, and after hearing ia hs defense the
arguments of learned and eloquent counsel upon
their oaths, found him gui ty OF murder.
Upon that verdict, the Court pronounced the aw-
fol sentence Of death. In such case there should
be obvious and conclusive reasons to authorize the
pardoning power TO interpose and arrest the sword
of Justice. j do not see these reasons
The combined circumstances Of the case force me
to the conclusion, that the safety of the community,
tie invioabllty Of the law, and the principles ofin
paris Justice demand the exec 1tion the Sentence.
hope it is not necessary for me TO say that it
would have given me unspeakabe pleasure TO
come TO different re suit, and that would do any
thing earth in my power, short Of violating duty,
TO alleviate the suffering of crushed and broken
hearted family. GEO. N. BRIGGS.
Couael Chamber, 19m July, 1850.
The Irdreller also gives the following, relative
TO the statements of DR.. Jarvis before the Council
Our readers are aware that some statements
were made by DR.. Jarvis, before the Executive
Council, as to a conversation between him aud DR..
S. PsIkmaD, touching the health OF DR.. George
Psrkmen previous to his being murdered The
statements were denied by Dr. S. Parkmaa, 10 a
note, which was published in our columns. In the
communication below, submitted to the Council
yesterday, 1t will be seen that DR.. aryis acknowl
edges himself to have been mistaken ia attributing
TO DR.. Parkman the opinions which he did We
publish this communication, as requested, and az
necessary perhaps TO a u8t view Of the matter
The statement OF Dr. Jarvis if correct had not the
slightest bearing dpon the question before the
Council, but the fac! that 1t il shown aud now ad.
mitted to be erroneous, IS striking comment pom
the extraordinary latitude which has been given 70
this extra:judical investigation Ii Dr. Jarvis's
state bad been material to the issue OF the in
vestigation and such as would have influenced the
decision Of the Council it is obvious that it would
have been unjust in its effect nasmuch az there
would have been no opportunity 10 correct except
through q medium which the rules Of the Council
would not have recognized-the hearing" so
called being limited to testimony upon one side Of
the case. The investigation, or hearing" there
fore, is wholly unmeaning or it is partial and I'm.
Just ard calculated 70 weaken the force of the
law, and to engender dstrust for the established
forms Of administering justice. There will be no
question that the iormec the truth and tina. this
whole examination has been without import, ex.
cept that it has manifested remarkable degree of
leniency and merciiu consideration on the part of
the Executive, whose duty, though painful, has
been, from the first, az clear as the sunlight.
DORCHESTER, July g. 1870
To the COMMITTEE Of the Honorable CouAeA
GESTLEhEN-l beg leave to correct statement
or suggestion which made in my note to the CON.
mItee the 9Th inst respecting the health Of the
late DR.. George Parkman
1t will be remembered that gave no opinions OF
my own, bat only the impression that suppose,
cnnye ed 10 me BIZ annihar and that | did unt