Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-23
ADDRESS OF GOV. BRIGGS.

balm W Webster convict under sentence death il be-
comes nv duty the Chief Executive Magistrate OF the
Commonwealth make final decision question in
yoyinr the lie Of the prisoner feel the weight of the
responsibility found in the path OF official duty. and
disposed 10 ovade it, or Ia shrink from ILL., For eight
months past this extraordinary case has created deep and
painful interest among The people of Massachusetts and q"
The whole Union. lis history is brief ii Is terrible and
Instructive; development IN It's progress has been
strange, and has increased that interest.
On The sd day Of November 1919, DR. George Pars'nan
well known and highly respectable citizen oi Boston e
his house and family business usual Tor HIM. and
returned them Ills unexpected absence alarmed
his family and excited tie attention OF the people IN and
around Boston In the course Of day twn, il
,.tood that the prisoner had said that Dr. Parknan met
nim his in the Medical College in the west part Vi
tho city, far from half past O'clock on the day Of his
DISAPPEARANCE and that he then ard there paid him sum Of
money, which DR. Parkman took into his hands ant has
tiy rushed towards the outer door.
Or. rarknan also by either persons about the
time Of day within forty feet OF The door oi the Col
iege, and walsn. quickly towards IT, These with other cir
cGnsiances directed the public mind towards the COLLEGE
buildings The neat Friday one week after The disappear
ancc of r pa.knan, the iismembcrcd parts Of human
body were found IN different places in and under the
occupied ay The prisoner in that College o them in
nearly destroyed by fire. some Of them packed
tea chest and other parts the vault III privy attached
+, his laboratory.
Suspicious strongly .iNcd him. and he was arrest
cd and committed f.eyerett gail coronors in
quest called ana after long examination the facts
IT the case conducted in secret the jury reported that the
remains found were parts OF the bod oil the late DR. George
parkman that he his death by violence III the Mei-
College i'll Boston FRIDAY The 25i day of November
and that he killed by John W. Webster The evidence
taken before the inquest given 10 the public. IN
Jannay 1850 the laid before the Grand jury for
the County Of Suffolk and r.e Investigation before l: body
resulted III finding an indictment against the prisoner for the
murder OF DR.. Parknian.
lie arragncd OF the indictment and plead not gully
Two Of the most able ana distinguished lawyers Of The Com
monwcath upon his own selection assigned To hn
tou.is, bv the Supreme Court and hs iTi before ui
bench Of that Court fixed the lh day Of March Some
time before th day Of ,a the Attorney General furnished
The Counsel Of the prisoner, only with lis, Of
spf i.
required BE- done in all capital cases in this Commonwealth
but also with copy of the testimony taken before the Co
!4n"S and which fild been produced against HIM
before the Grand Jury.
The time appointed for the trial arrived wren four Judges
of he Supreme Court were present, and sat during the
rIl In pursuance Of The provisions Of law SKI? Jurors
had been drawn from the jury box in the county Of Suffolk
BY law the prisoner had right pocmptoiy without Civ
ing reason challenge twenty Jurors and for good
reason 10 object 10 any others whose might he called
In cmpannelug the Jury who tried him, the prisoner
cised his peeptoy right OF challenging in only fourteen
Instances
The trial wa one of surprising interest ana soemnitv
aud lasted eleven days. On the part Of tie prisoner
argued with carnestncss, cndor and ability
Nv the Hon Pliny Merck his senior counsel After deny
that the evidence on the part Of the Government was
sufficient prove that the prisoner killed Dr. Paknan 4:
all the counsel took the ground that II in any event III.
should the conclusion that h old Kill him. then
III, circumstances 81 The were such as 10 satisfy them
that the killing could have been rremeda,cd but Mas
the result vi unexpected conflict between the parties and
OF sudden passion.
This position he endeavoed maintain by ingenious
and powerful appeal 10 the Jury The case was closed on
The par, OF thu Commonwealth BY the Attorney General by
address of singular pom, and effect After the Attorney
General had finished his argument, the Court informed the
prisoner that he had he right which might exercise
not he pleased 10 make sach remarks the lury r
saw fl. The prisoner ard !c time addressed the
ry in his own behalf Az elaborate cieor and cnmnrehen
sve charge given by the Chief Justice after conversation
with the other members Of The Court who sat with him
the trial
The Jury retired their and after absence OF
three hours late on Saturday evening returned into Court
with ve.d:ct OF guilty, The Mcniay morning the
prisoner again brought into Court ana roceTec from
the Chief Justice the sentence Of the law which doomed
him 10 suffer death BY hanging such zine the Exc
rutiye OF the Commonwealth should appoint.
transmitted 10 the Governor and Council IS the Sheriff
the county of Suffolk according the direction OF the sta
tute.
On the 9th of April the prisoner sent BY the hands Of his
friend 10 the Governor ana Council petition for pardon,
under his own hand on The ground OF his entire