Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-07-29
Professor WebSter'S Case.

Professor Webster's Case. |
The New York Herald Of Saturday,
published the Report Of the Committee on
Pardons, in Massachusetts, adverse to
ofthe sentence Of Professor
Webster. The Report minutely relates
oil the facts Of the case, and concludes as
follows:
In other words, the pallating facts and
circumstances set forth in the confession,
have not been so confirmed by other evi.
dence and circumstances, as to form q
proper and sufficient basis for Executive
interference.
TO this painful conclusion the Commit
lee have unanimously come.
The COMMITTEES therefore respectfully
report, that they cannot consistently with
what they conceive their duty, recommend
a commutation Of the sentence of John w.
Webster, as prayed for in his petition.
Nothing now remains for the Commit
tee, in the discharge of this painful duty,
but to advise your Excellency in determin-
ing upon time for the execution, and
they name Friday, the thirtieM day Of
August msst, as the day; and recommend
10 your Excellency to decide upon that
day as the time for the execution Of John
W. Webster.
JOHN REED, Chairman.
Council CHAMBER, July l9, 1850.
This Repor. is followed by the Address
of Gov. BRlGGs to the Council, in refer.
ence to the same matter. 1t is too lengthy
for our columns. We publish the conclu-
ding paragraphs:
The only new fact brought to light as
10 the killing, depends upon the word Of the
prisoner. 1t will hardly be pretended by
any one, that the declaration Of person
under sentence of death, should be permit
ted to outweigh the doings of the court and
jury, and rescue him from the consequen :
ces which are 10 follow their proceedings
1t is candidly stated by DR.. Putnam, in
his able argument, and by several of tho
petitions presented in favor of commuta.
tion, received since his confession, that
standing as he does, the word of the pris-
oner is entitled to no credit.
If the circumstances disclosed on the
trial are relied on TO support his statement,
tho reply is, that those circumstances were
urged in hts favor before the jury, and they
have decided against him. The facts of
the appalling case are before the world;
they will hereafter fill one of the gloomiest
pages in the record of crime amongst civ.
ilized men.
1t is undisputed, that on the Esd day Of
November, l549, John White Webster, q
professor in Harvard University, and in
the Medical College in Boston, did at mid.
day in his room, in that college, within q
few feet of the place where he daily stood
and delivered scientific lectures to large
class Of young men, with unlawful yio-
lence, take the life Of DR.. George Park.
man, respectable citizen of Boston, who
had come to that room at the repeated re-.
quests the prisoner.
That after taking his life, he eviscerated
and in manner most shocking to humani.
ty, mutilated the body of his victim, burn
ing parts Of it in furnace, and depositing
other parts oft in different places in the
building, where they were found by per-
sons who were seeking after DR.. Parkman.
That after killing him, he robbed his
lifeless creditor, by taking from him two
notes of hand, signed by himself, 10 which
he had no right, and committed still anoth.
er crime by making false marks upon those
notes, and that a jury Of his country, EN-.
panelled according to law, under the direc.
ton Of four Of the eminent Judges constitu.
ting the Supreme Court of Massachusetts,
after long, patient and impartial trial,
and after hearing in his defence the argu.
ments Of learned and eloquent counsel, up
on their oaths, found him guilty of murder.
Upon that verdict, the Court pronounced
the awful sentence Of death. In such q
case there should be obvious and conclusive
reasons to authorize the pardoning power
to interpose and arrest the sword Of Justice.
do not see these reasons. -.
The combined circumstances Of the case
force me to the conclusion, that the safety
of the community, the inviolability of the
law, and the principles of impartial justice
demand the execution of the sentence.
hope it is not necessary for me to say
that it would have given me unspeakable
pleasure to have come to differ ent result,
and that would do anything on earth in
my power, short Of violating duty, to alle-
viate the sufferings Of a crushed and brok.
en-hearted family.
... ..f GEO. N. BRIGGS. 9
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 18th July, 1850.
EYecution Of Pearson