The New York herald., 1850-08-31
INTERESTING FROM BOSTON.
THE EXECUTION
MURDER OF DIR. PARKMAN.
His Last Month, Week, Day,
Hour and Minute.
THE gIgITEMENr-rHR SCENE,
&c, &C., &c.

fulniment OF the most unpleasaut auty wnicn
have been called upon to perform since my conn &C.
ton with the public press, proceed to place before
your readers full, accurate aud compre hensivs an
account of the last hours and execution Of the unfor
tunate Professor John w. Webster, ss have been
ahed to make from witnessing the execution, and
collecting information the spot yesterday and to-
day, up TO the last moment Of his stay upon earth.
For the facilities placed within my reach here, am
Indebted to several of the public authorities especial
ly Mayor Bigelow, recently nominated by his friends
the important and responsible oce Governor OF
the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts who kindly sx-
srted his personal influence my behalf aud enabled
me TO obtain al the informstio which here trans
init, connected with the deplorabe and melancholy
occasion.
On my arrival here yesterday. 1 made 1t . part Of
my business to mngle with the public for the purpose
OF ascertaining, correctly possible the precise
state Of public opinion in reference TO the condemned
man and His situation as well rs to learn whether
there any foundation for the various about
confessions, and the probability Of his committing
suicide which have been in circulation here we'll
a. In New York, for some time past.
And first, In relation to Professor webster per.
sonally found but little. very little sy psthy for
aim Individually but great deal his unfortunate
wife and family Indeed the general opinion Is that
the murder Of DR.. Psrkman premeditated; that
the verdict OF the jury in accordance with the
passed upon Professor Webster in with the
verdict, righteous and proper.
From all that have been able TO gather, however,
the general Impression is that but for the second
Sssion Of Professor Webster is at least probable
that the sentence Of death would not have been
carried out Previous to that document being sent
to the Governor and Council. great many persons
were confident that the nrst statement and
correct that he innocent OF the crime for which
he yAa this IA Init han st Ia
came known, there but few who desired to in
terfere with the OF the Law Public sentiment
remained the FROM that time to the hour Of
oution. In relation to the last confession, which
It was said in several of the newspapers the un-
fortunate man had written, and deposited In the
hands Of the authorities, to be published after
his death, have not been able t. learn that
there is any foundation for the report. 1
ther inclined to think that such document
is In existence and that 1t will forever remain
whether the killing Of DR. Parkmsn premeditatsd,
whether II done In the heat of passion and
The excitement vi the moment
IL was confidently expected that Professor Webster
would not be alive the day appointed for bis
slon at least by many while others supposed that,
having experienced religion the mnisterngs Of
ths Rev DR.. Putnam aud others, he would not add
smother crime to that for which he convicted by
committing suicide 1 do not believe that h, ser-
ously meditated taking his LIE any time since
his conviction. He has been known to say that he
suffered more than three deaths from the effects
OF the large dose Of stry chnns which be took i'm
msdisteiy after HE arrest, and which, II it had
been smaller, would have spared the public
eutionsr the pain OF performing his duty to-day. He
has likewise been known say that from the great
change which he experienced in his religious feelings
aud knowing that his days numbered, he too
much Of a Christian to commit suicide.
proceeded to the jail last evening for the purpose
gathering much Information possible In regard
to the condition the unfortunate but obtsned
but little In addition to what previously In pos
session Of Indeed, II beog mute adds tas efficiency
of public officers the deputy Jalers asd turnkeys
nected with the Leverett jail ia Boston the
efficient heard Of 1t is true, as has
been stated that Professor wrbst.rs family we're since
the decision and this time ignorant the day
appointed tor his execution. They have not read
any Of the public Journals. or mixed With society,
since mis- arrest, and especially siuee his confession
Before that document written they confident
that he innocent OF the crime alleged against him.
Notwithstanding his sso~ai, ho~.vvr, that he did
take the life Of DR. Parkman hts ~ife aud children for
cook him not Twice ~e-k bav- th-y visited him In
his cell and sdministsredto him all lrhs comfort ~hch
Affection alone can give 10 coassquenc- Of tbs i'm
sembsd In the vicinity of the jail for the purpose OF
eins MIS- Webster aud family on the days sppoint-d
for her interviews with the Prf-eor .o-y chang
ed from Friday TO THURSDAY Psactu.ily at the sp-
pointed hsur they TO ihe condemned mans esll
yesterday, and. aithoush they knew IL not. embraced
him for the ls~s-sa.ss on earth Hs did sot, as I
learn iniovs that befor~ another had he
would bskn another world. On rhur-oay next they
VIII prpfsed a. usual 10 the jail In the vaIu hope Of
sevN< him They win be informed that all IL over.
then r. tselr ssisaon, and fOrtify them to bear the
sad annospcemsnt
y Al. . s Lnsa tSur r.ss pro...o, w.s.,.r
gave up AZ hop-s o. -y.rtiss the 600. ~hieh vas
Ifu h. IIclv S~rtu MI sxht a.
work chemistry OF which science hs vrry fond
He s sss s.sh .s ~. !, T.s ESss ';
which awaited him, and III. day appointed for the
snsessos n He ..ss .,res .osoa.s Of the si.s ana
psBsliy which he had Incurred he frequently spoke on
the subject OF suicide, but repudst-d the idea. he
became penifent aud sckso~i-ds~d the Justice Of HE
sentence. An he hoped for IN he -ord that his
nnily -ouia BE- t.gt Ia snorsse. OF the dag Of his
thirtissef August III. day on which Se was TO take
leave Of the world and all things earthly.
THE LAST Wick
During the last week. Professor websters dsmsanor
si1 not 81 s alter He vss perfectly conscious that
bis hours we're numbered. and calm and resigned
70 his rate He frsqusny siludd to day appoint
cd his execution. veil ss to tn. sreeurios sud
said that be vas 10 sst his fate tie his
meals usual and occasionally cheerful -stI least
much 20 ~ could b. in bi. .isuatsos His
spiritual adviser attended upon hi1 thr~s times
pr Putnam "a. " IN s s.s ss -, .'a G y,',srs.y
hours, ddns ell for him that he could In fact, DR.
ssn ,s IN b. .,n,,.n: 70 the an
sssr frrt called upon hin, TO the very moment
nost asedious In his attentions 10 him renal M
with him hcur after hour day asd night, always
svineine his 1serity 20 vait upon him, and give him
ell the consolation In his power.
TIVE LAST MONT.
Professor webster assured the vRcers of the prssu
that hts family we're unscquAinfsd 9th the dsy red
for hs sxscutirn and the that tbey were twuo-
rant ef n yesterday, vhen he then fer the iast
time on this side OF the grave. evid@usiy gave him
treat deal Of comfort. and doubs nervsd hio TO
meet his dcs9. Greet pains taken by the she
riG and bis dsputiss TO cDncs nj from Mr. webster
ana hos daughters ell evidences Of the preparstous
that wss being made last night for the Tragedy which
YES W cecur 81 early hour the next morning =
Prom fne crowd Of pevsons ater than usual Who
sorsr gated In the street In 'front.' Of the jail hov-
ever, I tear they must have known that the
tina spposut@d for the execution vas close Al