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-we cannot do it with a feeling of indifference, as a formal and official
act. God forbid that we
should be prevented from indulging and expressing those irrepressibla
feelings of interest, sym-
pathy and compassion which arise spontaneously in our hearts; and we do
most sincerely and
cordially deplore the distressing condition into which crime has brought
you; and though we
have no. word of present consolation, or one earthly hope to offer to you,
in this hour of your af-
fliction, yet we devoutly commend you to the mercy of our Heavenly Father,
with whom is abun-
dance of mercy, and from whom we may~all hope for pardon and peace. And now
nothing re-
mains but the solemn duty of pronouncing the sentence which the law affixes
to the crime of
murder, of which you stand convicted, which sentence is-
'° That you, John W. Webster, be removed from this place and detained in
close custody in
the prison of this county, and thence taken, at such time as the Executive
Government of
this Commonwealth may, by their warrant appoint, to the place of execution,
and there be
hung by the neck until you are dead-And may God, in his infinite goodness,
have mercy
on your soul."
Upon the last of the above words the prisoner sank heavily upon his seat,
and inclined his
head upon the bar and weapt in agony.
-His, emotions were exceedingly violent, and his sobs could be distinctly
heard in any part
"of the Court-room, but in a few minutes he summoned his usual fortitude,
and became more
calm.
A large number of those present were deeply affected, even to tears. An
awful silence
reigned for a few moments in the room, and the eyes of hundreds were bent
upon the pri-
soner, who now sat upright with fixed gaze upon.the Bench.
J suppressed whisper went through the crowd, in anxious inquiry respecting
the prison-
er, but silence being gained, the Judge placed the prisoner in charge of
the Sheriff.
At half-past nine the prisoner was ordered to be remanded, and was led from
the room by
officer Jones. . .
The main body of the Court-house, the galleries, the halls and entries were
crowded by an
anxious concourse of people, who rushed from the building, anxious to get
another look at the
prisoner.
The crowd were remarkably quiet, and retired deeply impressed with the
awful Solemnity
of the scene.
Thus has closed one of the moot interesting trials ever recorded in the
annals of criminal
jurisprudence.
The trial has been reported expressly for the Globe by its intelligent,
active and attentive
Reporters, and sent over the wires of Xorse's Telegraph line. Great praise
is due to the
.Agents of the Globe in Boston, and to the Operators at both terminations
of the line. Mr. Foes
and his assistants in this city, deserve much from t'A public as well as
from the publishers of
the Globe, for their unwearied devotion to their duties night and dsy.
The original discovery axed. first successful use of the Magnetic
Telegraph, by Mr. .Morse
places the name of that distinguished man high on the rolls of the
benefactors of this his na
tine country in particular, and of the human race generally. -
Many nations of ancient, and some of modern times have centended for the
honor of havia
given birth to heroes, statesmen, and poets, but the records and traditions
of the world present -
no name which will live longer in the grateful and admiring remembrance of
the human race
than that of the great .ddnaeriean, SAMUEL F. B. MORSE, the discoverer of
the mode by which in-
telligence can be instantaneously transmitted over any apace, and the first
inventor of the
machinery by which the discovery was made available for all the practical
purposes to which
it can be applied.
All hall to MORSE ! the first to lead
The electric fluid round the earth,
Our country boasts the daring deed,
And glories that she gave hiii birth.
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