Chapter 21 Section 21

As for the "mysterious third party", Prosecutor Cliff reminded the jurors not to forget that this "third party" must have considerable knowledge of anatomy and chemistry.Moreover, "I doubt that there is some 'third party' who could hide the severed limbs in the medical school unnoticed by Professor West or Mr. Littlefield." Jon Cliff believes that the defense's attack on Everren Littlefield is equally ridiculous, "Just imagine, if Everren did what he did to collect the bounty, why would he destroy the victim's last A recognizable face and hands?" Besides, if Everren killed Dr. Peckman, what was his motive? "Nothing, we can't find a motive in him. But not the other one."

Attorney General Jon Cliff said that the most exciting chapter in the defense's concluding remarks was the description of the conflict between Dr Peckman and Professor West.He asked the jurors to imagine what it would have been like if the relationship between the two men had developed all the way to November 1849. "Economically, Professor West is almost impoverished. Except for the furniture in the house, he has nothing in this world. Moreover, he has borrowed all his friends and acquaintances, and there is no place to borrow money." Jon Cliff reviewed Professor West's financial situation in detail, and read out some figures from the notebook in his hand from time to time.He said that when Professor West spoke of his meeting with Dr. Peckman that day - first to Father Frances Peckman; second to the police - only one note was ever mentioned. , but later the investigators found two in his home.If Professor West only repaid part of the arrears of US$483.64, why was the total arrears of US$2,432 also in his hand and written off with black pen?Common sense tells us that it is absolutely impossible for Dr. Peckman to write off the unpaid bill of arrears and return it to the debtor. What's more, on this bill, Professor West owes not only Dr. Peckman, but also other people money.

The conclusion is obvious: Professor West was forced by debts to kill and repay his debts. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Attorney General Jon Cliff returned to the prosecution box wearily.Excluding the lunch time from 2:00 to 3:30, he also spoke for nearly 7 hours. To the surprise of everyone in the courtroom, Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw did not announce an adjournment at dusk.He exchanged briefly with the members of the jury, and then began to give instructions to the jury. Lemuel Shaw spoke for more than two hours. At around 8:00 p.m., the jury entered the deliberation room.In less than three hours, at 10:50, 12 jurors returned to the courtroom.

"Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" asked Jokey Weld, the clerk of the court.There were no women on juries back then. "Yes." All the jurors answered in unison. "Who will read the verdict on your behalf?" "The foreman." "Mr. Juror, will the jury find 'the prisoner' John Wright West guilty or not guilty?" "guilty." There was a sudden commotion in the auditorium.Jockey Wild had to raise his voice a little, and "sing" in a mechanical and indifferent voice: "Guilty, Your Honor, the verdict is guilty!"

Dr. Charles Jackson, a former student of Professor John West and a "professional chemist" who appeared for the prosecution, wrote in a letter to his family later: Professor W is standing, raising his right hand.When the verdict of guilt was pronounced, he seemed to have been shot suddenly, and the upraised hand dropped limply.He lowered his head and sat back heavily on the chair.For about 5 minutes, there was silence in the courtroom.I saw many jurors wiping tears, and the judges were deeply moved. Mr. Pliny Merrick, Professor W's defense lawyer, approached the "prisoner's box" and whispered to him, presumably saying that he would send a message to his family.For the first time since the trial, Professor W shed tears - I saw him push up his glasses and cover his eyes with a handkerchief.Then bow your head, close your eyes, and do a meditation or silent prayer. Five minutes later, court officials began to perform their duties.The judge ordered the prisoner to be sent back to the cell, but no one moved—neither the bailiff nor the prisoner—after sitting still for a few seconds, Professor W suddenly shouted: "Take me away—why keep me in full view!" This is The most heart-wrenching scene I have ever seen, many people in the court shed tears.

No one broke the news to Professor W's family that night, but many friends went to his house and, as usual, hinted that they were preparing for the worst.The next day, Mr. Prisco came forward and told them the result of the ruling.The cries of his children could be heard all over the street, and the scene was truly tragic. I did not go to court to hear the verdict.I don't want to hear anything more.Just the verdict is enough. The verdict came two days later, on Monday, April 1, the last day of the trial. On this day, all five Massachusetts Supreme Court justices were present—even Judge Richard Fletcher, who was ill.The jury had done their part, and was dismissed after their verdict on Saturday, so that only the Chief Justice, Lemuel Shaw, pronounced, condemned the "prisoner" John Wright West to death.Judge Xiao emphasized the word "in accordance with the law" in his sentence. He said that this was not a decision made by us, but a stipulation already made by the law, because according to the law of Massachusetts at that time, anyone who committed "premeditated murder "Sinners should be hanged.

Judge Lemuel Shaw's sentence caused a great shock among the people, and even those who originally believed that Professor West was indeed guilty felt that the punishment was too severe.After the appeal was dismissed, lawyers for the defense took the professor's case to the state pardon court.Ahead of the hearings scheduled for early July, the pardon court executive committee, which includes the assistant governor, received petitions from across the country with thousands of signatures. Among several witnesses who testified at the hearing was Edward Garveth, a doctor from Dorchester.He said that Dr. George Peckman had visited his clinic a few days before his disappearance, and that the doctor's younger brother, Samuel Jr., another Dr. Peckman, had asked him what he thought of his brother's mental state. "The Peckman family is concerned that Dr.'s previous insanity will return," Dr. Garveth told the hearing.