Select Speeches of Daniel Webster | Page 8

favorable to their safety, that the robbers sat
down to look over the prosecutor's papers, carefully examined the
contents of his pocket-book and portmanteau, and took only the things
which they needed! There was money belonging to other persons. The
robbers did not take it. They found out it was not the prosecutor's, and
left it. It may be said to be favorable to the prosecutor's story, that the
money which did not belong to him, and the plunder of which would
seem to be the most probable inducement he could have to feign a
robbery, was not taken. But the jury will consider whether this
circumstance does not bear quite as strongly the other way, and
whether they can believe that robbers could have left this money, either
from accident or design.
The robbers, by Goodridge's account, were extremely careful to search
his person. Having found money in his portmanteau and in his
pocket-book, they still forthwith stripped him to the skin, and searched
until they found the sum which had been so carefully deposited under
his clothes. Was it likely, that, having found money in the places where
it is ordinarily carried, robbers should proceed to search for more,
where they had no reason to suppose more would be found? Goodridge
says that no person knew of his having put his bank-notes in that
situation. On the first attack, however, they proceeded to open one
garment after another, until they penetrated to the treasure, which was
beneath them all.
The testimony of Mr. Howard is material. He examined Goodridge's
pistol, which was found on the spot, and thinks it had not been fired at
all. If this be so, it would follow that the wound through the hand was
not made by this pistol; but then, as the pistol is now discharged, if it
had not been fired, he is not correct in swearing that he fired it at the
robbers, nor could it have been loaded at Exeter, as he testified.
In the whole case, there is nothing, perhaps, more deserving
consideration, than the prosecutor's statement of the violence which the
robbers used towards him. He says he was struck with a heavy club, on
the back part of his head. He fell senseless to the ground. Three or four
rough-handed villains then dragged him to the fence, and through it or

over it, with such force as to break one of the boards. They then
plundered his money. Presently he came to his senses; perceived his
situation; saw one of the robbers sitting or standing near; he valiantly
sprung upon, and would have overcome him, but the ruffian called out
for his comrades, who returned, and all together they renewed their
attack upon, subdued him, and redoubled their violence. They struck
him heavy blows; they threw him violently to the ground; they kicked
him in the side; they choked him; one of them, to use his own words,
jumped upon his breast. They left him only when they supposed they
had killed him. He went back to Pearson's, at the bridge, in a state of
delirium, and it was several hours before his recollection came to him.
This is his account. Now, in point of fact, it is certain that on no part of
his person was there the least mark of this beating and wounding. The
blow on the head, which brought him senseless to the ground, neither
broke the skin, nor caused any tumor, nor left any mark whatever. He
fell from his horse on the frozen ground, without any appearance of
injury. He was drawn through or over the fence with such force as to
break the rail, but not so as to leave any wound or scratch on him. A
second time he is knocked down, kicked, stamped upon, choked, and in
every way abused and beaten till sense had departed, and the breath of
life hardly remained; and yet no wound, bruise, discoloration, or mark
of injury was found to result from all this. Except the wound in his
hand, and a few slight punctures in his left arm, apparently made with
his own penknife, which was found open on the spot, there was no
wound or mark which the surgeons, upon repeated examinations, could
anywhere discover. This is a story not to be believed. No matter who
tells it, it is so impossible to be true, that all belief is set at defiance. No
man can believe it. All this tale of blows which left no marks, and of
wounds which could not be discovered, must be the work of
imagination. If the jury can believe that he was robbed, it is impossible
they can believe his account of the manner of it.
With respect, next, to delirium. The jury have