parkman
murder
The Defense: Defense Attorneys Edward D. Sohier and Pliney Merrick
Edward D. Sohier had handled Webster's civil matters, mostly financial, in the past. An ethical and loyal attorney, he believed it was his duty to defend Webster in his moment of crisis. Unfortunately he was inexperienced in criminal law, and arguably did not provide a convincing defense for Webster.
Sohier's co-council for the defense, Pliney Merrick, had a secondary position in arguing Webster's case, though he had more experience in criminal law. His role in the defense was comparable to Clifford's in the prosecution, and the two affable men found they had much in common even beyond the Webster trial. When Clifford was finally elected as the governor of Massachusetts, he appointed Merrick to the State Supreme Court.
