Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-16
FfnD, the Boston Pairiof, NoU. II.
TRIAL OF JOSEPH JENKINS KNAPP

TRIAL OF JOSEPH JENKINS KNAPP.
Tuesday morning, the prisoner pleaded not
guilty 10 50 much of the Indictment as charged
him with being accessory to John Francis Knapp.
in the murder of Joseph White. To that part
OF the indictment which, charged him with being
accessory TO some person unknown, the Court di-
rected him not to plead.
A jury having been impannelled. the Attorney
General was proceeding to open the case, when
the prisoners counsel after some inquiry as Ia
the persons. who are to conduct the case for tho
Government, objected to Mr.. Webster's be-
ing engaged in the case. The Attorney &c
neral said Mr. Webster was there at his IL.
quest
The court after long consideration could not
decide, and ordered that the cause should 90 oil
under the conduct of the Attorney and Solicitor.
ill the morning, when they woul,l settle the
question.
Mr.. Webster then said. came solely at the
request of the Attorney General-no other IL
duccment had the least influence upon him.
The Attorney General then opened the case ia
the jury. and cited authorities to support the doc
trines, that if an accompice contcsscs. and is
called as witness, and afterwards testiiies frau
dulently, or denies his confessions, the Govern
ment is redeemed from the pledge of protection,
and he is to be tried by his confessions. lie then
called Mr.. Colman. who testified. that the con-
fessions were given without compulsion, promise.
bribe. or inducement. except the pledge given by
the Attorney, which was shown to the prisoner
at lhe bar before the confessions were taken.--
He had got written confession.
Dexter objected that any thing of the confes-
sion should be given. or the contents of the pa
per in any way stated
The Attorney General stated that the paper
contained an account of the murder. authenticat-
ed on every page, containing nine pages. by the
handwriting Of the prisoner, and accompanied
by a note in the handwriting of Joseph jenkins
Knapp, stating that he had done it without pledge
on bride. or solicitation whatever. If that was
n1t to be introduced, lie did not know what could
be given in eyderce.
Gardiner was going on to argue against the adj
mission of the confession, but the Court thought
that all the facts relating to the mode in which
they were obtained, should be first known, when
Mr.. Colman was again called, and testified. /
first heard of the arrest of the Knapps. on Thurs
day morning, the eth, but did not visit him
till Friday morning.
went to the prison with the knowledge and
appreciation of the family. | told him was
much dist. essed. That was sorry for his situa.
ton. and If | could render him any service
which it was proper for me to render, he might
command me. He asked me if thought they
could prove it. told him did not know any
thing aboutit, other than what certain gentlemen.
in whom had great confidence. had told me.
that in their opinion the evidence was conclusive
charged him if he was innocent, by no means
TO involve himscf,-he must be the Judge Of that.
He asked me again. and think repeatedly. if
they could prove it, and answered him as be-
fore, that didn't know. He sat on the bed
and drew close. He looked up to the wall and
looked up, and saw crevice from which the saw
dust appeared to have fallen. He appeared to
De anxious not TO be overheard, and this excited
my SUSPICION. and | asked him who occupied
that CELL He told me George Crowninshield
was overhead He told me he had let down pen.
eli and paper through the creyice, and Showed it
I" me- As was going out, he asked if | would
return.
returned TO the cell about three o'clock on
the same day-yery much the same conversation
passed, with the addition. that en told him
ina the gentlemen of whom had before spoken.
had auta0i;Zed me to use their names. mon
uored Mr.. Chase. DIR. Barstow. and Mr. Fetty-
place as having given the opinion, that the eyi.
dence was decisive. He asked me if | thouaht
they would bring Palmer up. understood him
10 ask II at the suggestion of some enc in the cell
above. put whether Richard or George Crownin.
shield am unable to say. gave him nv belief
that they would. I told him was nearly e,b.,s.