Litchfield enquirer., 1830-08-12

of his unwavering attachment to our prlnci-
pies, Of his transcendent abilities to maintain
Them, or of his ripe experience to secure
them. This is Kentucky. There has been
enough pointing at him by the present Ad-
ministration, to have turned the eyes of the
civilized world upon him"
! Deceived, betrayed, and disappointed as
we are, let US pursue our principles; and to
whatever man they may lead US, let us sacri-
fce local and personal antiquities, If any we
have upon the altar Of our country, aud in has,
support her cause. With that view. offer
this sentiment for the appreciation of this as
| sembly: ..-
"Rotation in oGce-Its true spirit is, when PEG.
ple nd that an officer does not fulfil the purposes Of
his appointment, or election to put i" his place one
tcho will"
Extract ofa letter to the N. Y. Courier, dated
Salem, July %, 1880.
Richard Crowninshield, who committed
suicide in prison, was undoubtedly one of the
most singular beings of his criminal profession,
which history or fiction can show. Ever
since he attained boyhoOd his deeds have
been characterised with daring, hypocrisy,
GOODNESS, defiance of all law, and calculation
and ingenuity that would have raised him to
eminence in society, had he received prop
or direction in his infancy. His recent letters,
written during his confinement, are but the
part of plan to rescue not only himself, but
all his associates in crime. An incident is
told in this place, which marks the GOODNESS
and precaution with which he moved in his
criminal pursuits. On the night on WHICH the
murder was committed, he complained Of
slight indsposition, ard went 10 bed, az seen
by the family about o'clock. At eleven o.
clock, two hours after, he again walked up
some members Of the family, and requested a
| preparation of medicine for the purpose Of
alternating his indisposition. During the in
terval that elapsed between these events, he
had left his room privately, rode to Salem,
perpetratcd the foul deed, returned and plac-
| ed himself In the same situation. 1t was a.
bout ten minutes after 10 o'clock, that the
murder of Capt. White was accomplished,
according 10 the evidence Of persons who saw
him and Knapp skulking round the buildings.
| One female heard Knapp, II Is supposed, say
to the other, have you done it?'' !" have
fixed him." was the short and rapid reply.
The precaution taken by Richard, IN COM
lplaining Of indsposition, and taking medicine
would have formed very important facts, ut
tested toby several witnesses, showing that HI
, was iQHbcent. To any jury It would hav.
amounted to an abb aud had the principa
been rescued from the clutches Of the law BY
, a concurrence OF such testimony, it woult
have been easy TO defeat the ends Of justic
rs It respects the other associates.
, The voluntary confession Of Knapp durin
= his confinement, put out Of joint all the plan
/ Of Crowninshield, and urged him to the despe
i rate alternative Of suicide. This confession
D was made 10 the Rev. Mr.. Coleman of Salen,
: clergyman Of considerable piety and learn
= ing. Joe Knapp, ms he is called, was not ex
l actly counted on as one Of the confcderac,
, headed by Crowninsheld. He was jealous
Y OF the personal popularity of Dick among
such men as Palmer, Hatch, Selman, Chase
} &c. &c. He managed his criminal concern.
on his own hook, and It was merely the ne
cessty Of the case that made him apply "a
the leader for tho execution of plan, from
which, through his connexions, he expected
to reap the exclusive benefit. Knapp pos.
sesses, it is said, much vanity and supecilious-
ness. His vile is considered one ofthe hand
soonest females IN Essex county. He had
been at sea. but latterly was not particularly
, engaged in business. After Knapp made hi.
: confession duplicating Richard ms the princi.
pal. the latter lost all hopes Of safety. Owe,
all the rest Of his associates Richard exercised
unbOunded sway, and it is currently reported
that none Of these would have dared to face
him even IN court Of justice, as witness a.
ga'nst him. Knapp was beyond that inA,,-
; ence' and hence his revelations. A shor,
time before his suicide, Richsrd Crowuin.
shield dropt several hints in relation "a
Knapp, which marked his feelings towards
that individual. " only wish," said he, :.
: was within reach Of him for one minute-on.
: one minute" What would you do Z" nc
was asked. He smiled. with a singular ex,
preston circumference not MUCH" no,
much" ~
Dur'ng the confinement of Richard, hi.
ecu was 10 the second story, under which, il
separate cells were confined one or more 81
nis associates. In the cell Immediately ON.
der was Palmer. When several individual.
belonging either to the grand jury or TO tbs
COMMITTEES OF vigilance visited the latter foI
: the purpose Of finding out what tacts he knew
they had taken the precautiOn to have ever,
hole aud crevice in the ceiling between M
upper aud lower cell we'll examined and elIeS
up.
CrOwninshield himself was famous In form.
ling communications with the different cell,