The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-11-20


referred 70 above. Il win be perceived
thh thev afford striking and almost M
raculous corrobution Of tho facts thar
were c;rcumstan.ially developed on the
trial q !; FIRST 4; n"csPi "ccs3PiNFEssIoN.
A....rIv N some time last February,
,he Attendant. Joseph Jenkins Knapp, yr.
rold his brother John Francis knapp, that
that he wished the old Gentieman mean-
inc Cant. -White) was dead. Frank ask
~J hin vhv? He answered, because the
IA eentlenna had mnde will, bestowing
ttse bulk Of his property upon Nj. Stephen
White. who had been the means of injur-
inr defendant and the other members Of
she fimiiy in the estimation. OF Captain
Whns. Told Frank in joke, that the old
gentleman had often said he wished ogo
off IKE fash. Various modes oftaking
the life were considered, whether u should
be done whils be was upon the road to has
shrm. or Ia his house. Frank said, he had
not pluck enough to kill the old man him
sel; but ne know who would. SAID be
meant Richard Jr. and George Crownin-
shield. He undertook, accordingly, to
ueyotisxe with them upon the subject
when he saw them, George said he would
not 20 70 the house, to commit the mur-
der. but would meet him any where out OF
doors. Richard sid he would 60 any
,shere. l George .wsujd back him.
Richard ard Frank afterwards had three
meesings in Salem; once by the Univer-
salist Meeting house, once in SouthheIds
and once at the Salem Theatre. e
At these meetings Frank told Richard
what defendant had snid. Defendant and
Frank had one meeting with Dick, near
the centre ofSalem common. Defendant
told Richard, that he he'd that day taken
Capt. Whites will from the iron chest in
his chamber. Also told him Whist no
would give him for committing .the MUIR
der; which was the same as Frank had
told him, Wig. one thousand dollars.
Richard showed the tools with which he
meant to perform the decd; they were ex-
amined by defendant. One was club a
bout two feet long, turned and having
heads turned towards the handle, to pre-
vent slipping in the hand; It was very
heavy, and he supposed it TO DO loaded
The dirk was about five inches long, with
an ivory handle, the blade was Hat, aud
sbarp nj both edges. Richard turned the
club himself, at his work shop; don't know
Who owned the dagger. This was on Fin
day, the second Of April, and defendant
asked Dick ifhe was going to kill the
old man that night. He answered no, and
said he could not do il that night, because
he was alone, and George would not back
him. He would meet Frank, any time
Defendant went homo to Wenham on the
same evening, after the interview, carry
inc Capt. Whites will In his chaise box,
where he kept il covered up with bay, till
the day after the murder, when he took 1t
out and burned il. The next Sunday he
came in town and went to meeting all day.
On Sunday april Al Frank met Rich
ard at the bottom Of the common, ana IN
formed him that Capt. White was going TO
take tea at the house Of Mrs. Stone, tam
iN connexion, in Chesnut street, that af-
ternoon. Richard said that be would
dirk him that night in Chestnut street, on
his return, ifhe did not return before DARK,
and so tho design was frustrated. >. J..
Knapp Jr. then returned to Wenham be-
fore dark. hH
Frank went up to Wenhamon Tuesday
Mrs. Beckford Capt. White niece and
housekeeper) were there attending {.
daughter who was sick. Defendant told
Frank he had better inform Richard o
this. j. X. had himself previously un-
screwed and unbarred the window shutter,
20 that the ASSASSIN might obtain easy ac-
cess. Frank accordingly left the farm
for the purpose of finding Dick, and on
coming away said he guessed the old gen.
tleran would 60 that night.
Mn morning, BENZ. White, Capt. W'i
servant, came up and told US Capt. White
had been murdered. In the afternoon
Frank came and asked us if we had heart
the news; we answered yes. He after
wards in private related the particulars o
the murder. He met Richard in Brow
street, behind Capt. Whites garden, a
bout 10 o'clock. After the lights wer
extinguished, Richard went round throug
the street, and entered the yard Of Capt
w. IA front, went round the house to tn
back window which Joe had left unfasten
ed. entered the house alone, passed up tn
Al octha che he