The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-12-25
SALEM MURDER.

| The runors, which have spread abroad
That all who were concerned in the mdsl
der have not yet been arrested, prevail
here and obtain existence and general be.
lief. We have reason to believe that ap.
plication was made to the Governor and
Council a few days since, for the pardon
of j. j. Knapp, Jr. or for communication
ofthcsentcnce OF death to imprisonment
for life in'the State Prison, on the ground
That he was not In fact, as the public have
heretofore supposed, the prime mover ol
tho murder, but that there is another per
son, not yet arrested, who plotted and or
iginnny instigatcd the commission ofthe
crime. Both, knapps, have intimated as
much; and all who are acquainted with
them, know it was not in character for
them to have planned il; they were too
passive and inert TO have conceived, or to
have executed such an ente prise Of their
own heads. And it is said Joseph has
very recently written letter to the Gov
efnor, and declared solelmnly he was not
at the bottom Of theV6sir. 'i4ieiiae9@ 2.
Great pnins have been sednlously taken
by some that have had influence over the
Knaprs to prevent them from disclosing
fully all their knowledge Of the business.
Frank, short time before his execution,
upon Joseph to give no further
~. ..a.
1t is now generally understood that the
murder had been IN agitation many n,onths
ut least before it actually took place and
that the assassin, II. Crowninshield Jr;
entered the house of Mr.. White on. Sum
day evening two nights before the MUIR
der was committed, for the purpose, but
that his heart then failed him, and he re-
tired, it is said, at FIVE minutes before IL
o'cloeA, so that he might be out of the
streets before the town watch was set,
which was at ! ] o'clock. ab
1t is also said that the murder had been
attempted by means Of Poison, before r.
G. Jr. was employed, md that Prussic
Acid and Arsenic were the deadly drugs:
it is certain that Capt. White, two or three
months before the murder, had fit of in
disposition which many suppose to have
been caused by some poison.
Some editors, we observe, have sug-
gested that the disclosures by the Knapps
that there is still another person implicat,
ed in the murder, was made to obtain fav-
or That, however, is not the fact.--
Frank at least never wished for mercy;
a few days after he was convicted, a gen
lleman OF Influence, in whom Frank had
the utmost confidence, offered his servi.
ces to obtain a Communication, of the SEN
lence; and on subsequent days renewed
the proposal; Frank replied, |" No, ] d.
not wish to hre--from the first morning ]
awaked and found the murder was COM
mitted, / have been wretched, and have
10 desire to prolong my life. endeav-
,red to dissuade Joseph from it, and told
him that though the side he was looking
IN was bright, there was also another side,
alack, black as hell!" From the time oi
ais convection to his execution, he mani,
tested no desire for pardon or favor, and
never denied his participation in the guilt
ofthe murder; and Joseph now makes no
pretence of innocence. ge s, Ill !,
Further prosecutions will undoubtedly
take place, whatever may be the condit-
ion in life ofthe offender, whether high OF
low, rich or poor, If the prosecuting Off
GERS obtain sufficient evidence; if they do
not, they will, in the words Of The Ghost
to Hamlet, arl Ar ~ asnfe \
"-Leare k** 10 Hearen, "A
/" And the horps tkat IN ~ bosom lodge,
rs" TO prick and ding k**."j ,'n.itn- - \
) JH -,qra A.,4 Soltm Gsseits. =.