Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-11-17
SALEM TRIALS.
TRIAL OF JOSEPH JENKINS
KNAPP.
SALEM, Tuesday Nov. 9th, 1880

as Charged MN WIN DelDg accessory To-
JOIN FRANcIs kNAPP, in the murder of
Joseph White. To that part of the In
dictmcnt which charged him with being
accessory to some person unknown, the
Court directed him not to plead.
A jury having been impanelled, the
Attorney General was proceeding to
open the case, when the prisoners coun-
sci after some inquiry as to the persons,
who are to conduct the case for the
Government, objected to Mr. Webstcr's
being engaged in the case The At
torney General said MIR. Webster was
there at his request.
The court after long consideration could
not decide, and ordered that the cause
should go on under the conduct OF the
Attorney and Solicitor, till the morning,
when they would settle the question.
Mr.. Webster then said, came solely
at the request ofthe Attorney General
no other inducement had the least inilu-
ence upon me.
The Attorney General then opened
the case to the jury and cited authorities
10 support the doctrine, that ii an accom-
plice conicsses, and Is called as Il witness,
& afterwards testiiies iraudnlcntly, or de-
MES his confessions, the Government is
redeemed from the pledge Of protection,
aud he is to be tried by his conlc ssions
He then called Mr.. Colman, who tcst-
fed, that the confessions were given
without compulsion, promise, bribe, or in
ducement, except the pledge given by
the Attorney, which was shown to the
prisoner at the bar before the confessions
were taken. lie had got written CON
fesssion.
Dexter, objected that any thing of the
confession should be given, or the con
tents ofthe paper in any way stat, =.
The Attorney General stated, ti..t the
paper contained an account Of the mur-
der, authenticated on every page, con
tanning nine pages, by the hand writing
OF the prisoner, and accompanied bv "A
note in the hand writing of Joseph Jen-
kins Knapp, stating that he had done it
without pledge or bribe, or solicitation,
of any person whatever that was not
to be introduced, he did not know what
could be given in evidence.
Gardiner, was gong on to argue "a
gainst the admission 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 tes-
tilted:
first heard oGihe arrest ofthe Knapps
on Thursday morning the 9th, but did
not visit him that day, but went on Friday
morning. consulted previously with
some of the gentlemen ofthc Committee
of Vigilance, in regard to visiting him.
and in regard to the charges alleged a
ganst him. ] obtained their consent 10
visit the prisoner. went first to the
house of captain Joseph J. Knapp, sen.
and saw Mrs Knapp, the wife of Joseph
j. Knapp, junior, Mrs. Beckford, her
mother, Miss Phippen, the housc-kecp-
er, capt. Knapp, Samuel Knapp, and
Phlppcn, and conyerscd with the family. !
went to the prison with the know
ledge and appreciation of the family. !.
had been informed that the prisoner was
TO be arraigned at ten o'clock before a
justice, and went little before ten and
and committed, | asked permission to 90
into his cell and went in. told him
was much distressed that | was sorry
for his situation, and if | could render
him any service which it was proper for
me to render, he might command me-
lie asked me if | thought they could
prove it. told him did not know any
thing about it, other than what certain
gentlemen, in whom had great conf
dence, had told me, that in their opinion
the evidence was conclusive. ! asked
him who Palmer was He told me he
didn't know. ] told him | didn't know
what could be done; but if any thing
could be obtained for him, and if he saw
fit, and thought he could rely upon my
honor to make any disclosures to me, he .
might be sure they should never be di-
vulged-I would die first, until had OBJ
tanned the security Of the government
He referred to the opinion expressed on
the former trial, that confession made
to clergyman was sacred-but didn't
recollect mentioning that opinion to the
prisoner
charged him if he was innocent, by
no means, in any way to involve himself
he must be the Judge ofthat. He ask
ed me again, and think repeatedly, if
they could prove it, and ] answered him
as before, that didn't know. He sat
on the bed and drew close. lie looked
up to the wall and | looked up, and saw
crevice, from which the saw dust ap-
pcarcd to have fallen. He appeared to
be anxious not 10 be overheard. and this