The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-08-14
THE ADVOCATE.
From the New York Courier.
EDIToR's CORRESPONDENCE.
SALEM, July %, 1873,

ShLCVl, July 90, looO.
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 characterized. with
daring, hypocrisy, GOODNESS, defiance of
ell law, and calculation and ingenuity
+fh,4 VOID have raised him to emincnce
in society, hai! he received proper di-
:fection in his inisucy. His recent let
fers, wttren during lis confinement, are
but the part of plau to rescue not only
himself, but all his associates In crime
An incident is told in this pla<e, which
marks the GOODNESS and precaution with
which he moved in his criminal PURSUITS.
On the night on which the murder was
committed, Ne complained Of slight in
disposition, and went to bed, as seen by
the family about o'clock. AT eleven o.
clock, two hours after, he again walked up
some members 6fthe family, and request
ed preparation of MEDICINE for the pur-
pose of aileviating his indisfFosition. Dur
ing the interval that elapsed between
these events, he had left his room private
ly,rode TO Salem, ,perpetratedthe foul deed,
returned and placed himself in the Same
situation. Ii was about ten minutes after
ten o'clock, that the murder Of Captain
White was accomplished, according to
the evidence or persons who saw him and
Knapp skulking round the buildings
One female heard Knapp it is supposed,
ray to the other, "have you done it'--
II have H&ed him." was The short and
rapid reply.
The precautioi taken by Richard, in
complaining Of indisposition, and taking
medicine, although appareiitly trivial cir
cumstances, would have formed very mi
portant facts, attestcd to by several wit
nesses, showing that he was innocent
To any jury it would have amounted to an
abb; and had the principal Been rescued
from the clutches Of the law by concur
renee of such. testimony, it would havs
been easy to defeat the ends ofjusticc as
it respects the other associates.
The voluntary Confession of Knapp
during his confinement, put out Of joint
all the plans Of Crowninshicld, and urged
him to the desperate alternative of suicide
This confession was made tothc Rev. Mr..
Coleman Of Salem, clergyman Of con-
siderable piety and learning. Joe Knapp,
as he is called, was not exactly counted
on as one of the confcderacy headed by
Crown't!shield. He was jealous Of the
personal popularity Of Dick among such
,ncn as Palmer, Hatch, Selman. Chase,
&c. &c.--He managed his criminal con-
Germs on his own hook, and it was merely
the necessity orthc case that made him ap-
ply to the leader for the execution Of d
plan, from which, through his connexions,
he expected to reap the exclusive benefit.
Knapp possesses, it is said, much vanity
and superciliousness. His wife is,con-
sidered one of the .handsomest females in
Essex county. re h6d been at sea, but
latterly was not particularly engaged in
business. After Knapp made his confess
ion duplicating Richard as the principal,
the latter lost all hopes of safety. Over
all the rest of his associates Richard exer-
eised dnbounde6 sway, and it is currently
reported that none of these would have
dared to face him even in court ofjus-
tice, as witness against him. Knapp
was beyond that inAucrct, and 9ence Els
revelations: A short. fThc before his sui
eide, Richard Crowninshield dropt sever
al hints in relation to Knapp, WITCH mark
cd his feelings towards that Individual
~ only wish," said he, 81 was within
reach Of him for one mihute-7-only one
minute" "What would you do!' he vas
asked. Ho smiled, with singular ex-
preston Of couhtenance-" not mich"-
not much"
During the confinement Of Richard, his
cell was in the second story, under which,
In separate cells were confined one or
more Of his associates. In the cell immc-
diately under was Palmer. When sever
o. individuals belonging either to the
Grand Jury or to tho Committee Of vigil
ance visited the latter for the purpose Of
oRding out what facts he knew, they had