Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-08-27
SENTENCE OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP


the bar The crowd was as great as at any form
er time of the trial. He remained throughout
the solemn ceremony as unooncerned and immo-
yabe as ever. When asked by Judge PUTNAM,
il he had ausht to say, why sentence OF death
should not now be pronounced upon him, he re-
piied with great energy and hrmness:
IL have only to say that am innocent 1t the
sharge--and | now declare to the world, that
shall die innocent Of the crime for which am to
suffer-
Judge PUTNAM then proceeded to pronounce
he dreadful sentence Of the law, in the following
manner and terms:
"JOhn Francis Knapp: You have been indlct-
ID for the crime of murder; and upon your ar
yaignment have pleaded that You were not guilty,
and put Yourself upon God and your country for
trial. Able and-learned counsel have been at
your request assigned by the Court to assist you
IN Your defence. Your case has been committed
40 4 very Intelligent and impartial jury, selected
by Yourself, who have for SIX days patiently and
-ttentiyely listened to the evidence and the ar
suments All that learning aud industry, hdel-
ity and talents, could suggest, has been urged III
vain in yoar defence. The truth has preyailed--
and the Jury Of your country have established
Your guit--the Court is s1tished with their YER
dict, and you come now to receive the sentence
VI the Law.
Before we proceed to that last and painful
duty, We are DESTROYS Of doing you all the good
in our power. by awakening your mind To con-
,ideratiOn uf the awful DOOM which awaits YOU.
Would to God that any thing we could say would
have the effect of softening your heart, and OF
leading You TO sincere cohtrI:ion and repentance.
1.-The horrible murder Of which you have been
convicted, stands in bold relief and deformity in
the history of crime.
The victim Of your frrocity, in a few years,
according 10 the course of nature, would have
sunk into his grave in peace. but for the thirst for
gain which cUrrOded the hearts OF those who con-
spiret against las life. lie VAS living in the midst
If as peaceful community rs exists upon the
earth, surrounded by his relations and friends
upon whom he had avlshed his bounty. In the
stiffness of the nisbt-while he rested his aged
limbs upon the bed-while he was in the arms of
sleep-;n his own house--in the centre of this
populoas town--the Assassin of your procure
msnt committed the Deed of Death, while YOU,
IN the judgment of the Law, were present and
aided him in the fact.
The circumstances attending the conspiracy.
exhibit cool, deliberate design tc take the life
OF the victim, merely for the sake of gain. There
was no other passion to be. gratlhcd.
The consprators were all young They
were connected with respectable families. They
were born, aud reared and educated among US.
They had the means of living within their own
control. if they had pursued the course of homes
~ and industry.
But they lorsake this course, and resolve to
cnt their road to fortune through blood and muir
der.
..Oar peaceful city stood aghast at this dread
fal deed. The verv foundation of our society
seemed 20 be shaken-and the shock was not
L. H. h,,t dad
throughout This land.
''Suspiciuns too horrible Tor utterance
excited in the breasts of rejecting men. The
sense Of security which the law inspires, was in
great manner lost No mans house was con-
sidered safe caste-and men seemed for time
disposed To uust TO their own arms, rather than
~ the protection Of the law for their safety.
but there is i Providential watch constantly
over Us. The murderers have been detected bv
means as extraordinary as their crime was afro
oious. The assassin has persisted by his own
hands-and the tremendous punishment for your
crime is about to fall upon YOU.
But there is In these awful events WARNING
coIcs, which speaks to all. and especially to the
Young, as with the sound of the earthquake. in
every breeze which watts the news of this horrid
tragedy. Forsake not the ways of truth, and
honest industry, which lead to honor and ever
lasting life, tor the paths of vice and prohisacy
which lead TO ignominy and DEATH
- Be not deceived by their enticine appearances
At their beginning. the rose buds of hope and
passion may appear, but they end in anguish,
poverty and destruction. y
"Our fervant prayer tor you is, that YOU may
be prepared, by sincere repentance. to appear be-
fore the Judge of all the Earth. And we would
urge you to apply to those pious men whose duty
it IS to teach our Holy Religion. to helpy you with
their prayers and Instructions during the few re.
naming days which may be allowed to you; aud
may GOD graft success to their endeavors.
lit only remains for US to declare the sentence
Of the Law-which is, and this court does ac-
cordingy adjudge,
THAT you be carried from hence to the prison
from whence you came-and from thence to the
place of EXecution-and there be hanged BY the
neck until YOU be dead. And NAV God, Of his
iassits grace, have mercy apsn your seal"