The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-23
SALEM MURDER.

The rumors, which have spread a
bread, that:all who were concerned in
the-murder have not yet been arrested,
prevail here and obtain existence and
general belief We have reason to
befisyestlIat application was made to
the Governor and Council few days
SINCE, for the pardon of. J. ]. KNAPP,
Jr. or for a communications Of the sem
tence 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
of the murder, but that there is anoth-
er person, not yet arrested, who plot
ted and originally ihstigated the COM
mission Of the crime. Both Knapps,
have intimated as much and all who
are acquainted with them, know it was
not in character for them to have plan
ned II ;-they were too passive and inert
To have conceived, or to have executed
such an enterprise Of their own heads.
Andrt is said Joseph has very recent
Iy written letter to the Governor, ,and
declared solemnly he was not at the
bottom of the affair.
Great pains have been sedulously
taken by some that have had influence
over the knapps to prevent them from
disclosing fully all their knowledge of
the business. Frank, a short time be-
fore his execution, enjoined upon Jo-
seph to give no further information.
It's now generally understood that
the murder had been in agitation ma
ny months at least before it actually
took place and that the assassin, r..
Crowninsiiield, Jr. entered the house
of Mr.. White on Sunday evening 1.-TWO
nights before the murder was commit
ted,) for the purpose, bat that his heart
then failed him, and he retired, it is
said, at five minutes before III o'clock,
SO that he might be out of the streets
before the town watch was set, which
was at III o'clock.
II is also said that the murder had
been attempted by means of Poison,
before X. Z. Jr. was employed, and
that Prussic Acid and Arsenic were
the deadly drugs: it is certain that
Captain White, two or three months
before the murder, had fit of indis-
position 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 per-
son implicated in the murder, was
made to obtain favor. That, howev-
er, is not the fact. Frank at least new
er wished for mercy; few days after
he was convicted, gentleman Of in
fuence, in whom Frank had the ut
most confidence, offefed his services
to obtain a Communication Of the sem
tence; and on subsequent days renew
ed the proposal Frank replied, "No,
do not wish to ire-from the first
morning | awaked and found the MUIR
der was committed, l have been
wrctched, and have no desire to pro-
long my life. 'cndcavored to dis
snade Joseph from it, and told him
that though the side he was looking on
was bright, there was also another side
black, ,.black as hell 7" From the time
Of his, conviction to his execution, he
wssifsstea no. desire for pardon or fa-
vos. asdswsser deniediiis participation
stbeq3ArsftiE afhGtaer; and Joseph
~ ujNkes h8%prcfsiider5 5r l,ttocce pce.
Tsssi'tsTr6sstpfi6h 'dhhtdonbiel-
, sakesYiase. eylfhteter may be the
condisoH nlife ofihe offender, VIII ~
er high or low. rich or poor, if the
Prosecuting officers obtain sufficient