Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-25
From The Salem Register.
SUICIDE IN PRISON

dic'ment had been found az principal in the murder
OF Joseph Whi'e' Esq put period to his existence,
oy hanging himself In his cell at the prison in this
town. lie accomplished his purpose nv tying vary
securely handkerchief to the grating of his win.
dew, and another round his neck which were unite
oy strong Knot, then tying his hands behind him,
WIN ohother handkerchief, and suspendnc himself by
stepping from chair. When discovered his feet
were reS'ins on the floor. from which his knees were
not more than foot distant, it being necessary for
him to bend his limbs considerably in order ~
duce strangulaton f
AS eeon as 1t was discovered tina, the prisoner had
C"hn.l.eo ms desperate act, several physicians were
Se"' TOT ana also the coroner, Thomas Needham
Esq. VINO immediately sommoned iury and held nm
inquest over the body. The evidence produced "a
the jury we learn was in substance os follows: the
prisoner took hls dinner usual between la and !
ana AFTER one O'Clock, the turnkey went, IN 10 cIca
away the things when nothing unusual was pc,cerv-
ed. little before O'Clock Dir Brown the ~ aol-
err went to tina cell to carry the prisoner MESA
IRON MS ,ather and calling to him, received no an
swer. lie then looked through he hole at the ton
OF the door. and saw the prisoner HANGING to ,he r,
ing OF the window He immediately called ossist
ancs, entered the cell, and had the body cut down
me waichman stationed in the prison entry stated
thai he hsstened to the cell when Mr.. Brown called.
and saw K. CrOwnnsheld. ir. hanging by his hand
kerchef from the window CRATE with his face TO-
WARDS the N The turnkey cut him down. and laid
h; ou .nE oea-'hcFe was no appearance of life in
ann when he was taken down-thoucht he had been
hanging about 5 or 90 minutes-previo,,sy he had
no reason 10 think he had any intention of commit,
ung such On act-fhe prisoner had eaten his dinner
as usnal about half three quarters of an hour
previous. '
ihe physicians stated, that they were called to the
sa"i aoo", quarter after 2-found the prisoner ly
lng on oed-could not find any prsaton at the
WITS. or heart-the cuuntenance somewhat purple
apparently from s,rangu latlon-opened vein in tho
arm and he blad freely for short ime-a vein was
then opened in the nect which bled more freely than
the arm-attempted TO produce an artificial respira
.io" WITHOUT any effect the gelvaDir battery was
also used, hut it had no effect.
Two snort farewell letters written by the deceas-
ed' and dated on the day of his death, which were
ioand IN DIS cell were rend to the urv One of the
letters was to his father and the othev h
orotaer' one of the prisoners. I'VE learn that these
letters contained disclosures in relation to the
murder, or aliusions TO any persons concerned in
IL, out that they in general terms acknowledged
VICIOUS life, and expressed his hopclessness Of escape
from punishment, had he lived to stand a TRAIL
AItef iuil elaboration upon the evidence produced
'he foliowl"g verdict recorded:
That the said Richard Crowninshield. Jun. came
TO his death when IN full possession of his faculties
ey dehoerately hanging himself by the neck with
Two siken handkerchefs made fast to the CRATES of
his cell"
r Crowninshieid, ir. vas an extraordinary char
acer-such as is not often reared in our country or
produced under our institutions. Though his con-
ue of eisht OF ton years past has been The topic of
frequent rernark IN this town, and he has spent
considerable portion of his time it, vet very few of
our cit'zens even knew his person Ut ever saw him.
ne was the leader among his associates over whom
IT.
command temperance, caution, vigilance enterprise
audaclty,s fertility in resources and freedom from
moral restraints comb ned me Ike him dreaded as
formidable Toe to peaceful community. filing j, with
ieariul apPrehensions for the safety of property
dwellings and lives r''
h,s suicide was not unexpected to his confederates
TOT aiteF MS arrest 1T remarked Nv one of them
that he had sworn solemn eth that he wouI3 pever
1--WE ei1ner 10 be hanged publicly or to go to the
States Prison
1t is very probable that the recent discovery Of
quantity OF stolen goods at Danvers, which had lust
been made known him, convinced him that nrooc
were thickening of the depavity of his life and i'm
PEELED him to attempt to escape from the overwhelm
ing disgrace and shame.
fHE NEW CUsToms Law is beg inning to work lis
mischief The penal bond involves a responsibility
ana IN many cases an expense, which the consanees
are unwilling to incur, preerriDg that the goods should
De sent at to the public and their fate de-
terInined But this course the Collector does not
consider nimseIf authorized to permit, until the exp
ration of the legal time of notice-a thing quite i'm
possible to accomplish Besides, there is difficulty
ID procuring sufficient store roont In the meantime
,ne PACKET snip Birmingham which arrived on the
l2th, lies q. the wharf with her cargo on board.-
Other vessels are in the same condition
w. Y. Jour. Com.
The National Intelligencer has begun regular
G,,tica examination of the Presidents Teto Message
Inns document IS JUS fiable in some parts and vul-
herable III others. The critics will do we'll to enquire
whether undue importance be not ascribed to the
speedy payment of the national debt That ohio,
is gnlticant when compared with the earliest exc
cotton OF great schemes of Internal Improvement
Hhat would be said of the merchant, who aban-
ooned or postponed great commercial operations
certainly aad Immensely lucrative in order 20 extin
g"ish f"w bank discounts, of an amount far nfert
VI 10 'nai OF DIS RESOURCES? Nat. Ga=.
Inc Boston Courier s.atcs that John w lanes
Esq mas oeen appointed Weigher and Gauger IN the
Boston Custom House. in place OF Mr.. john Champ
nney removed And also, that Benjamin H. Norton.
Esq has been appointed Inspector in the 3 ston Gus
toh mouse THIS IS the gentleman who wa reform
was reformed in He hen went ON TO Washington
70 o'ow the administration sky high Not getting
redrcss as soon as he expected ne prepared appeal
20 me universe winch was supposed TO conain
sundry edifyiBg disclosures This docrment DnN re-
FUSED to publish; and lest it should find Its way to the
public fhrnnnh some ntI,nr rhn...-1 ~ - "! w ~ |