Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-09-13
From the New York Courier.

though .oung in " ars, being at the presen, mn.
meet scarcely twenty. He is a native of Salem.
received his education nj good school in III AZ
Town, bni did not develope any Of his propensi.
ties nil he had reached his sixteenth year. Al
school he exhibited rather superior faculties 10
the ordinary run Of schoolhoys--was not par
ticularly remarkable for any traits Of charac-
ter but rather quiet and onpretending About
! The age OF sixteen he lefi set DOL and commep
ccd bis career in The world by avery character
istic adventure.
During the latter part of his term al school, he
became nc 1uain,ed " iib Richard and Grores
Gro windshield, who then occasionally made
lively excursions r,io Salem and the neighbor-
hood, from Their residence in Danvers. Rich.
ard was then abont % years OF age, ola lively,
daring. dashing character. They did not how
ever frequent that class of society 10 Salem.
which may be reckoned the frat. although they
we're connected by blood with the most respec,ag
Bile & fashionable people in their own neighbor,
hood. Frank Knapp, for he is generally CALI
ed by that name in Salem, and is best known
by il WINS on the verge that separates boy hood
from manlness. full of latent spirit aud daring.
though cold and distant to all but his associates
and not easil, intimidaied or excited unless bv
an fort, but when excited violent 10 any er.
IRENE. Before this period the CrownInshIeldB
| had seen the world. tasled OF It's sweets, aud
| iouUu lnht tntrt were HOMOGENEOUS foT 'npfn TO
lransgress the laws oi society IN attaining their
| own enjoy meni.
| Il wa. in the year 1897 That they projected
a "trip 10 New YORK, some time we believe in
! The month of May There was some difficulty
| in procuring funds 10 make the journey. This
| il is believed was DIV lated by holding forth Ia
ducemens 10 Frank Knapp. 10 accompany
| hem--te TASTE the pleasures of society, aud
TO seek adventures suited 10 their peculiar tastes
and wishes. Frank could not or would not re-
sisi the desire he had 10 see the world, and eDjoy
little Of the high seasoned pleasures tive Grow
min shields presented 10 his imagination. liz
| vas however destitute OF funds, nor could hi.
associates at that time furnish his pockets with
| the needful.
! At this period the father of Frank was doing
IA prosperous commercial business, in which
we believe the elder brother was concerned
! From an apartment in which some money was
pu, for safe keeping, Frank very uncereno-
| niouSly distracted about $500 OF more, pui lin
his pocket. IL told his father :" believe shall
spend election week in Boston" The Young
tbHn then started with the two Grow ninshieIds,
came 10 Boston, but soon made their way 10
New York. In This city they put up az one OF
our then fashionable hotels IN broadWay-sur>
ported themselves as we'll MS possible-attend-
ed The theatre, sought such pleasures as lhoy
mysteries OF their vasabondog kind of life.
IL viii be rrcolieced, however. that the taste
Of these chepaiiers WAS somewhat low
and coarse Richard being, though strong
minded, acute cunning man, not particularly
refined either by education or society. They
might be reckoued in this city rOrt Of third
or fourth ;ate young mn OF pleasure. who TO
supply al empty purse would prefer broad
robbery To fashionable forgery, or piece Of
genteel swmdng. Fran. admired the plea
sure furnished by New York, gave loose to
the Impetaosity of bt. eharacte,--showed his
il'mness,his imperuIbable command Of coun,e-
nance aud feelings IN a variety OF little anpG'
do'es Which We t related, and circulated a.
mong his assocla'es al Salem.
Al last the funds which were principally
furnished by the FIRST felony Of Frsnk upon
his father, became low, and the little band Of
brothers were so"u reduced 10 the ex reiniiy
of procuring supplies, by stretching forth their
bands little contrary 10 law. They did SO,
and we're moi discovered for SONS time being
principally under the guidance ol Richard.
They committed their ylanirs with great ad-
dress They lived in sparate Hotels. One
OF The gang would look out for plumber at the
house IN ~hIch br resided, hut lie touched nj.
ming. HIS associ ne from another Hotel was
invited 10 see him-iniormaiIon commun icated
now 10 lind The property, and the nonresident
stole from the Hotel ofihe resident. BY this
means. detection Was diihcult. This was stheic'
system, and they had pracsed upon i, very
successfully before they Were discovered by cur
police.
From this city, they went to the Springs. and
renamed a short lime. We believe they had
to decamp rather hastily. In August Of that
same year, (lS27) they Ie,u,nrd 10 Broadway,
and put ur as formerly at different hotels IN
broadway, and commenced their system anew
u was during Tins peiIpd OF their excursion
That they committed several thetis-were Bp
prehe nGed--and had their names enrolled On
he books OF The New York Police Office.
has enromen, is dated August 9, 1927. and
contains the names OF Richard CrownoshieId,
ms brother George, and Knapp, VINO passed by
Ine ALIASES oil George j. Brown and Joseph
Usher. One the party had stolen a gold
watch, at the Franklin House another a eou
chain of Mr.. Rockwell, in Broadway. white
looking at his wares. Tie Cham was found
Ia one Of the apartments in the American
Hotel Both the Crowninshiplhs were ,hen
put ~ Bcdewell. and Fisher. ahas Knapp. in
private conversation With one of the Police
omcers, gave such accounts, that this memor.
a"u'm vas written alter Then names in the DO
Ice books" noted lhitvp. from Salem. Mass
Fisher tells all about them"
II required the greatest ingenuity Of Richard
w eA"'cd'e hinseii and his Acquaintance. Yet
II was accomplished. When Frank returned
!" oa'e", Which was immediately ON the heels
o. 'ne adventure here he was severely iaken
to Task by his father aud friends, His decer'
'ion, his trick. and his theft Of IN. money
WERE however, concealed from the world. ana
attempts were made 10 reclaim him from his
course by sending him to sea, Frankwepito
sea sever al voyages, ana gave such evidence vi
nus soo'ie'y' attention TO duty and perseverance
OF Character, that hiS friends be lieve ed complete
reformation had been Effected. He continued
So Tor year, giving promises of becoming
Il useful man aud vn,uous member of society.
Notwithstanding his first apses. About n year
"so' ne iei' the sea, probabi. from the dep.ess-