The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-11-18

repyesented that il was attended with
great danger, aud thar prisoner looked on.
" on the bright side of the project; but Joe
answered that he had weighed the conse-
quepces well. re
After the read Of this confession, the let
letters alluded TO in the form were aoout 10
be read when Mcssrs Dexrer and Gardiner
objected to their Introduction because VIM
Alien was not present to indemnity them as
the same which he put into the post Office
and consequently The government did moi
produce the best evidence the case admit
ted.
The Court decided TO admit the letter
which were as follows:
MAY 10, 1890.
Gentlemen of the Committee OF Vigilance
Hearing that you have taken up young
men on suspicion Of being concerned IN The
murder Of Mr. White think it high time
10 inform yon that Stephen White came "
me one night and told me if would remort
the old gentleman, he would give me five
hundred dollars; he said he was afraid he
would aller his IS III # he lived any longer
I told him would do il, but ] was afeares
TO go into the house so he said he'd go with
me, that he would try TO get into the house
IN the evening and open tho window, would
then go home and 20 to bed aud meet me
again about IL. found him and we both
went into his chamber. struck him on
the head with heavy peace Of lead and
then stabbed him with dirk. he made The
finishing stroke with another. lie prom.
ised to send me the money next evening
and has not sent il yet, which is the reason
that mention this.
Yours, &c GRANT q
| [Tbis letter was directed on the outside
! toiha "Iion Gideon BarstoS, Salem" ane
pnt into the post Office on Sunday evening
May 10th. 1890
! Lynn, My -, ie3o.-Mr. White viii
send the S5t'O0 or part oft before TO NOR
row night, or suffer the painful conse
quences. N. CLAxr"N 9TH.
4 GTnia letter was directed on the outside
to the "Hon. Stephen White, Salon, Mass
and put into the post Office in Salem OF
Sunday evening, May l6lh.l
| Mr.. Colmsn was then called upon TO !
IDENTIFY the club, which he had found unde
the steps OF the Howard street Church. oI
the 29th of MAY. nj O'Clock, in compan,
with Hon. Gideon Barstow and StcpheI
G.. Philips.
! After the reaGing, the Rev. Mr.. Colmal
and Gideon Barstow, Esq. were examine,
as to the circumstance under which th'
confessions were made and written TIL,
Attorney General then stated that the ,es
timony on the part OF the prosecution wa
I closed.
Mr.. Gardner then explained the grounds
of defence and the principles Of law OF
which il rested. The chief ground of de
fence seems to be that Frank was not gull
ty as q principal, and of course that no &C
! cessory can yet be put on trial.
7 Mr.. Gardiner concluded in the afternoon
when several witnesses were examined ol
the part Of the defendant, TO prove the cir
cumsinnces under which ]. r. Knapp wa
in Brown stree, on the night Of the mur1cl
Iv7aAr whic h tho hefance was closed by Nj
| Dexter.
We are indebted to the Salem Gazett
for the above interesting detail.
Mr. Webster closed his argument for tn
government Of l2 o'clock This day, in pero
ration Of surprising pathos. We know no
an instance when eoquepce has been NOR
powerful. The thought, language an,
manner, equally combined to produce tn,
highest effect upon human mind and humal
| sympaihies.
He said the jury should feel compassion
for the prisoner-but compassion for hi
internal, rather than his external condition
II, is his greatest misfortune to be what ht
| s, and not to be whore he is" Fle said i
vas time for him ard Cor his friends to CIV,
mp the Idle pretence Of maintaining his in
nocence-and that it was not the least hor
rible part OF the transaction, that he ha,
given no evidence Of repentance, that hi
confessions contain no word of penitence
Mr.. Webster's argument was confined
almost exclusively, to close examination
and application the law and the evidence
II was the eloquence Of reason, and not
fancy or passion, and the close conirastet
effectively with the previous manner of tht
argument.
Knapp has been calm and collected
Throughout, not like an obdurate man, bu
! like one who had come TO the conclusion
that he had no hope, and could no, be af
fectod by the chances of the game, becaus,
the result was clearly forcknown. lie dis
plays neither hard heartedncss nor imbecil
ty, but simple quietness of feeling an,
! deneanor.
The Judge proceeded to charge the in
ry as soon as Mr.. Webster closed.
! Taai Of Joseph j. Knopp.-yr. webs,c
made the closing argument in support q