Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-25
From The SaLm Register.
IN PRISON.

On Tuesday last. between I and 9 o'clock, p. NJ.
Richard Crovninshield, Jr against whom an ia
dic'incut had been found "a principal, III tho murder
of Joseph White, Esq pvt a period To his existence.
by hanging himself in his cell al the prison IN this
town lie accomplished his purpose by tying very
securely a handkerchief to the grating of his win
dew, and another round his neck, which were united
by . strong knot, then tying his hands behind him,
with another handkerchief, and suspendlng himself by
stepping from a chair. When discovered his feet
were re-'in. on The 1oor. from Which hi. knees were
not more than = foot distant, It being necessary for
!'m to bend his limbs considerably IN order TO pro-
duce strsnculutiun
as soon as 1t was discovered that the prisoner had
committed this desperate act, several physicians were
sent tor, aud also the coroner, Thomas Neeiham.
ESQ. who immediately eomrnoned a irry. and held an
inquest over the body. Tho evidence produced to
the jury we learn was III substance es follows: tho
prisoucr took HE dinner ss usual between ~ oud I.
ana AFTER one O'Clock. the turnkey went IN 10 clear
away the things. when nothing unusual was perceiv-
cd. y little before . o'clock Er Brown, the caol
er, went 10 the cell to carry The pr,soucr a message
from Ills father. and calling to him, received no an.
sWor. Re then looked through ,Le hole OF the top
ofihc door, and saw the prisoner hanpinr Ia m. era.
ting Of the window He immediately called assist
ance, entered the cell, and had the body cut down
Fac wa,chmen Stationed in the prison entry. stated
that be hos;ened to the cell when Mr.. Brown called,
sud saw X. CrownirslIcld. jr. hanging by his hand
&erchief from the window CRATE. with In, face to-
wards the N. The turnkey cut him down, and laid
nim on the bed--'here was no appearance OF life in
hlm when he Wss taken dOwn-thourht he had been
hang Dg about Is or 20 minu:es-prevlo sly. he had
no reason 10 think he had any intention of commit
ting such an act-tbe prisoner had ea!en ms dinner
ns usual about half or three quarters Of an hour
previous.
The physicians stated. that they were oalied 10 the
g'ol about q quarter after 2-found the prisoner "
ing on a hed-couid no, fiud any pnlssiion Al the
wrist or hecrt-the countenan:e somcwhat purpl..
apparently from s,rangulation--opened 4 vein in the
arm and he blod freely for a short tine-a vein vas
then opened IN the neck. which bled more freely than
.he arm-attempted to produce an artificial respira-
ton without any effect - The Caivanlc battery wa,
G's" used, but 1t had no effect.
Two short farewell letters written by the deceas-
oil, and dated on the day Of his death, which were
found IN ms cell were read to the jury One of the
letters was addressed TO his father. and the other to his
brother, one of the prisoners. I'VE learn that these
letters contained no disclosures in relation TO the
murder, or illusions TO any persons as concerned in
IL, Dot that they in general terms acknowledged a
vicious hte, and expressed his hopclessness Of escape
from punishment, had he lived to stand q trail
After full delberation upon the evidence produced,
the following verdict vas recorded:
THAT the said Richard Crowninshield, Jun. cams
to his death when IN full possession of his faculties,
by deliberately hanging himself by the neck. with
Two sllken handherchieGS 800" Got o 49, sru'es OF
octer,-such as is not often reared in our country or
produced under our Institutions. Though his con-
quot for osSht or ton years past has been The topic Of
frequent remark III this town, and be has spent a
por'i ION VI his time IN IT, vet very few Of
our citizens even knew ms person or ever saw him.
lie was the leader among his associates, over whom
his infuencc WAS absolute. Ills educ,tion, self
command temperance. caution, vigilance, enterprise,
audscitv, fertility IN resources, and freedom from
MORAL restraints combihed TO nske him dreaded IS q
foe to a peaceful community, filling i, with
fearful sppreh"Bsions for the safety o. property.
dwellings, and lives.
His suicide was not unexpected to his confedetotes |
Tor after his arrest 1t wa. remarked Dy one of them
shat he bad sworn n solemn oath that he would never
1--we esther to be hanged publicly or to go to the
Prison.
1t is very probable that the recon, discovery of n
cf stoen goods at Dan7ers, which had Just
been made known To hun, convinced INN that proofs
lhickenlng Of The depravlty of his life. end m.
PEELED bin to attempt TO escape from tie ~overwheln-
ING Disgrace and shame.
LEE HEw CUsTo5:s Law is beginning 10 work lis
The penal bond involves a responsibility,
ana IN many cases an expense, which the consignccs
're CuWN.hnGt TO incDr, pre.etring that tic goode should
De sen. ct once ~ the public stores and tHeir fate de-
But this course the Collector docs no,
himself apthOrHed to permit, until the cxpi
's'ion OF the legal time of notice.-a thing quite i'm
TO accomplish Besides, there is a difficulty
u procuring sufficient store room. IN the meantime
be packet chip Birmingham, which arrived on the
I2th, lies o. the wharf with her cargo on boa d.
'iher vessels arc in the same condition.
NJ y. Jour. Com.
The National Inte'l,gcDcer has bcrun q repular
,rIticel discrimination Of The Presldent's Tao Meygogo
Ems Document 'sJustliablc in some parts, and Wi
ierobIe IN others. The critics will do WILL TO enquire
undue importance be not ascribcd to The
pecdy payment If The national debt That obiec,
s insignificant, when compared with the earliest exc.
:niion OF great schemes Of Internal Improvement.
'Nhht would hc said OF the merchant. Yho aban.
i'n-d or postponed great comnerclnl operations,
pnd immensely lucrative. ~ order TO cxtin.
5uHsh q Z " bank discounts, of on amount Ear ,nfrrl.
Id 'ihi Of MS rcsoLrccsf Nat. G1<.
ihe Boston Courier states. that John w james.
.sn. hiss Depu n u,tntufpI Wo:,h,, a,I - L