Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-12-31
SALEM MURDER

TIC CiouuS VI utrkncSS Wnlc n res
ted upon the recent auocious ssassin-
alton at Salem, are day by day, beoom
ing dispelled. The following is from
the Salem Gazette of Tuesday, bv
which it vii! be seen that the ram,tic a.
lions oithis extraordinary conspiracy
are in fair way oi being traced to the
fountain head. "Truth is mighty and
will prevail"
The rumourS which have spread a
broad, that all who were concerned in
the murder have not vet been arrested,
prevail here. Application was made
to the Governor and Council few days
since. for the pardon of ]. J. Knapp,
Jun. or for Communication of the SEN
tence OF death to Imprisonment for life
IN the States Prison on the ground that
he was not in fact, as the public have
heretofore supposed, the prime mover
oi the murder, but that there is another
person, not yet arrested, who plotted
and originally instigated the commits
sion of the crime. Both Knapps have
inlimated as much; and all who are &C.
quainted with them, know it was not in
character Tor them to have planned it :;
they were too passive aud inert to have
executed, such an enterprise Of their
own heads. And it is said Joseph has
very recently written letter to the Co
vernor, and declared solemnly he Was
not at the bottom Of the affair.
lao, =.
ken by some that have had influence
over the Knapps to pre.en, then. from
disclosing fully all their knowledge of
the business. Frank short time be-
fore his execution, enjoined Joseph to
give no further information.
1t is now generally understood tina.
the murder had been in agitation ma.
ny months at least before it actually
took place and that the assassin Rich
ard Crowninshieid, jun. entered the
house of Mr.. White on Sunday even
ing two aights before the murder wa,
committed Tor the purpose, but that his
heart had tailed him, aud he retired, it
is said, at five minutes before eleven
O'Clock, so that he might be out Of the
Street before the town watch was set,
which was at III O'clock.
1t is also said that the murder had
been attempted by means ofpoison, be-
tore X. Z. Jun. was employed, and that
frussic Acid and Arsnlc were the
deadly Drugs: it is certain that Capt.
White, two or three months before the
murder, had fit of indisposition
which many suppose to have been eau
sed by some poison.
Some EDITORS, we observe. have sug-
gesled that the disclosures by the
knapps that there is still another per-
son Implicated in the murder, was
made to obtain favor. That, however.
is not the fact.-Frauk at least new
er wished for mercy, few days after
he was convicted, gentleman of in
huence, in whom Frank had the ut.
most confidence, offered his services
to obtain communication of the SEN
tence, and on subsequent days renew
ed the proposals; Frank replled-"No,
| 90 not wish to live-from the first
morning | awaked aud found the muir
der was committed, | have been wretch
ed, and have no desire to prolong my
lite. 1 endeaVoured to dissuade Jo-
sePh from it and. told him that though
tie side he was looking on was bright,
there was also another side, black,
black as hell" From the time of his
conviction to his execution, he mani
tested no desire for pardon or favor,
and never denied his participation in
the guilt of the murder; and Joseph
now makes 10 pretence of innocence
Interpretations will undoubl-
eddy take place. whatever may be the
condition in life OF the offender, wheth-
er high or low, rich or poor, if the
prosecuting officers obtain sufficient
evidence elsewhere, if they do not,
they will, in the words of the Ghost to
Hamlet,
- ---Leave her to Heaven,
:" And the thoms that in her bosom lodge,
{" To prick and sting her"
Norris Canal, ". 1.-The inclined
plane being completed, on Friday last
we had the pleasure OF witnessing the
DaSSaUe of III. 9rst hoo, ,bro,,.L -