Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-08-10

| I
would never be suspected from their appearance of
such foul crimes John Francis Knapp, approached
hrst His dress was light grey stuff frock coat,
light vest blue panaoons, and yellow handkerchief
around his neck His features are oval and rather
regular-hs complexion somewhat Oakland his hair
very neatly cut and parted in front His dark brows
hung heavily over his eyes, but there was nothing
repulslve in his appearance He might be termed
good looking His brother Jos Jenkins Knapp, pre-
sented quite a different appearance Indeed there
wns no family resemblance between them. Joseph
was dressed in dark frock coat. blue pantaloons,
dark vest and handkerchief When he entered the
box, he cast his eyes around the audience and
smile lurked beneath his eyes. His face was thin
and sallow-his checks sunken and his hair fell
very carelessly around his forehead and brows
Ills appearance was by no means prepossessinu.-
George Crowninshied was the handsomest fellow of
the lot His face had fine hord complexion Quite
youthful his nose prominent-and his profusit of
very light hair was quite remarkable Had Justice
been blind while longer, his hair might have rival
led red peppers. George is quite young man--al-
most touching stout boyhood. He was dressed in
olive frock coat, black silk vest, black handker
chief and blue pantaloons.
When they made their appeara in the prison
er's box they were addressed by name separately
and desired to hold up their right hands This they
did throughout the reading of the two indictments,
both or which formed of several counts varying
the torn Of accusation so rs to meet any possible
objection anticipated from their counsel and avaled
OF through the suicide of Richard Crownush,eld.
John Francis Knapp was first put on his trial. and
Qrralpned
on the single indictment in which he is charged as
a principal with Richard Crowninshield, deceased.
10 this he plead in a faint voices'not guilty"
The empanneling of the jury then took place In
the course OF finding jury, he challenged perhaps
over twenty men. In reference to his selection I
observed that he had decided partially to hard
featured, weather beaten faced men, who had spent
muny years at sea, or at hard work shore. Any
man with genteel exterior and dressed better than
usual was challenged without ceremony In about
two hours jury was got-a set of fine. hardy, hon.
est looking men as ever good MANY on be
ing called as jurymen wefe disqualified on replying
that they had made up their minds Perez Morton,
Esq Attorney General, then rose up and addressed
the Jury IN an opening speech of length, and
Explanatory of the law In the course of his re.
marks ne took occasion to reprimand the editorial
tlces which had appeared in the newspapers in this
quarter In referen to the murder, and questioned
the propriety of these publications as tending to
defeat the ends of justice
| Mr.. Morton is an old fashioned man, of the old
school-has been claimed in his day and generation,
but knows more of the technicalites of law than be
does OF the tactics of we'll conducted press. 1t
| Is an cid, worm eaten and Gothic dogma Of the
to consider the publicity given to every event
by the press, destructive TO the interests of
law and justice. This superstition arose towards
the close of the middle ages. and was in it's full
vigour during the last century. in Europe when the
contest arose. not only between the press and the
princes to the world but also between the press and
the craft OF the law. Is it impossible that the publ
cation OF facts, or even rumors, have any tenden
cy to defeat the general operations of usticef Ith
were true, the utterly ignorant a man s the fit
ter ne Is to sit juror. There seems to be set OF
people in this world who whether they are In the
court-at the bar--or in the Senate have partcula
Penchant in degrading and beitleiag the press-anG
who embrace every opportunity to aspersion
upon its character and usefulness. The honesty
the purity.he integrity of legal practice and lega
decisions throughout this country, indebted
to the merican press than to the whole tribe oflaw
yers and judges who issue their DEGREES The pres
is the iomg jury of the nation