Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-09-06
From the Now York Courier, Angus, a.

.
Cts Knapp. recently convicted as surviving principal
in the murder OF Capt White. of Salem, is old IN
gai't and crn'na,y though young IN years. beng at
the present. moment scarcely twenty. He is native
OF Salem, roesived hrs education at a good school IN
that town, bat did not devclope any of his evil pro-
pcnsteS til he had reached his sixteenth year. AT
school he exhibited rather superior faculties to the
ordinary Of school boys--Ya, not particularly
markable for any traits ct character bur rather quiet
and nnpre ending. Abon tho age of sixteen he left
school, and commenced his career in the world by a
very characteristic adventure.
During the latter part of his term nj school he be
came acquainted with Richard and George Crownn-
shield who then occasionally made lively excursions
into Salem and the ncIghbor hood from their resi-
dence in Danvcrs.-Richard was then about % years
OF age OF lively, daring, dushing character. They
did not however frequent that class of society in Sa
lem, which may be reckoned the fret although they
were connected by blood with the most respectable
and fashionable people in their own neigh6orhood
Frank Knapp for he Is generally called BY that name
IN Salem, and is best known by on tho verge
that separates boyhood from manlness, full of latent
spirit md daring though cold and distant all but
his associates and not easily intimiated or excited
unless by an fort but when excited violen, to an
extreme Before his period the Crowninshiclds had
seen The world, tasted Of its sweets and found that
there were Inducements for them to transgress the
laws OF society IN attaining th:er enjoyment.
II was IN the year 1927 that they projected trip
to Now York, sometime "" believe The month of
May There some d ficuy IN procuring funds
20 make the Journey. This it is believed was olivia
ted by holding forth Inducements To Frank Knapp, to
accompany then--to taste the pleasures of socic v
and to seek adventures suited to their peculiar tastes
and wishes. Frank could not would resist the
desire he had 10 the world, and enjoy n little OF
theh high seasoned pleasures ID, Crownnshclds pre-
scented to his IMAGINATION He however dcsri-
tute of funds could his associates At that time
furnish his pockets with ihc neediu
At this period tho father of Frank was doing a
prosperous comnercal business n which we believe
the elder brother was concerned From apart
men IN which some money put for saio-krep-
inv. a al ;' rae ir1n nh
$500 or more, put It INTO his packet and told his
fathrr"l believe shall spend election week IN Bos-
ton" The young man hen started with the two
Crownimshieds came TO Boston. bat soon made their
way to New York. In ths city they put up at one
of our hon fashionable Hotels IN Brmaiwsv-sportrd
themselves well possbic-atiandcd the Thea.
ire, sough sIch pleasures as hey had taste for
and initiated Frank in the mysteries of their vaca
bonding kind of lfe. II wall be rccollcctcd. howcv-
or that he taste of hose cheraii5ra- was somewhat
low und coarse. Richard being, though stronr.
minded, acute cunning MIN, no particularly refined
either by education society. They night be
reckcrnd this city sort Of third or fourth rate
young mon of pleasure, who TO supply an empty
purse would prefer broad robbery to fashona bic for
gerry piece of geGtecl sTlndlng. Frank admi- |
red he pleasure furnished by New York, gave
lose to III ImDetu0sty OF his charactcr-shewed his
frmness his 'n,p2rurbublc command of countcnancc
and feelings IN variety Of little anecdotes which
were rca'ed ana circulated am ing his associates
Salem.
A. last their funds which were principally furnish
cd by tho frs felony OF Frank upon his IA her be-
came low. ana The little band of brothers were soon
reduced TO the extremity ct procuring supplies. By
stretching forth ther hands little contrary to law
They did 50, and were not discovered for some time
being principally under the guidance of Richard
They committed their vialnes with orcnt address
rhey lived in separate Hotels One of the caneL
would look out for plumber the house in uhirS 10 |
resided but he touched nothing His associate fron,
another Hotel vas invited to see--hh.n--infnrnaion
how 10 find Lh1 n-oncr,v and rho non
resident s'ol, from Tho Hotel of the resident. Bv
tl..s means aa:tccton difficult This their
system, and they had Practised upon it very
fully before they were discovered by our Police.
From this CITY. they Wet. to he Springs and re-
manned short time. W. believe they had 10 dccamp
rather hastily. In August Of tho year, (l827
they returned to he cty AMI put up formerly, at
different hotels in Broadway, and commenced their
system anew It during this period of the excur-
sion, that they ittcd several thcs-wcrc appre
bcnded-unh had their names enrolled on the books
of the New FORK Police Office This enrolImen, is
dated Aug O. 1927, and contains the names of Rich
ard CrownInshied, his brother George. and KnarD,
who passed by the aliases of George J. Brown and
Joseph Fisher One of the parties had stolen gold
watch, Mt the Franklin House, another gold chain
Of Mr. Rockwell, III Broadway, while looking at his
wares. The chan found in one of the apart
ments in the American Hotel. Both the Crovnin-
shields -cre then put in brdewcl, and Fisher alias
Knapp, IN private conversation with of the
Poiice officers, gave snci accounts, that this memo
randum written after their names IN the Police
books--'nOtcd thieves from Salem, Mas.--FIsher
tells u about them"
1t required the greatest ingenuity Of Richard to
extricate himself and his acquaintance. Yet 1t was
accomplished. When Frank returned to Salem
which was immediately on the heels of the advcn-
ture here he severely taken TO task by his father
and friends. HIS deception-hiS trick, and his theft
of the money were, however, concealed from The
world, and attempts were made TO reclaim him from
his course, by sending him to Frank went to sea
several voyages, aud gave such violence Of his 50
briefly. attention to duty. and perseverance, of char
actor, that his friends believed complete reformation
had been effected. He continued for year, Civ
ing promises Of becoming useful man and vrtuous
member Of society, notwithstanding his first apscs
About year ago he LETT tho probably from the
depressed state Of commerce. and decay Of trade
experienced in Salem. This reduced him to- cnmpar-
alive idencss and threw him second ,nlc into the
society Of the CrownnshI,lds, who lhon lived in
Danycrs, and carried on sort Of machine and wlc-
smiths shop, for mixing and cons rucIing the iron
work Of stages, wagons, and such like articles.
This business Of the Crown hIcids was principally
made fcint for the prosecution of dangerous
no e ErpIg