The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-09-30

schools IN different places, will be communi.
Gated.
The meeting viii be open to all persons dis.
posed 10 attend Herald.
From the Boston Patriot Of yesterday.
EXECUTION OF JOHN FRANCIS
KNAPP.
We learn from Salem, that on Monday
evening the prisoner ate his usual supper,
slept soundly till half past four o'clock yes.
ferday morning when he rose and took his
breakfast. AT no moment did his firmness
snd self possession appear to desert him.
a letter from the Salem Gazette. dated
Sept. 2S. gives the conclusion Of the mel.
ancholy scene:
The prisoner was taken from his cell
precisely at half past & o'clock, in compli-
ance with his wish, as expressed TO Mr..
Sheriff SPRAouE.
"His department then, and throughout
the morning. was decorous and solemn,
free both from the apathy and the levity
which have been said alternately 70 char.
acterize him during oil the previous time
OF his confinement.
1.-THE religious services were performed
in the prisoners cell. by Rt. Rev. Bishop
GarswoLp, who was in attendance from
an cary HOUT In the HlOFUlnn.
"When these were concluded, and he
had taken leave Of those who had accom-
panied him in his devotions, he was con.
ductcd by the peace officers to the sea fold,
which had been erected the previous after.
noon. about a rod back from the gaol, on
the north side Of the yard.
"At a quarter before 9, the warrant was
read by Sheriff Sprague. in distinct and
impressive manner, during which lhe spec.
tators were uncovered.
"Immediately after The conclusion of'he |
warrant, the drop fell, and the awful atone. |
mcnt of JonN francis KNAPP, for his hor. !
rid crime, was consummatsd--for this
world.
"For few seconds no movement was
perccptble. A slight convulsion Of the
limbs and heaving Of the breast then indi.
Gated the last struggle OF nature ,--and he
WAS DEAD.
notwithstanding the early hour at which
the execution took place, large crowd Of
spectators were present to witness it.
A letter from the Salem Register says
"S,rangers were focking into town in oil
sorts Of vehicles from an early hour in the
morning, and it ia supposed that from three
10 five thousand persons Witnessed the
melancholy scene, more thnn four ifths Of
whom were strangers. and. | regret to say,
several hundrcd were females.
"The prisoner walked with firm step,
aad assembled the scaffold with the utmost
composnrc, dressed in a dark frock coat,
blue pantaloons. and a light vest. Nothing
was said ny the prisoner at the galIows.
4" Ills struggles were but momentary,
AMI dcath is sup posed 10 have ensued in n
vorv few minutes. After a suspension OF
81 minutes, the body was taken down pla
ced in coifii. and carried into the prison. ,
II was afterwards delivered to the friends
Of the deceased.
The utmost order prevailed among the
spectators, although the only police was a
few peace officers Of Salem and vicinity.
No public confession was made by {
Knapp, but it is understood he has of late ,
written much, the purpor Of which is as
yet unknown. lie evinced the utmost
composure throughout. to the last moment
or his existence. He slept five hours The ,
nj ght preceding his execution, and when
he woke convcrsed freely with those who |
attended him, and without any apparent e. ,
motion. s
"Al arrangements were made in the G
the sentence ofthc law by Sheriff Spraguc.
NbtutUS uiSgusnu& posS''So SNSSP'
the hawking Of spurious hooks and hand
bills, to pick the pockets of the multitude" :
Upon this execution yesterdays Salem @
G.zette has the following remarks:-'The Il
re lection ih,ta fellow being.now imperfect
health, in the vigor Of youth, not twenty
one years of age. iciH die ,cithin ti0o short
4 ours. and that his awful and ignominions
doom is fired and inevitable, fills the minds
Of al with awe and gloom. In most other
cases there is some hope of life, however ID
great the jeopardy or however imminent r.
the danger Of Death; the mariner floating c
on q fragment Of a wreck. and the soldier n
the deadly breach with the for.
lorn hope, are each chcered with the Sc
cret hope that their lives may be saved, A
though thousands ofthcir comrades must !,
perish around them. Knapp has no such
ehanee Of safety--no hope Of escape,--bc /.
fore the sun, that now shines. shall reach
its meridian, his eyes will be sealed in
death. -.
The two brothers. J. F. Knapp and J. J. :. :.
Knapp. Jr. had an interview on Saturday :
evening. They both requested il of the 9,
gaoer and were ipdulged; he conducted .,
: '<ePh from his cell lin the tb'r'! story Of -
the prison. to the condemned cell ofFrank. 4
On the lower floor. They spent some time
together. It was the frs, time they had
met since 'hcv were rarried into Court i,
together TO be arraigned. about two months - -
ngo. Frank was calm snd firm; Joseph IS =,
~sstel and feeble in bodr, and appeors
and broken down in body and
'pirit, having little appetite for food, en-
nying little rest, and with difficulty ntier. -