Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-08-12
pICu,pn CRowSINsuIELD.

ThefoIloming letter 10 the Editors OF The New
! YORK. Courier and Enquirer. will ba found 10
possess an interesting notice OF this wIeiched
being
SALEM, July %. 1890
Richard Crowninsheld, who committed sui.
eide IN prison, was undoubtedly one OF the nos
singular beings of his criminal profession
which history or fiction can show. Ever since
he attained boyhood. his deeds have been chaf'
acierised with daring, hypocrisy, coolness, De
6ance Of all law and calculation aud nge
nuity that would have raised him TO eminence
IN socieiy, had he received proper direction
IN his infancy Hi, recent letters, written
during hi, confinement, are but the part OF n
plan 10 rescue not only himself but all his
associates in crime.-An incident ~ told III 'his
place which marks the GOODNESS and prechu'
ton with which be moved III his CRIMINAL pur'
suits. On the night which the murder was
committed he complained oil q slight 'ndIsI'osi'
ton, and went TO bed, us seen by the ia'nlly,a'
bout q o'clock. Az eleven Clock, TWO hours
after. he sgain walked Up some mrmbeH OF the
family, aud requested Il preparation OF lnedi
cine Tor the purpose OF nllevlating his indisPos-
sniop. During the interval that elapsed be-
tween these events, he had len bis room pr
vately rode TO Salem, perpeirHtedt the foul deed
returned and placed himself IN The same snua,
lion, II WAS about ten iuiuuies after ten o.
| clock, that the murder oil Capt White vas &C
| complisbed, according Ia the evidence OF per
sons who cav him aud Knapp skulk'ng around
| the buildings. One female heard Knapp, II rs
supposed, say 20 The other, have you done IT,"
-" have fixed hun, Was the short anu RAPID
reply.
The precaution taken by Richard, in com.
planning OF indIspOsilon, and taking mrdicIne,
although apparently trivial circumstances,
|
ed TO BY several witnesses, showing that he WAS
innocent. To any Jury ii would have amour.
ted 10 an abb and had the principal been res.
cued from the clutches Of the law by a CON
currence of such testimony, II would have been
easy TO defeat the ends Of justice rs II respects
the other associates.
The voluntary confe sion Of Knapp during
his confinement, put out oiJoiai all the P'hns "i
Crowpnshifld, and urged him 10 The desperate
alternative Of suicide / hs confession was made
to the Hsv Mr.. Coleman OF oalema clergyman
OF considerable pitty and Leaf ming. Joe knapp.
| as he IL called was not exactly counted on as
one OF The confederaoy headed by Crownln.
shield. lie was Jealous OF the personal popu
larity of Dick among such men a. Palmer.
Hatch, Selmsn, Cbace, &c &c. H' managed
his criminal concerns on his own nook, and IL
was merely the necessity of tho case thai
made HIM apply to the leader FOR the execu-
ton Of plan, from which through ms conneA-
ions he expected 10 reap the exclusive benefit.
His wife is considered ooe ot ti- bsndsonesi
females IN EbsrI Couni,. lie had been NJ sea,
hut laterly was not particularly engaged in
business. After Knapp made his confession im.
plicaling Richard AS the principal the latter lost.
all hopes OF safety. Over all the rest OF his asso
GATES Richard exercised unbounded sway and II
is CURRENT, reported that none Of these would
T., L.. nj
tice as n witness against hm. Knapp was be-
| yond thai influence, and hence his revelations,
A short time before bis suicide Richard CTownin
shield dropt several hints in relation TO Knapp,
which marked his feelings towards that individual
|" only WISH" said he, +" was within reach OF
him Tor one mnuie-only one minute. y
" What would you do p he was .asked.-He
smiled, with singular expression OF counie-
nance not much -" not much"
| During the confinement of Richard, his cell
was in the second story, under which, IN sepa
rate cells, were confined one or more OF his as
socrates. In the .ell Immediately uodcr was
, Palmer. Whenever individuals be longing q.
Their to the grand jury or 10 the COMMITTEES OF
vigilance visited Tie latter for the purpose oil
finding out what facts he knew, they had taken
the precauion to have every hole and c,evice
in the ceiling between the upper and tn. lowei
cell well examined and filed up.
Crowninshield himse II, was famous in form
ing communications with lie cells adjoining
his. lie had got a suspicion that Palmer was
Z confined IN the ce un0eI him, aud forthwith
, he set hlmstlfto WON in finding out the fact.
The visitors of Palmer had not been long ther re
before noise was heard in the ceiling, like
, some person boring hole. immediately some
! thing fell through. One of the gentlemen went
aud picked iiup--it was common lead pencil.
| In, sbnEs lima Oh i'll
small piece of paper attached To il. This was
I also examined. On it, was written a question,
sis your name Palmer ~ One OF the visitors
present, in order TO see " hat CIowniDs HELD
Was at, requested Palmer 10 reply. He decin-
ed, however. Some one gave slight pull TO
the string that dang ed through the aperture.
\ THIS had its effect. IL was immediately pull
ed up. As a last resort, low deep whisper
proceeded from the aperture, distinctly heard
over the cell" Palmer" Palmer =" Pal
: mer"-" speak Palmer 7"
AT this period there is no doubt but Richard
! was iul of the belief that he would not only
- save himself bu; all his COME derates. Up 10
. the time that Knapp told the strry, he always
4 exhibited the utmost GOODNESS and self posses
sion. His calmness visible 10 his letters TO his
e sister, shows the singular adroiiness and ac,iv,-
ty OF his mind. Al another opportunity shall
/ probably give you a history of his sing ular ex-
PLOTS. and unique chaIaSier, which can only be
collected together in this region.
). From The ~ Y Daily Advertiser.
Singular Rscorery Of Money. or three
weeks since q foreigner named Finn, aTIi
we'd in this city and received a sum of money
4, that had been left To him. Elatrd with
"a his good luck, he was determined TO have
h afolic, and in a few days he got rid oi
. SllOO.-What led TO the f.ct that he was on
iroIic, and had los his money. was the fol.
lowing circumstance. A coloured clergyman
IN this city advertised just at his lime. tina, he
had been robbed of $500, consisting oil
one note Of $1,000. one note of $500
and three Of 800, and whilst the sd.
vertisement was circulating, Finn offered 10
payment, Tor glass of grog $1,000 note. The
grocer had heard oftbe clergyman's loss, 81 sus.
prc'Ing The bill to be part of his money had
Finn brought TO the police office, This
examination led TO the fac, that Finn had
"a G..