The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-11-18
TRIAL OF JOSEPH J. KNAPP.

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Court. Judge Putnam read a written opiD
ion in favor Of the admission Of Joseph j..
Knapp's confession. The Court consider.
ell il fully proved in the present case that
tho Prisoner had NO oihcr inducement op
crnting on his mind TO make the written
Confessions offered in evidence than the
promise Of tho Attorney General TINT il he
chose to disclose fully all he knew as to
the murder, and would ingenuously testify
all his knowledge at the trial ofhis nccom
plccs, such confessions should not bo evi.
dence against HIMSELF and the Court dc
cidcd that tho Prisoner, having thus been
made sure Of his own safety, did not make
the Confessions under the influence Of
hope md fcnr. and that his mind was left
free and unbiased, and that he had no
temptation To swervc from the truth, and
that tho government, could give in evidence
the confessions Of J. j. Knapp Jun. on his
trial, i'm the same manner as the voluntary
confessions of other accused persons are
usually given in evidence. their weight
and credibilty to bo judged by the Jury.
The written confessions were then read
TO the Jury by the AIT. Gen. substantially
as follows:
FIRST CONFESSION.
As carly "a some time last February, the
defendant, J%o:sch % Jenkins Knapp, jun: told I'D
wished tho old gentleman (meaning Capt
Whitc) was dead. Frank asked him WHY;
lie answered because the old gentleman
had made n will, bes'owing the bulk Of his
property upon Mr. Stephen White, who
had been the means of iniurinp defendant
and the other members ofthc family in the
estimation Of Capt. White. Told Frank in
joke, that the old gentleman had often said
he wished to 60 of like flash, Various
modes of taking the life were considered:
whether it should DO done while he was
upon the road to his farm, or in his house.
Frank said, he had not pluck enough To
kill the old man himself, but he knew who
would. SAID he meant Richard, jr. and
George Crowninshied. lie undertook,
accordingly, to negotiate with them upon
tho subject. When he saw them, George
said he would not 90 to the house, 10 com.
init the murder, bu; would meet him any
where out Of doors. Richard said he would
go any where, if George would back him.
Richard and Frank afterwards had three
meetings in Salem; once By tho Universal.
ist meeting house, once in Suathhelds, and
once at the Salem Theatre.
At these meetings, Frank told Richard
what defendant had said. Defendant and
Frank had one meeting with Dick, near the
centre of Salem common. Defcndan, told
Richard, that he had that day taken Capt,
Whites will from the iron chest in his
chamber. Also told him what he would
give him for committing the murder, " hich
was the same as Frank had told him, viz
ono thousand dollars.
Richard showed the tools, with which he
meant to perform the deed; they were ex
amined by defendant. One was a club, a E.
bouttwo feet long, turned and having beads
turned toward the handle, To prevent slip.
ping in the hand; il was very heavy. and he
supposed it to be loaded The dirk was
about FIVE inches long, with an ivory, han
die, the blade was Hat, and sharp at both
edges. Richard turned the club hmse It.
at his workshop; don't know who owned
the dagger. This was on Friday, the sec
ond Of April, and defendant asked Dick if
he was going to xii! the old man that ght
lie answered no, and said he could not do
il that night. because he was alone, and
George would not back him. lie would
meet Frank. any time. Defendant went
home To Wenham on the same evening, af
ter the interview, carrying Capt. Whites
will in his chaisc box, where he kept il CO
vcred up with hay, till the day afcr tho
murder, when he took il out aud burned j,
The next Sunday he camc in town and wen,
TO meeting all day.
On Sunday (April ~ Frank met Richard
at the bottom OF the common, and informed
him that Capt, White was going to take
tea at the house of Mrs. Stone. a rami,
q connection, in Chcsnut street. that after.
noon. Richard said he would d,rk him that
night in Chcsnnt street. on his return. If he
did not return before dark. II So happen
ed. however. that he did return home be
fnrc dark. and so tho design was frustrated
J. J. Knapp Jr. then retained to Wenhan
before dark.
Frank went np 10 Wenham on Tuesda,
Mrs BrckEwd (Cap,. Whites niece and
hnusekeeperj was thcrr attending daugh
tor who w,s sick. Defendant told Franl
hc had better inform Richard Of this. J.