The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-10-06
EXECUTION OF KNAPP.

EXECUTION OF KNAPP.
On Tuesday last, the dreadful sentence of
the law was executed upon john FRANCIS
KNAPP, who had been convicted as principal in
the second degree in the Murder of JosEPH
WHITE, Esq, on the night of the 9th of April
last.
On Monday, he had second interview in
his own cell, with his brother Joseph, which
was of long continuance, and they took their
last farewell of each other. The elder brother,
who is much enfeebled in body and distressed
in mind, was overwhelmed with grief and re-
morse, but the younger sustained the interview
with much frmness. His father and other ro-
latives also visited him, and took their final
leave Of him.
On Monday afternoon, the prisoner request
ed to be left alone for the night, but the Sheriff
considered it his duty to refuse tho request,
ot"tins 10 him that thore should be no inter-
ruption to his devotions pursuits. Two Of
fcers were accordingly placed in his CELL who
remained with him till morning. They state,
that he slept quietly for five hours, and both
before and after his sleep conversed freely and
with calmness on the subject of the approach.
ing ceremonies, and respecting his trial, &c.
| He partook of his supper and breakfast as usual
Very early in the morning Of Tuesday, the
Right Reverend Bishop Griswold, of the Prot.
estant Episcopal Church, visited the prisoner
in his cell, and the venerable prelate continued
with him during the remaining hours of his ex-
istence. He had requested that all the relg-
ious services should be performed in the pris-
on, IN order to prevent any delay, after he
should ascend the scaffold. The Bishop re.
manned an hour in private conversation, PRAYER.
and devotion, with tho prisoner We learn that
during this interview, he was greatly affected
wept much, and conducted with propriety. Just
before 8 o'clock, Sheriff Sprague announced
that all tho 1
asked the prisoner if he wished any DELAY. The
prisoner requested that he might be allowed an
other half hour, which was granted During
this time, young man who had come with a
message from the family, was admitted to the
cell AT halfpast s, the prisoner was conduct
ed from the cell by the Sheriff and his Depu.
ties-at tho prison door, he put his hands be.
hind him and submitted TO be pinioncd with
great cOmposure-walked to the scaffold, on
the North side of the prison yard, about 100 feet
distance, accompanied by the Bishop, and at
tended by the Sheriff; his step was firm, his
appearance calm, and his countenance unmoy-
ed. AS soon as he arrived upon the scaffod,
he tried the drop with one foot before ascend.
ing it then placed himself in a situation. TO
allow the moose to be adjusted, which was i'm
mediately attended to by one of the Deputy
Sherifs He was very neatly dressed in dark
cloth frock coat, blue pantaloons, light vest.
boots, &c. He had a white handkerchief in
the breast pocket of his coat, which he took in
his hand and held there till his death. He was
very pale and appeared precisely as in Court.
He did not look much about him, but turned
his body by direction of the officers, after his
legs were ted so as TO face the officer who read
the Death Warrant. Sheriff Sprague then read
in an audible voice, and with remarkable dis.
tinctness and impressiveness, the Warrant for
the execution.
The Sheriff then asked the prisoner if he had
any thlnG TO say-he said No." (the only word
ne spoke upon the scafold) and instantly the
drop fell! The neck was bare, the noose adj.
justed with great precision, and his sufferin0s
were apparently short For halfa minute there
was not the slightest motion of the body. One
or two slight convulsive motions were after.
wards observed, and in three minutes he was
to all appearance dead. 1t was lG minutes be-
fore nine when the drop fell he was suspend. !
ed a little more than forty minutes, when he |
was taken down by the officers, put into cof- |
fin which had been placed under the gallows. !
and carried into the prison Tho body remain,
ed there till one o'clock, when it was delivered
up to the family, and in the evening was de.
Gently inferred.
j. ). Knapp, jr., requested permission TO rec
the corpse Of his brother while il remained in
The prison, and the request was granted. The
scene was truly distressing one. The wretch
cd survivor kneeled TO embrace the lifeless Cea
lures Of his brother, and the agony Of his feel.
tngs were so intense, that he tainted as soon az
he returned to his cell
The young man who has thus paid the for
cit OF his l;fe for his participation in one of tho
most atroclous deeds ever perpetrated by man.
completed tho twentieth year Of his age on the
~ Of September Salem Register.
The two brothers, J. +. Knapp and J. J
Anapp, Jr9 had an interview on Saturday even. ,