Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-11-17

long, WIN an ivory handle, the blade was
fiat, and sharp at both edges. Richard
turned the club himself, ut his workshop;
don't know who owned the dagger.
This was on Friday, the second of April,
and defendant asked Dick ii he was go
ing to kill the old man that night. He
answered no, and said that he could not
do it that night, because he was alone,
and George would not back him. lie
would meet Frank, any time. Defcn-
dant went home to Wcnham on that same
evening, after the interview, carrying
Capt. Wh;te's will in his chaise box,
where he kept it, covered up with hay,
till the day after the murder, when he
took it out and burned it. The next
Sunday he came in town, and went to
meeting all day.
On Sunday April 1) Frank met Rich
ard at the bottom of the common, and
informing him that Capt. Whiie was go
ing to take tea at the house of Mrs. Stone,
a family connection, in Chcstnut-strcet,
that afternoon. Richard said, he would
dirk him that night in Chcstnut-strcct, on
his return, if he did not return before
dark. 1t so happened, however, that he
did return before dark, and SO the design
was frustrated. J. J. Knapp, jr. then re-
turned to Wenham before dark
Frank went up to Wcnham on Tues
day. Mrs, Beckford, (Capt. White's
niece and housl:ccpcry was there attend
ing daughter who was sick. Defendant
told Frank he had better inform Richard
Of this. J. J. X. had himself previously
unscrcwed and unbarrcd the window
shutter, SO that the assassin might obtain
easy access. Frank accordingl ly left the
farm for the purpose Of finding Dick, and
on coming away said he guessed the old
gentlemen would 20 that night.
Next morning, Benz. White, Capt.
W's man servant, came up and told us
Capt. White had been murdered. In
the afternoon, Frank came and asked if
we had heard the news; We answered yes
He afterwards in private lated the partl-
culags oftle murder. J. ret Richard in
Brown-sirect, behind Capt. Whites gar
den, about 10 o'clock After the ights
were eXtnguished, Richard went round
through the street, and entered the yard
Of Capt. w. in front, went round the house
to the back window which Joe had left
unfastened, entered the house alone,
passed mp the stair case, opened the door
of the chamber where Capt. White slept,
approached his bedside, and with his
club gave him blow upon the head;
then turning down the clothes, and lift
ing up his arm, gave him the stabs in his
side. He then made his escape from the
house, and in Brown-strect again met
Frank Before Richard went in he told
Frank if there was any money in the
chamber he would get it. When he
come out, Frank asked him if he had
found it, lie said no, but he had fixed
him. They then separated, and Frank
went home.
Prisoner came down to Salem, after
the murder, and staid fortnight. Mean
while Frank had seen the assassin, who
informed him that somebody else must
certainly have gone in after he left the
house, and given some additional stabs to
the body, as he had only inflicted four.
After defendant returned to Wcnham, a.
bout fortnight from the murder, Richard
rode up with Frank to the farm, staid a
little while, and defendant paid him a
hundred fve-franc pieces which Capt.
Jos. Dewing had lately brought home
for him from Guadalupe. Richard de-
tailed the circumstances ofthe murder,
in manner agreeing with Franks state
ment.-Said he was pretty short of cash,
and should want more money soon. Said
it was pity defendant had got the wrong
will; ifhe had known that fact in season
he would not have left the house with
out the right one. Said he had hidden
the club with which he killed the old man
under the steps of the Howard-strect
meeting g-housc. Prisoner told Frank
where the club was, and sent him to get
and destroy it, but he said he could not
find it,
The confession goes on to state that
prisoner was the writer of two anonymous
letters, one addressed to Hon. Gideon
Barstow, as chairman of the Committee
of Vigilance, the other to Hon. Stephen
White, copies of which will be found be-.
low. These letters HIM. II. Allen put
into the post Office, knowing nothing of
their contents. Defendant knows moth
ing about Selman, in connection with
this murder-nothing about Palmer or
Carr
This confession is in the handwriting
Of MIR. Colman, and signed at the bot
tom Of every page, by Joseph jenkins
Knapp, jr. with a solemn declaration at
the end, that 1t is done without compul-
sion. or brlbc, with no other promise from
Mr. Colman OF others, than the govern
ment pledge He declares that no other