Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-09-02
ID D MN3Il9.
SENTENCE OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP.

SENTENCE OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP.
This wre,ched young man received his sen.
tence at Salem on the 2lst ult. AGA. NJ. he
was placed al the Bar. The crowd was as
great IA n any former time of the trial. lie
remained throughout the solemn ceremony
onconcerned and lmm0vable NJ ever. When
asked by Judge Putnam, II he hal aughi to say
why sentence of death sholld not now he pros
nounced upon him. he replied wl,h great energy
anu Rfmuess
hive only TO say, tina, am innocent of The
cbarge--and now declare 10 the world, that |
shall die inaocent Of the crime, for which am
to suffer
Judge Putnam then proceeded 10 pronounce
the dreadful sentence Of the Law in the follows
ing terms
" JOHN FRANCIS kEAPP-You have been
indicted for the CRIME Of Murder--and upon
your arrangement have pleaded that ypu were
not gull y--and put yourself upon God aud
your Country for rial. Able and learned
counsel nave been al your request assigned by
the Count 10 nssis, You IN your defence. Your
case has bren committed TO n very intelligent
aud impartial jury, selected by yourself. who
havr for SIX DAYS patiently aud ateauvely lis
tened 10 tho evidence and thu Arguments. All
that learning and industry, hdelny aud talents,
could suggest has been urged In vain in your
Jury OF your country have established your
guilt the Court is satisfied with their verdict.
aud YOU come now 10 receive the sentence oil
the Law.
Before we proceed TO that last and painful
duty, we are desirous OF dong YOU all the good
in our power, by awakening your mind IN a
consideration OF The awiui doom which awaits
you. Would 10 God that any thing VIZ could
say would hav. the effect oil soitening your
heart, aud Of leading you 10 sincere cohtri.
,l1h and repentance.
The horrible murder of which you have been
convicted, stands in bold relief and deformily in
the history of crime.
|. Ihc victim of your verocity, in few years
according 10 the cou' So of nature. would haye
sunk INTO his grave in peace, bur Tor tbe thirst
for gnin which corrodrb the hearts of ihnse
who computed against his lille. lie was living
~ the midst Of as peaceful "A community rs
exists upon the earth, surrounded by his rela-
ions aud itien Is, upon whom he had iavished
his bounty. In the Stiffness Of the night wh,io
he rested his aged limDs upon the bed-whiIr
he was N the arms Of sieep.--in his own house
-,u the centre al this populons iown--,he A.
shssio Of your procurement committed the
Deed Of Death while you, III the judgment OF
the Law, we're pressnt aud aiding h.m IN the
| fact
exhiDn a cool, deliberate desgn 10 take ik~
life of the vtctim, merely for the sake ol
gam. There vas 10 other passion to be graft
fed
Tne cpnspirntoTs werr nil young. They Nere
connected with respectable families. they were
born. aud reared and educated among u. They
had the MEANS Of liv,ng within their own conirol
II they had pursued the course of honesty aud
Industry.
But they forsake this course, and resolve to
cut their road 10 fortune through blood and
murder
Our peaceful city stood aghas, at this dread
ful deed. The very foundations OF our society
seemed to b. shakcn-and the shock was MOI
confined 10 this vicinity or state, bat extended
lhroug houi TINS land.
Suspicious too horrible for ntterance were
excited in the breasts OF rejecting men. The
sense of security which the law inspires, was
m great manner lost No man, house was
considered a safe caslle-and men seemed for
time disposed 10 trust 10 their own arms, RAJ
tier Than 10 the protection Of The law, for their
safety.
But there IL n pr0videnlial watch constantly
over US. The murderers have been detected
by means M extraordinary ms their crimes
were airocipns. HE Assassin has persisted by
his own hands-and the tremendous punish
!
you.
But there ia IN these awful events a wAasrso
VOICE, which speaks 10 all aud especially TO
the young, as with the sound Of the ear,hauake
IN every breeze which waits the news OF tbi,
horrid rag ady--" Fprsake not the WAYS OF
truth aud hpaesl Industry, which lead to honor
aud everlasting life, for the paths Of vice
and prnf gacy whicu lead to gnominy aud
death"
| " BE MT deceived by their eniicing appear
ancss Al their beginning the rose buds OF
hope ani passion my appear bat they end ia
anguish. poverty aud destrUcton.'
Our ferVent prayer for ysn Is, that you may
lie prepared, by sincere repentance, TO appear
before the Judge OF all ths earth. And We
would urge YOU to apply to those pious men
whose duty IL IS 10 teach our Holy Religion. 10
help you with their prayers AID instruction,
duttug the few remaining days which may be
allowed to you and may God grant success to
their endeayors.
/ Ii only remains for ia TO declare the sente nee
of the Law, which IS, aud this court doth accof-
dinghy adjudge.
Thai you be carried from hence 10 the PRISON
/ from wbsnce YOU came-snd from thence 10
the place OF Execution and there 10 hanged
by the neck until you shall be dead. And may
God Of his Infinite grace have mercy upon your
soul.
In performing this opprcssivelv parnfll duty.
Judge Putnam was much affected, aud sobbe d
nnd'6y after he had pronounced the Judgmen,
OF the Court. The prisoner on the contrary
maintained his unc0ncern throughout. Indeed
there was apparently mol n spectator. who
did not suffer more than he who WAS most
Interested. o. leaving the bar he put a quid
oil tobacco into lns mouth, with the utmost noD-
| chalnnce.
The trials OF Joseph J. Knapp. jr and Geo.
! Crowninshield ara necessarily postponed till
the next term OF the Court which will sit IN
salem, Nov y. The Judges are required by
! law TO proceed on the Circuit in the western
counties early in next month and the recent
death of the Chef Justice has devolved on the