Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-11-24
ARGUMENT OF MIR. WEBSTER,

IMPORTED FOR THE ESSEN REGIsTER.l
Friday Nor. I2-The Court was open
cd at 10 minutes past o. The room was
crowded to excess, and the gallery was
filed with ladies', who came to hear the
closing argument Of Mr.. Webster for the
Government lie rose TO address the
Jury at about half past 9, and the follow
ing is an imperfect sketch Of his ar
gument:-
MAY IL please uour hOnors--
Gentlemen Of the Jury-Thc unhappy
man who stands charged as being
the original mover and promoter Of
the murder of Capt. White, is now be-
fore you-it is your duty to pass upon
his He. His own brother, allurcd by
him into this dreadful crime, has already
utoncd by an ignomIniou> death to the
violated laws OF his country. Another
young man, 50 dcprayed, and reckless
Of human and divine law, a. 10 receive
at the hand Of the contriyCr Of the mur
der, the price OF blood, has gonc to anoth-
or world, leaving behind him a most
fearful example of gull; and self condcm-
nation. The prisoner at the bar, who
has caused all this dreadful mischief
who is the author, | may say, of three
deaths-comcs before YOU for his trial
YOU are the selected Judge Of his fate
the law knowsno man so guilty as not 10 be
heard before Jury and il knows no man
too high or too low to be beyond itsrcach.
Ten of You, Gentlemen, were selected
from the whole pannel drawn for these
trials, as having come here unbiased
for or against the prisoner, objections
having been made by him to all the rest
and two Of you were chosen from the
by-standcrs after large number bad
been called Every capital trial is 50
important that strict scrutiny in the Sc
lection oflurors is proper-the great OBJ
ject of all trials is TO secure an impartial
tribunal. il a Juror is not impartial, JUS
tce will not be done 10 the prisoner or
the Government. Impar,a!ity OF course
respects both sides Of the question. --Ev-
ry one Of you has sworn that you came
here without bias-i am sure You do so
come because you have sworn it-you
have sworn TO ty the question of the
guilt or innocence of this prisoner-if he
is not guilty you will say sol he is
guilty you will say SO. You will lock to
10 consequences as to what will follow.
No man on this Jury can hold an opinion
that no capital punishment can be inlic
ted in any case, for no man holding this
opinion could come upon this jury with
out perjuring himself.
On an occasion of so much importance
20 the prisoner, to the Commonwealth,
and to you, feel an entire reluctance to
say any thing about myself | came
here at the invitation Of the Attorney
General to perform some part III expos
ing TO light this dark transaction. A
gentleman too feeble in health as my
venerable ilend, mig ht well be supposed
to require some assistance in so arduOus
a duty as his. You are to Judge wheth
cr come here under any improper in
fucnce. But ! pass from tins subject,
because you have SO much more impor-
tant subjects Of consideration, that any
thing said by me or others who say things
much 4better than can, respecting 50
feeble an individual as myself, will not
attract your very deep regard.
Gentlemen--whcthcr viewed as an
act Of courtesy or an act of justice, it is
but fair to say, that every thing has been
done by the unfortunate defendant, t.
convict himscf-hc has left 40 ground
for his Counsel to stand upon--ihcy have
done every thing for him-he every thing
to thwart them.
Ii is proper to say that he stands be-
fore you to be tried on the evidence, or
rather on his own confession Of every
thing material to the case. Let us see
whether every thing which he conicsscs
is not true. Mr.. W. here rccapi;u!atcd
the circumstances Of the murder and the
facts since disclosed, to show the cXact
agreement Of every part the confession,
with the facts proved by other evidence.
John Francis Knapp has been con
victed as principal in this murder-Jo-
seph J. Knapp, Jr l. indicted az an ac-
CCssory. Tho speaking Of him as
mcIe accessory, for he is so in point of
you are to consider his crime a great in
law, law s. in consideration of religion &
MORALS, unspeakably greater, than that
Of the prncipal.-But however great his
crime, however enormous his moral guilt,
it is true he cannot be convicted until it
is proved principal has been convicted.
Therefore the first step to be taken was
to be produce the reco.d of the convic-
ton of John Francis Knapp, as princi-
pal. Let me rcmaik, that by being prin-
cipal, it is not meant that he actually
struck the blow, sc. Mr.. w. here
explained the law. The indictment
against +. Knapp charged him in vari-
GUS waYs rs nrincinnl TO mcIt the cnsc