Second trial of John Francis Knapp by a new jury : recommenced at Salem, August 14, 1830, for the murder of Capt. Joseph White, before the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at a special session, commenced at Salem, July 20, 1830 / reported for the publishers.
- John Francis Knapp
- Date:
- 1830
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Second trial of John Francis Knapp by a new jury : recommenced at Salem, August 14, 1830, for the murder of Capt. Joseph White, before the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at a special session, commenced at Salem, July 20, 1830 / reported for the publishers. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![the rope-walk, to the west—left his father's house, in Essex st. on the evening of the murder, about half past 10, to go to his own—passed up by the rope-walk and saw a man sitting there, who dropt his head as he went by—went up again and passed by him—returned again—is satisfied that it was the same per- son—seemed to be doing nothing—dropt his head every time he passed—had on a camblet coat, and glazed cap—took him to be Frank Knapp—had known him before—brought up along side of him from his boyhood—went into the house—wife up— told her who it was. Walked out as far as the corner of Down- ing's house; was looking for the person down Howard street; Capt. Bray came up ; he (Capt. B.) asked, what are you looking for so late ? Answered, that he had seen a person sitting on the rope-walk steps, or thereabouts, who looked suspicious ; Capt. B. observed he had seen one also, and pointed up to Mrs. Shepherd's and said, there he is now ; looked that way and saw a person standing there ; that person came down the street and passed them whilst they were talking, and leaned over a post in front of Mr. Bray's house. They went into Bray's house, into the front chamber ; Bray looked down ; observed, he is still standing at the post—another one is come up, and they have gone to the western corner of the house. He then saw one of the persons run across the street and turn round the rope-walk corner down Howard street; immediately went out of the chamber; went down Howard street; did not see any body after that; returned to his wife ; talked about what he had seen ; supposed the per- son wa$ Frank Knapp : he wore a camblet cloak, and cap : did not see his face : did not see him move, only dropping his head ; his dropping his head made him suspicious ; could not tell what to suspect; has not known Howard street as a place where young men go to meet women. [The jurors having requested permission to view the premises, and the counsel for the prisoner expressing their approbation of the request, the judges acceded to their wishes, but ordered that no one should enter the house with them, or go within speaking distance of them. The particulars spots to which it was desirable to draw their attention, were then pointed out to them on the plan.] Mr. Daniel Bray, ;7's testimony. Lives near the corner of Brown street ; met Mr. Southwick on the evening of the 6th of April, as witness was going down Brown street; at the fourth post he saw a man ; dark frock coat, very full at the bottom ; continued until he met another man ; found it was Mr. Southwick ; asked him what he was out so late for ; Southwick answered, he had seen a man on the rope walk steps that look- ed suspicious ; witness turned around and observed, ' There stands the man now'; could see him distinctly then ; South- wick said he had seen a man before he went into his house, where he put off his coat, and came out to see if he could find](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21135010_0010.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
