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.

  • Knapp, John Francis, 1810-1830.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

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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    went into the sfreet and gave the alarm at Mr. Mansfield's, Mr. De- land's, Dr. Johnson's, and Mr. Stephen White's. When he first saw the corpse, his face was very pale—there was a little blood on the bed, or about his flannel, and the bed clothes were turned down. The window was open about 21 or 22 inches—it was usually fastened by a screw, and the. shutter by a bar, which was then standing by right side of the window. The rooms in common use, were the dining-room— (he chamber over that, occupied by Mr. White—the chamber over that, occupied by the maid-servant—the kitchen and chamber over that, occupied by Mrs. Beckford—and his own chamber over Mrs. Beck- ford's. The .other rooms were not used except when strangers visited .e house. On the night of the murder Mrs. B. was at Wenham—she vent there about 12 o'clock that day. Mr. White went to bed about JO minutes before 10 that night—his usual hour was about 9—he was v little deaf, particularly in his left ear—was about 82 years of age. 'he bed stood against the eastern wall of the chamber, with its foot to he west. If Capt. White was lying upon his right side, a person en- uring the room from the front entry, would come behind him. Wit- ness went to bed immediately after Capt. White, and as he was going up, looked at the clock—it was about 1-4 before ten—left the maid- servant raking up the fire. To get at the opened window, it was ne- cessary to pass through the avenue, on the west of the house, through a garden gate, and up the garden round the buildings. When Mr. White came in, he usually left the front door unfastened until he went to bed. The family relations went in and out without knocking. The ihovel and tongs had been removed from the chamber. Joseph Knapp usually came to the house about 4 in the afternoon. When the family were out he had access to all the rooms. Miss Lydia Kimball's testimony. She was the maid-servant alluded to by Benj. White, and confirmed his testimony. Dr. Samuel Johnson's testimony. He was called, about 6 o'clock, to Mr. White's house—went there with Mr. Stephen White. Upon entering the chamber, found him lying upon his right side, from corner's to corner of the bed. There was'a mark on his left temple—conside- rable blood on his bed, and he had bled slightly at the side. A coro- ners jury was called, and the body examined. Five stabs were found in no region of the heart—three in front of the left pap, and five further back, as if the arm bad been raised and the weapon struck under it— either the wound on the head, or the stab, would have caused death. A portion of the temple was broken in—two of the wounds had passed he walls of the heart, but did not reach the cavity. He thinks the weapon with which the blow on the head was inflicted was a loaded sane, smooth and. calculated to give a heavy blow without bruising the gkin—the stabs were probably made with a dirk—three of the ribs were fractured, probably by the hilt of the dirk—saw two foot-prints under the open window directed towards the wall of the house, and saw the plank set up against the house. The body was not quite cold—there was no pulsation. It is probable that the blow on the head checked the circulation, and prevented a loss of blood—thought at fust, that the murder had been committed three or four hours, but it might have been done six or eight. Benjamin Leiffhton's testimony. He lives at Wenham with Mr. Da- vis, where Mrs. Beckford and J. J. Knapp, jr's. family live. Heard a