Trial of George Crowninshield, J.J. Knapp, Jun. and John Francis Knapp, for the Murder of Capt. Joseph White, of Salem, on the Night of the Sixth of April

Boston: 1830.

104 pp. Original wrappers lacking, replaced long ago with plain paper wrappers with title written by hand as "Trial of Knapp's for Murder of White." Loss of about 10 words to first page, otherwise complete, with light soiling to margins, edgewear, dog-earned pages. Fair to good overall. This is one of several contemporary publications about this famous case, which was prosecuted by Daniel Webster. Captain White was murdered for his fortune at the behest of Joseph Knapp, a relative by marriage. Knapp hired brothers George and Richard Crowninshield to do the deed. After the Crowninshields were arrested, Richard hanged himself in his cell, apparently in a failed attempt to protect his co-conspirators. George Crowninshield was tried along with Joseph Knapp and his brother, Frank. This pamphlet describes their first trial, which ended in a hung jury, despite Webster's spirited effort. Webster made good on his second try, convincing the jury to convict Frank Knapp as "present, aiding, and abetting," despite not being in the room when the murder occurred. Sabin 17708; McDade 571; see also McDade 562.

Item #19815

Price: $250.00