{"id":81319,"date":"2021-11-02T11:07:45","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T15:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=81319"},"modified":"2021-11-08T12:45:19","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:45:19","slug":"a-spooky-real-life-murder-mystery-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/a-spooky-real-life-murder-mystery-part-iii.html","title":{"rendered":"A Spooky Real-Life Murder Mystery, Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her story about a spooky murder mystery that happened in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1830 and shocked the country, focusing on the murder trial. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Today I continue the story of the mysterious murder of wealthy ship owner Captain Joseph White of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1830. The mansion Capt. White occupied, known as the Gardner-Pingree house, is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) that is currently hosting an exhibit \u201cSalem Stories,\u201d and the Captain White murder is displayed under the theme of \u201cScandal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The motive for the Captain\u2019s murder was a mystery \u2013 although there was money and other valuables in his house, the killer took nothing. Then, hoping for a reward, an ex-convict said three men had tried to recruit him in the murder plot: two brothers, John and Joseph Knapp; and the man they hired to do the actual killing, Richard Crowninshield Jr.<\/p>\n

One of the pieces in the PEM exhibit is a written confession used as evidence in the long-ago murder trials. According to accounts, Joseph J. Knapp Jr. made a full confession to Rev. Henry Colman that he planned the murder.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: items from the murder trial for Captain Joseph White. (Top) newspaper clipping \u201cAtrocious Murder\u201d announcing the $1,000 reward for information offered by the Captain\u2019s nephew Stephen White. (Bottom) written confession of Joseph J. Knapp Jr. (Right) the club used by Richard Crowninshield to kill Captain Joseph White. Gift of Mrs. Nancy D. Cole, 1865. All items from the current exhibit \u201cSalem Stories.\u201d Courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum; photo taken by staff member Ben Arlander.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Knapp knew that Captain White had made out his will and given to his niece Mrs. Bickford\/Beckford (the surname is spelled various ways in various records), Knapp\u2019s mother-in-law, a legacy \u2013 but if White died without leaving a will, Knapp expected she would inherit much more than the legacy in the Captain\u2019s will. Knapp thought that offing White and destroying the will was the solution to getting a larger inheritance than was coming to his mother-in-law.<\/p>\n

Named in Knapp\u2019s confession was Richard Crowninshield Jr., who was arrested as the prime suspect on June 1. After hearing that Knapp confessed, Crowninshield committed suicide on June 15. Newspapers published the details. Here is a report from the Saratoga Sentinel<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Saratoga Sentinel (Saratoga Springs, New York), 23 November 1830, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Crowninshield was out of the picture, Knapp saw an opportunity and recanted his confession. Because Crowninshield had been the principal suspect and Joseph only charged as an accessory to the murder, the legal aspects of the case under the laws of 1830 became complicated. If the principal could not be convicted (and after his suicide, who could convict a corpse?), the accessories to the crime were off the hook.<\/p>\n

Enter U.S. Senator Daniel Webster. The renowned attorney was called to Salem to head the prosecution, to name a new prime suspect and bring down new indictments to prevent the Knapp brothers from, literally, getting away with murder.<\/p>\n

The Boston Herald<\/em> reported that \u201cDaniel Webster conducted a sensational prosecution\u201d and elicited very strong testimony from several witnesses. Webster even convinced the judge to accept Joseph Knapp\u2019s confession as evidence.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 April 1967, page 191<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Webster \u2013 U.S. senator, powerful lawyer, and famed orator \u2013 drew upon all his powers to wrap up the case, making an eight-hour closing argument that convinced the jury and eventually moved the judge to tears.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 April 1967, page 191<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> Just as an online collection of newspapers, such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, helped tell the stories of the murder trial for Capt. Joseph White, they can tell you stories about your ancestors that can\u2019t be found anywhere else. Come look today and see what you can discover!<\/p>\n

Note on header image:<\/em><\/strong> a portrait of Captain Joseph White. Courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum; photo taken by staff member Ben Arlander.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for more.<\/p>\n

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