[SAMMELBAND OF FOUR PAMPHLETS CONTAINING CONTEMPORARY REPORTS ON THE TWO TRIALS OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP FOR THE MURDER OF JOSEPH WHITE]

[Knapp, John Francis]

Verlag: Boston; Salem, 1830

60; [4],74; 28; 8pp., with in-text illustrations. Early 20th-century buckram, gilt labels. Text block cracked, some leaves loosening. Short closed tear from upper gutter of first titlepage. Leaves of final pamphlet trimmed and chipped at fore-edges, slightly affecting text, and mounted on stubs. Remnants of shelf label at foot of spine, institutional ink stamp on first titlepage. Good. Four uncommon reports on a famous murder that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in 1830, of which Daniel Webster, who prosecuted the case, said: "It is a most extraordinary case. In some respects, it has hardly a precedent anywhere; certainly none in our New England history." Captain White, a wealthy old man, was murdered in Salem, Massachusetts on the night of April 6, 1830. John Francis Knapp was the husband of a grandniece of the victim. Knapp figured he could get rich by having old Captain White killed, so he enlisted the help of his brother, Frank Knapp, as well as George and Richard Crowninshield, the latter actually committing the murder by stabbing White thirteen times with a stiletto. All four of the conspirators were arrested. After Richard hanged himself in his cell, the prosecution turned toward John Francis Knapp as principal conspirator. Following one trial in which the jury could not reach a verdict, the prosecution, led by Daniel Webster, gathered enough evidence to hold a second and final trial for Knapp, in which he was found guilty and then promptly hanged. His brother would soon follow him to the gallows. Of the reports that comprise this sammelband, the initial two address the first trial and the final pair address the second trial. They are as follows: 1) TRIAL OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP AS PRINCIPAL IN THE MURDER OF CAPT. JOSEPH WHITE. Boston: Dutton and Wentworth, 1830. COHEN 12787. McDADE 572. SABIN 38066. AMERICAN IMPRINTS 3757. 2) REPORT OF THE EVIDENCE AND POINTS OF LAW, ARISING IN THE TRIAL OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP, FOR THE MURDER OF JOSEPH WHITE, ESQUIRE. Salem: W. & S.B. Ives, 1830. COHEN 12780. McDADE 567. SABIN 38066n. AMERICAN IMPRINTS 3286. 3) SECOND TRIAL OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP BY A NEW JURY, RECOMMENCED AT SALEM, AUGUST 14, 1830, FOR THE MURDER OF CAPT. JOSEPH WHITE. Boston: Dutton and Wentworth, 1830. COHEN 12783. McDADE 568. SABIN 38066n. AMERICAN IMPRINTS 3752. 4) SECOND TRIAL OF JOHN FRANCIS KNAPP, AT SALEM, FOR THE ALLEGED MURDER OF CAPT. JOSEPH WHITE [caption title]. [Salem? 1830?] Not in McDade. COHEN 12782. SABIN 38066n. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers WRCAM53863

Bibliografische Details

Titel: [SAMMELBAND OF FOUR PAMPHLETS CONTAINING ...
Verlag: Boston; Salem
Erscheinungsdatum: 1830