Republican Herald

From the Boston Commercial Gazette,

THE CLOSING SCENE.

The Essex Register, of Monday, contains the particulars of the closing scene of the late trial of J. F. Knapp. It speaks of Mr. Dexter's argument as a most ingenious and masterly performance, characterised by an acuteness and fertility of intellectual resource, seldom surpassed. He indulged, however, in great severity of animadversion upon the witnesses and others interested in the prosecution. Of Mr. Webster's argument it says, that it was powerful, eloquent and conclusive, beyond any thing the Editor ever heard in a Court of Justice, and was undoubtedly one of the greatest efforts of the great mind of this distinguished lawyer and statesman. The verdict was returned soon after 6 o'clock; the court-room was crowded to excess, and the scene was affecting; several of the Jurors and many others in Court discovered evident emotion--but the prisoner remained unmoved throughout the ceremony. When Knapp was brought into Court on Saturday morning, the Attorney General, after an appropriate and impressive address, moved the Court that sentence of death be passed, when Judge Putnam addressed the prisoner in these words--'Have you aught to say why sentence of Death should not now be pronounced against you?' He replied with great firmness and energy as follows:--

'I have only to say, that I am innocent of the charge--and I now declare to the world, that I shall die innocent of the crime, for which I am to suffer.'

Judge Putnam then proceeded to pronounce the dreadful sentence of the Law, in the following manner and terms:

'John Francis Knapp,

You have been indicted for the crime of Murder--and upon your arraignment have pleaded that you were not guilty.--and put yourself upon God and your Country for trial.' Able and learned Counsel have been at your request assigned by the Court to assist you in your defence. Your case has been committed to a very intelligent and impartial jury, selected by yourself, who have patiently and attentively listened to the evidence and the arguments. All that learning and industry, fidelity and talents, could suggest, has been urged in vain in your defence The truth has prevailed--and the jury of your country have established your guilt --the Court is satisfied with their verdict, and you come now to receive the sentence of the Law.

Before we proceed to that last and painful duty, we are desirous of doing you all the good in our power, by awakening your mind to a consideration of the awful doom which awaits you Would to God that any thing we could say would have the effect of softening your heart, and of leading you to sincere contrition and repentance.

The horrible murder of which you have been convicted, stands in bold relief and deformity in the history of crime.

The victim of your ferocity, in a few years, according to the course of nature, would have sunk into his grave in peace, but for the thirst of gain which corroded the hearts of those who conspired against his life. He was living in the midst of as peaceful community as exists upon the earth, surrounded by his relations and friends upon whom he had lavished his bounty.

In the stillness of the night--while he rested his aged limbs upon the bed--while he was in the arms of sleep--in his own house--in the centre of this populous town--the Assassin of your procurement committed the Deed of Death while you in the judgment of the Law, were present and aiding him in the fact.

The circumstances attending the conspiracy, exhibit a cool, deliberate design to take the life of the victim, merely for the sake of gain. There was no other passion to be gratified.

The conspirators were all young. They were connected with respectable families. They were born, and reared and educated among us. They had the means of living within their own control, if they had pursued the course of honesty and industry.

But they forsake this course, and resolve to cut their road to fortune through blood and murder.

Our peaceful city stood aghast at this dreadful deed. The very foundation of our society seemed to be shaken--and the shock was not confined to this vicinity or State, but extended throughout this land.

Suspicions too horrible for utterance were excited in the breasts of reflecting men. The sense of security which the law inspires, was in great measure lost. No man's house was considered a safe castle--and men seemed for a time disposed to trust to their own arms, rather than to the protection of the law for their safety.

But there is a Providential watch constantly over us.

The murderers have been detected by means, as extraordinary as their crime was atrocious. The Assassin has perished by his own hands--and the tremendous punishment for your crime is about to fall upon you.

But there is in these awful events a WARNING voice, which speaks to all, and especially to the young. as with the sound of the earthquake, in every breeze which wafts the news of this horrid tragedy--'Forsake not the ways of truth, and honest industry, which lead to honor and everlasting life, for the paths of vice and profligacy, which leads to ignominy and death.'

'Be not deceived by their enticing appearance. At their beginning, the rose buds of hope and passion may appear, but they end in anguish, poverty and destruction.'

Our fervent prayer for you is, that you may be prepared, by sincere repentance, to appear before the Judge of all the earth. And we would urge you to apply to those pious men whose duty it is to teach our holy religion, to help you with their prayers and instructions, during the few remaining days which may be allowed to you; and may God grant success to their endeavors.

It only remains for us to declare the sentence of the law--which is, and this Court doth accordingly adjudge,

That you be carried from hence to the prison from whence you came--and from thence to the place of execution--and there be hanged by the neck until you shall be dead. And may God of his infinite grace have mercy upon your soul.'

When the Judge was about to pronounce the dreadful sentence, the Court, the Bar, and the whole audience rose.

After pronouncing the last word, the austerity and firmness of the Judge gave way to the feelings of the man; he was most sensibly affected; for some moments he was absorbed in tears, and his sobs were audible to those who were near him. Many of the audience were equally affected. But the prisoner stood, steadfast and immovable; there was not the slightest change of countenance; no tears; and not the least emotion. He appeared like a statue of adamant. When about leaving the bar, where he had received the awful sentence, which doomed him to death on the very next time he would be permitted to leave his gloomy dungeon, he took from his pocket his quid of tobacco, and placed it in his mouth, with as much apparent unconcern as if he had been the most disinterested spectator of the solemn scene.

The prisoner was remanded, as soon as the sentence was pronounced, and the Court was adjourned to the second Tuesday of November next, when the trial of Joseph J. Knapp, jun. and George Crowninshield will take place.

Palmer and Leighton, two of the most important witnesses, were recognized to appear at that time.

During the delivery of the closing arguments by Messrs. Dexter and Webster at the late trial, a large number of Ladies were admitted to the Court House. On Thursday morning, the Gallery was completely filled; in the afternoon their numbers increased, and they occupied the seats of jurors, sheriff's boxes, &c. below, and some were even in the midst of the dense crowd on the floor of the Hall. On Friday morning, when Mr. Webster closed his great argument, the Court Room was actually thronged by the auditors; they were crowded in solid masses in various parts of the Hall as well as in the gallery; and some were perched upon the mantel pieces, the window seats, &c. Besides these, great numbers who could not gain admittance within, assembled in the streets, under the windows of the Court House and in the neighboring buildings, eager to catch even now and then a sentence, which the commanding voice and distinct enunciation of the speaker enabled them to do.