Providence Patriot, Columbian Phenix

The Law cheated of its Victim.—We received by the mail of last evening the following letter from a correspondent, corroborating rumor which had been previously current.—Boston Courier of Wednesday.

SALEM, June 15.

Richard Crowninshield, Jr. hanged himself in his cell this afternoon. Mr. Brown, the gaoler, at about a quarter after 2 o'clock had occasion to go to the cell to speak to him, and, on looking in to find him, saw him hanging. He immediately opened the door, and with the assistance of the turnkey cut him down, and with all possible speed called several physicians; they opened a vein, and he bled freely, but all their efforts to revive him were ineffectual. A Coroner's inquest was then held.

To accomplish his purpose he tied together three handkerchiefs, after lying the knot about his neck and fastening the other end firmly to the grate, he got into a chair, then tied his hands behind his back, and then leaped off. His feet just touched the floor.

In his cell were found two letters, just written, one to his father, the other to his brother George, bidding them adieu. In the letter to the latter, he moralizes on the shortness of the career of vice, however prosperous it may at first appear, and warns all young people to be admonished by his fate, &c. He was 26 years of age.

Since the humanity of our laws requires that the gaolers should enforce no other restraints on prisoners kept for trial than such as are necessary for safe custody, it is obviously in the power of the prisoners to destroy their own lives. After conviction only is it deemed humane to put them in irons; and even then they contrive means of suicide.

It is very probable that the recent discovery of a quantity of stolen goods at Danvers, which had just been made known to him, convinced him that proofs were thickening of the depravity of his life, and impelled him to attempt to escape from the overwhelming disgrace and shame.