White, Capt. Joseph

Capt. Joseph White was found murdered in his house (the Gardner-Pingree house on Essex St.) on April 7, 1830. Richard Crowninshield, and Frank and Joe Knapp were jailed for the crime. Richard Crowninshield hung himself shortly after. Senator Daniel Webster was brought in by the prosecution to prove Frank Knapp guilty. After a second trial, Frank was convicted. Frank was hanged in September, Joe was convicted in November and executed right after Christmas. George Crowninshield who had been implicated in the murder had an alibi for that night, as he was with a prostitute by the docks.

See Also

Vertical File in Salem Collection - White, Joseph

The Peabody Story by John A. Wells, p. 251

Essex Institute Historical Collections Vol. 47, p. 119

The Young Devils and Dan'l Webster by Charles P. Curtis