The perpetration of such an atrocious crime, in the most populous and central part of the town and in the most compactly built street, and under circumstances indicating the utmost coolness, deliberation, and audacity, deeply agitated and aroused the whole community; ingenuity was baffled in attempting even to conjecture a motive for the deed; and all the citizens were led to fear that the same fate might await them in the defenceless and helpless hours of slumber.  For several days, persons passing through the streets might hear the continual sound of the hammer, while carpenters and smiths were fixing bolts to doors and fastenings to windows.  Many, for defence, furnished themselves with cutlasses, fire-arms, and watch-dogs.  Large rewards for the detection of the author or authors of the murder were offered by the heirs of the deceased, by the selectmen of the town, and by the Governor of the State.  The citizens held a public meeting, and appointed a Committee of Vigilance, of twenty-seven members, to make all possible exertions to ferret out the offenders.

While the public mind was thus excited and anxious, it was announced that a bold attempt at highway robbery was made in Wenham, by three footpads, on Joseph J. Knapp, Jr. and John Francis Knapp, on the evening of the 27th of April, while they were returning in a chaise from Salem to their residence in Wenham.  They appeared before the investigating committee, and testified that, after nine o’clock, near the Wenham Pond, they discovered three men approaching.  One came near, seized the bridle, and stopped the horse, while the other two came, one on each side, and seized a trunk in the bottom of the chaise.  Frank Knapp drew a sword from his cane and made a thrust at one, and Joseph with the but-end of his whip gave the other a heavy blow across the face.  This bold resistance made them fall back.  Joseph sprung from the chaise to assail the robbers.  One of them then gave a shrill whistle, when they fled, and, leaping over the wall, were soon lost in the darkness.  One had a weapon like an ivory dirk-handle, was clad in a sailor’s short jacket, cap, and had whiskers; another wore a long coat, with bright buttons; all three were good-sized men.  Frank, too, sprung from the chaise, and pursued with vigor, but all in vain.

The account of this unusual and bold attempt at robbery, thus given by the Knapps was immediately published in the Salem newspapers, with the editorial remark, that “these gentlemen are well known in this town, and their respectability and veracity are not questioned by any of our citizens.”