Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-09-04

Wiz Hufuer vi DoctOr SanderSOu. al
Natchez, Mississippi. A man has re.
Gently been executed in Mobile, .who
confessed himself the murderer of San
derson, and declared that Hamilton was
innocent s.s
The annals of Judicial proceedings
rarely afford report of trial and ex-
ecution, of more extraordinary and
distressing character than this, and il
should be universally circulated, that
judges and jurors may be guarded a
gainst condemninS supposed culprits on
cirrumstantial evidence. Young Ham
ilton through life had supported an UNI
blemished character, and obtained the
love, esteem and admiration of all who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance. =
AS Is Common with the young gentle
men of Kentucky, he was in the practice
OF spending the, winter season in the
more genial climate OF Mississippi. .On
his return from a winter residence in
that quarter. he accidentally fell in COM
pany with Doctor Sanderson, who being
in i'll health, was joumeying to- the cele-
brated watering place at HarisburgSpa,
with the hope of recovering his lost
health, and as he was anxious to make
something out Of his pilgrimage, he took
with'him large sam of money, with
which he contemplated purchasing ne
groes on speculation On his way up
the country, his lntirmiiies increased,
and as he was apprehensivel he might
expire ON the road, he committed to the
charge of Hamilton his treasure, .hav-
ing in his short acquaintance discovered
that he was worthy of unlimited conf
dence. In few days, however, his iIs-
disposition abated, when he pslrsaed his
journey, s finally arrivedi in safety at the
residence of Hamilton, in Warren co'ty.
Ky. where he remained during the
summer, and received from his young
friend every mark of courtesy, 'attention
and hospitality In the month Of Octo-
Der, Doctor Sanderson made arrange
ments to depart, and on taking leave oil
his hospitable young host, young Ham
ilton accompanied him several miles on
the road; and then took an aflectionate
farewell. Ten or twelve days after, as
some hunters were rambling through
the forest, they discovered the body OF
Doctor Sanderson in state Of corrup-
Ftion, shot in several places, and mangled
in most shocking manner. As HAM
ilton was las.seen with him, and as il
was known that he had from time to
time, made use of sums of money, ORR
gfnaily the property of Sanderson, sus-
picioh fell on his head, and he was ar
rested, tried and executed. IL
Previous to his arrest, he was advised
to leave the country, to avoid danger,
but as he was conscious of his innocence,
he disdained to take step which would
cast a cloud of obloquy and disgrace up
on his character, and resolutely remain
ed at home. As the inhabitants of the
country were divided in their opinions
as to his guilt, the affair gradually died
away; but being anxious that trial
should take place, firmly believing that
in such an event, his reputation would
remain unspotted, he solicited at the
hands Of justice trial, which to his as
constituent and sorrow closed with his
condemnation. The only evidence a.
gainst him was circumstantial, viz. that
near the body CT Sanderson were found
bloody pair ofpantaloons, and pistol,
both be ring the name of Hamilton
Through the whole of the trial he man
ifested that fortitude and determined
GOODNESS, characteristic of innocence;
and expired with a full conviction that
the real murderer would ultimately be
discovered. When on the sraffold he
took manly leave of the world expires
aed not the least regret for his fate, but
larnented that his nisfortunes would
cloud the prospects. of his family, and
she'd an indelible disgrace on h;s mem
DRY. Thus through the weakness of
the'law, was an interesting young man
and a worthy. citizen hurried from the
world, and doomed TO expiats on the
gallows, that crime committed by the
hasas ola villai rand assassin -It.may
be proper forthe' welfare of the world,
TO pass sentence on the accused,' on the
authority of circumstantial evidence, but
it would be far better, by statute, to an
null the practice; audit was the opinion
clifford Hale,. that it were better to suf-
fer ninety guilty persons to escape than
to punish, unjustly, one that is innocent.
a Rogue Caught The Berks
pa Journal says:-"We are graft
fed to state that llr James Hamilton,
alias John Randolph Bedford, alias
G. Gallop, who married. the daugh
ter Of bir Jonathan TompkIns, OF