The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-04-18

fN -. ''''A''S nun VI tne HeaU
with some heavy blunt weapon-and in
the second place by staLbing him in the
breast, etc. To all this the prisoner plead,
mot guilty" From the first testimony
called up, learned the following facts:
Near shutdown, one afternoon about a
week previous, Mathew Hampton stopped
at the shop OF the prisoner to get his horse
shod. 2his Hampton was wealthy
farmer, and his estate lay to the south
ward, near the Tennessee line, and only
about fifteen miles from NJ. lie was
known to have had some two thousand
dollars with him ut the time-moncy
which he had received at Columbia for
corn. 1t was nearly dusk when he left
the prisoners shop. lie took out his pock.
ct book to pay for the job Of shoeing bis
horse. This he did within the shop, aud
two persons were present who testified to
the fact, and also that when the pocket
book was opened, large bunch Of bank
notes were exposed. About an hour af.
ter Hampton left, the prisoner came out
OF his shop and went to his stable, and,
having Saddlcd his flcetcst horse, he start
ed OFT, at full gallop in the direction which
Hampton had taken.
Next came two witnesses, "Mr. S;mple
and Mr. Jordan" both respectable citi.
zens Of NJ, who testified AS follows:
They had been in the edge Of Tennessee
on business, and were returning home
AT about nine o'clock in the evening in
que '.ion they came to the point in the
road where high bluff overlooked the
way, and while passing this, they were
startled by seeing something in the MOON
light whck looked like man. They at
once dismounted, and found that wha,
they had seen was the body Of Mathew
Hampton, all gore covered aud bleeding
They bad not been there more than q
minute before they we're joine 10y third
man, who said he saw the murder com.
mitled, and that The murderer had fled
towards Nj.
Simple aud Jordan both recognised this
new conner as one Henry Bilger and, tho
his character was by no means of the ex.
emplsry kind, ye, that was no time for
discussion. The body Of Hampton wa.
still warm, so that the murder could not
have been committed long. bigger had
no horse, 50 Simple agreed to remain by
the body, while Jordan and Bilger went
III pursuit OF the murderer. They put
their horses to the top of their speed, and
in half all hour they overlook their prise.
ner, whom BiIger pointed out rs the man.
Jordan hailed The young blacksmith, and
found him nervous and excited. lie ask.
Ell him il he had seen Mathew Hampton
and Adams replied in the affirmative but
he spoke in very strange manner. Az
ter some exPostuAtion the prisoner accom-.
panied Jordan to NJ, and there he
WAS placed in lie hands Of the sheriff
and upon examining his person, Mr.
Hamptou's pocket book, containing two
thousand dollars, was found upon him
and his hands were covered with blood.
A. this juncture the excitement Of the
little court room was intense. The crowd
ed mass swayed to and fro like wind
swept grain-murmurs broke the sanctity
OF the place-murmurA loud and deer,
and it was a few minutes before 'orle,
could be restored.
A: length Henry Biger was called up.
Oh ths stand. He WAS known 10y most
OF the people fA.-, aud though moth.
ing positive WAS known against hin Of q
criminal nature, yet he Was known to Le
a reckless wandering fellow, sometimes
trading in slaves and sometimes dealing
in horses, and sometimes driving fiat
down the Mississippi. lie stepped upon
the witness block With conplaisant bow
and gave in his testimony clearly and dis
tinctly.
lie said that he was coming down the
road toward NJ on foot, and when
near the bluff he heard a struggle, accom-
panied by loud gr1ans and entreaties.--
lie sprang forward and arrived in season
to see tn. prisoner leap into biz ssddIe
and ride of. The moon was shining al
tie tine, so 10 could not have been mis-.
taken. As soon as he found Mr.. iIaInp.
ton was, rs lie supposed, dead, he started
to go for help. The murdered mans horse
had fed towards home, so he could gain
no assistance in that way. lie had moi
gone lar, however, when he heard the
sound Of horses feet. and on returning to
the spot he found Simple and Jordan
there.
Biiger was cross examined very severe.
ly, bat his testimony vas not 70 be fawsd