Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-03-28
THE BLACKsMITII,s TRIAL.
BY AUSTIN C. BURD1CK.

In the fall of 1G49, was travelling in
the West on business. l left the Missis>
siDpi steamboat at Columbia, Kentucky,
having made up my mind to travel by
land as far as MuhIenburg county where
l should strike the Green River far enough
to the northWard to take one of the small
fiat boats for the Ohio.
Late one evening, l arrived at the town
of M, intending to take the stage from
there next morning. The bar-room of
the tavern was crowded with people, and
L noticed that large number Of the Cit
zeRs were collected about the street cor
ners, appearing to be discussing some
matter OF more than usual interest.
Ofcourse l became curious to know the
cause of all this, and at the first favorable
opportunity l asked tho question Of the
landlord. He gazed at me moment in
silence, and then with an ominous shake
of the head, he gave me to understand
that a most dreadful thing had happened;
but before he had explained t" me what
it was, he was called away to attend to
other business.
l soon found, however, that the dread
full thing was the subject Of conversation
all around me, and by simply listening, [
gained an insight into the mystery. 1t
seemed that there WAS to be trial for
muIder there on the next day, and that
the criminal was young blacksmith, who
had been born and brought up in the
town, and who, unit! the pr, sen! time, had
borne character above reproach.
l endeavored to find out the particulars,
but | could ascertain but little upon which
to depend, for different people gave differ
ent accounts, and all who knew any thing of
the matter were too excited to speak calm
| ly. The murder had transpired only a
week before, and consequently the event
was fresh in the minds of the people.
The only facts that came to me, upon
which l could rely. were that middle
aged man named Mathew Hampton, had
been murdered and robbed, and that Abel
Adams, the young blacksmith, had been
arrested for the crime, and would be tried
on the morrow. Some said that the muir
dered mans money, to the amOnt of sew
eral thousand dollars, had been found on
the young mans person, but others de
MED this sentiment. Yet all sympathized
with the prisoner. lie was beloved by
all his townsmen, and but few of them
could believe the reports which had crept
into circulation.
AS | was in no particular haste, l re-
solved to remain in NJ until the tria!
should come off so l went and erased my
name from the stage book where l had
placed it, and then informed mine host Of
my determination.
On the next day, at an carly hour, the
people began to flock towards the court
| house, and l saw that if | would secure a
place, | must join in the crowd. did so,
and at length found myself within the
building, and, as good fortune would have
it, | made a stand near the prisoners box.
Ten o'clock was the hour fixed for the
opening of the court, and before that time,
every conceivable place outside the dock
was filled. Stagings were erected outside
under the windows, and these, too, were
crowded.
At the appointed time the court came
in, and the prisoner was conducted to the
box. Said prisoner was not more than
fve and twenty years of age. He posses
ed one of the most pleasing countenances
1 ever saw. 1t was one Of those bold,
frank faces, full of courage and good ma,
ture-just such an one as is unhesitating.
ly taken as the index to pure and gen,
erous soul. He was stout, athletic man
and carried the palm at every wrestling
match in the country.
thought within myself. this man is nc
murderer. And yet we know not to wha
extremities man may sometimes be driv,
en-. Young Adams was quite pale. anc
his neither lip quivered as he found ths
gaze of the multitude fixed upon him; bu
his eye was bright and quick, but not de
fant, yet bold and hopeful in It's deep blu
light.
The trial commenced. The complain
was clear and distinct; setting forth the