The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-12-12

possessed. one of the most pleasin
countenances / ever saw. It was on
of those bold, frank faces, full of cou1
age and good Dature-just such a on
as is unhesitatiDgly taken as the inde:
of a pure and generous soul. He wa
stout athletic young man, and carries
the palm at every wrestling match II
the country.
/ I thought within myself this man il
no murderer And yet we know not tc
what extremeties man may be driven.
| Young Adams was quite pale, end his
neither lip quivered as he found the
gaze of the multitude fixed upon him;
but his eye was bright andquick though
not defiant, yet bold and hopeful in its
deep blue light.
The trial commenced. The complaint
was clear and distinct, setting forth the
thatfact the prisoner, Abel Adams, did
with malice aforethougbt, kill, etc., on
such day, ,one Mathew Hampton in the
first place by striking him on the head
with some blunt weapon-and in the se-
scond place by stabbing him in the
breast, ete.-To all this the prisoner
pleaded mot guilty. From the first
testimony called up learned the fol-
lowing facts:
Near suudown one afternoon about a
week previous. Mathew Hampton stop
ped at the shop of the prisoner to get
his horse shod. This Hampton was a
wealthy farmer, and his estate lay to
the Southwark very near the Tennessee
line, and only about fifteen miles fro m
NJ. He was known to have hasome
S2.0 with him at that time-moBey
which he had received at Columbia for
corn. It was nearly dusk when he start
ed from the prisoners shop. He took
out his pocket book to pay for the job
of shoeing his horse. This he did with
in the shop, and two persons testified to
the fact, and, also, that when the pock
ct book was opened, large bundle of
bank notes was exposed. About an
hour after Hampton left, the prisoner
came out of his shop and went to his
stable, and. having saddled his feetest
horse, he mounted and started at full
gallop, in the direction which Hampton
had taken.
Next came two witnesses, Mr.. Sim
pie and Mr.. Jordan, both of them res
pectable citizens of --, who testi-
AOd do iO.IOHS-
They had been in the edge of Ten
nessee on business, and when returning
home, at about nine o'clock on the eve
ming in question, they came to the point
in the road where a high bluff over
looked the way: and while passing this
they were startled by seeing something |
in the moonlight which looked like a |
man. They at once dismounted and |
found that which they had seen was the
body of Mathew Hampton, all gore
covered and bleeding They had not
been there more than a minute, when |
they were Joined by third man, who
said that he saw the murder committed,
and the murderer had fed towards |
n
Simple and Jordan both recognized
his newcomer as sone Henry .Bilger;
md though his character was by no
means the most exemplary, yet that
vas no time for discussion.
The body of Hampton was still warm;
70 that the murderer could not have
been gone long. Bilger had no horse,
10 Simple agreed to remain by the body
While Jordan and Bilger went in pur-
iuit of the murderer. They put their
lorses to the top of their speed, and in
lalf an hour they overlook the prisons
n whom Bilger at once pointed out a
he man. Jordan hailed the young
blacksmith and found him nervous and
xcited. He then asked him if he had
cen Mathew Hampton, and Adams re
'lied in the affirmative, but he spoke in
very strange manner.-After some
the prisoner accompanied
hem to M, and there was placed
q the hands of the sheriff, and upon
his person, Mr.. Hampton's ;
ocket- book, containing So, 900, was s
ound upon him, and his hands were
lso covered with blood.
At this juucture the excitement in {
he little court room was intense. The
rowded mass swayed too and fro like I
Tind-swept grain-murmurs loud and
eep, and it was sometime before order
-as restored.
At length Henry Bilger was upon
he stand. He was known by most of |
be people of NJ, and though moth s
1g positive was known against him of a
character, yet he was known
D be reckless wandering fellow, some
ines trading in slaves. sometimes in f
orses, and sometimes driving a fat S
own the BIississippi-He stepped g
pom the witnesses block with COM I
laisant bow, and he gave his testimony t
learly and distinctly. 7
lie said he was coming down the road r
owards No on foot and when near c
ne bluffs he heard struggle, accompa- '
led by loud groans and entreaties. q
lie sprang forward in time to see the t
risoner leap into the saddle and ride t
E. The moon was shining at the time,
, he could not have been mistaken.
8 soon as he found Dir. Hampton was, n
J he supposed dead, be started to go t
fter help The murdered mans horse e
ed towards home, so he could gain no s
'sistance in that way. He had not n
one far, however, when he heard the
lund Of horses feet, and on returning t
} the spot he found Simple and Jordan h
.anding there. e
Bilger was crossed questioned very se- v
.rely, but his testimony was not to be il
WED. He was very explicit in all his s
atements, and at the same time he
.ofessed to feel deep regret that he i
as called upon to testify against man "
r whom he felt SO much respect as he a
d for the prisoner.
At. length young Adams arose to tell d
$ 1sory. He spoke clearly, and with a
le tone. of man who tells the truth. b
e said that about an hour after Ma
lew Hampton had left his shop, on the f