Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-10
New Series.

This Hampton was wealthy farmer; and his
estate lay 10 the southwark, near the Tenne'
see line, and only about is miles distant from
NJ. He was known 10 have some two
thousand dollars with him at The time-money
which he had received at Columbus for corn.
II was nearly dusk when he started front the
prisoners shop. He took out his pocket book
TO pay for the job of shneing his horse. This
he did within the shop, and two persons were
present who testified 10 The fact, and that
when The pocket book was opened a large
lump Of bank notes were exposed. About an
hour after Hampton left, the prisoner came on,
OF his shop and went 10 lis stable, and saddled
his fleetest horse and started off al full galop
in the same direction Hampton had taken.
Next came Two witnesseS-MI Simple and
Mr.. Jordan, both OF them respectable citizens
of NJ, who testified as follows:
They had been on the edge of Tennessee on
business and were returning home, at nhnu.
nine o'clock, in The evening in question they
came to point in the road where high bluff
overlooked the way; and while passing this
they were startled by seeing something in the
moonlight like a man. They at once dis
mounted and found that wha; they had seen
was the body Of Matthew Hampton, all CORY
and bleeding. They had not been more than
minute, when they were joined by third
man who said that he saw The murder commit
lee and that the murderer fed towards Nj.
Simple and Jordan boh recognised this new
conner as one Henry bigger, and though his
| character was by no means one Of the most
! exemplary kind yet that was no time for dis
C IsSion. The body Of Hampton woSsi warm,
so that the murderer could not have been gone
| long, Bilger had no horse, so Simple agreed 10
remain BY the body while Bilger and Jordan
went in pursuit of the murderer. II ey put
their horses to The Top of their speed, and in
half an hour overlook the prisoner, whom Bill
ger at once pointed out as the murderer.
Jordan hailed the young blacksmith and
found him nervous and excited. He then ask.
ed lin if he had seen Matthew Hampton, and
Adams replied in the affirmative, but he spoke
in very strange manner. After some expos
tulatons the prisoner accompanied Mr. Jordan
to Nj, and there he was placed in the
hands of the sheriff, and upon examining
his person Hr. Hampton's pocket book con
taining two thousand dollars was found upon
him, and his hands were also covered with
blood.
AT this juncturethe excitemen. in The little
court room was intense. The crowded mass
swayed to and fro like wind swept gran-mur
murs loud and deep, and it was a few minutes
before anything like order was restored.
At length Henry Bilger was called 10 the
stand. He was known 10 most of the peop
Of Al, and although nothing positive wa'
known against him Of criminal nature, ye
he was known to BE- reckless, wandering fel
low. sometimes trading IN slaves and sometime!
plotting fiat boat down the Mississippi. HI
stepped upon the witness block with com
riocent bow and 10 aaFa in his lssiirnnn!
clearly and distinctly.
He said he was coming Gown the road 10
wards NJ, on foot and, when near til,
bluff, he heard struggle accompanied b!
loud groans and entreaies.
He Sprang forward and arrived in season II
see the prisoner leap into his saddle and ride
nf. The noon was shining at The time so ht
could not have been mistaken. As soon al
he found Mr.. H. he was as he supposed, dead
he started to 60 after help. The murde red
mans horse fled towards lone, SO he coult
iain no assistance in that way. He had moi
gone far however, when he heard the sound o
horses feet, and on returning 10 the spot, h,
found Simple and Jordan there. BiIger wa!
croSs questioned very severely, but his test
mony was not 10 be shaken. He was yer.
explicit in all his statements, and at the SAINT
time he pro(eSsed to feel deep regret that ht
was called upon 10 testify against man, 70
whom he felt so much respect Us he did 70
the prisoner.
At length Young Adams rose to tell his story
lie spoke clearly. and with the tone Of mar
who :els the truth. lie said that about al
hour after Matthew Hampton had left his shop
on the eve in question, he went to the SIM
to wash his hands, and while there, he tro'
on something that attracted his a.ten.lon-h'
stopped and picked it up and found 1t to be
DOcket book, and m taking il to the light /
proved to be Mr.. Hamp'on's. He remember
ell that after Mr.. Hampton had paid him 70
shoeng the horse he went 10 tie sink ate
drink of water and then he must have drop
rnd the book. The young blacksmilhS frs
idea was to keep the book until Hampton cam
back, but upon second thought he resolved Il
saddle his horse and try 10 overtake him /; re
store him the money. Accordingly he set ot
iGHd when he reached The bluff, his horS
stopped and began 10 rear and snort. He dis
covered something by he road side, and upo
dsmounting and going to it, he found it 10 b
The body of Mr.. Hampton still warm and bleed
ing. He satisfied himself that he could d
nothing alone and then started toward NJ -
for assistance. When he was overt ken b
Jordan and Bilger, the idea Of having Mr. Fl.
money with him broke upon him with stun
ming violence and hence his strange and !ncC
iierent manner.
Wien the prisoner sat down there was
low nuimer which told That his story was be
lieyed, but the judge shook his bead and III
iury looked trouble and anxious, The prI:
oner's coun. ell did al he could TO es;ablis
his clients good chaTocter, ana also to IN
peach tie Character OF Bigler, but he couI
, not refuse the testimony given in.
Wien the Judge came 10 charge the lur!
] he spoke of the testimony against the prison
er, and Of the corroborative circumstances =
With regard 10 the prisoners story, he sal
S it was very simple and sounded very niue
( like truth, bu h would have the jury remen
Der how very easily such stories could
made.
q 1t was long after dark when the jury II
1 tired to make up their verdict. They wei
gone half an hour and when they returned
The foreman showed by the very hue Of h
. countenance hat the verdict was fatal A
s saw it, and could hear the thro6bing OF Il
E hundred hearts that beat about me.
n "Gentlemen Of the jury huve you made
i veIdict ?"
Il "We have"
"Sholl your foreman speak for you :"
IS eyes"
!, "Abel Adams, stand up and look the for
e man IN The face. Now, sir, is bel Adam
e The prisoner at the bar, guilty Of muroer
not ~