Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-10
miscellaneous
THE BLACKSMITH'S TRIAL.
A SCENE IN A WESTERN COURT.

In the fall OF 1919, ] was traVelng III Inc
ives. on business. left the Mississippi, Ky.,
having made up my mind to travel by land a.
fer as Muhenburgh county, where | shoeld
strike the Green River far enough to the
norhward to take one Of the small fiat boats
for the Ohio.
Late one evening arrived AZ the town OF
N, Intending 10 take The stage from
there on The next morning. The bar-rooIn OF
the tavern was crowded with people, and no
ticed that large numbers Of citizens were col
lected about the street corners, appearing 10
he discussing some matter Of more than usual
Interest.
OF course, became curious to know the
cause of all this, and at the first favorable op
porlunity asked the question OF the landlord.
He yaZed at me for moment in silence, anr
theG with an ominious shake Of the heSd he
gave me 10 understand that most dreadful.
thing had happened, 5u: before he could ex
pIain to me what il was, he was called away
10 attend to other business.
soon found, however, that the dreadful
thing was the subject Of conversation all
aronnd, and by simply listening | gained an
insight into the mystery. II seemed there was
10 be O trial for murder there on the next day,
and hat the criminal was young blacksmith
who had been born and brought up in the
town, and who, until the present time had
borne character and reputation above re-
proach.
I endeavored 10 find out the particulars bu'
I could ascertain but little upon which TO de
pend, for different people gave different &C
counts and all who knew anything of the
matter were loo much excited to speak calmly.
The murder had only tran pred about week
before, and consequently the event was fresh
in The minds Of the people.
The only facts that came TO me upon which
| could RELY, were that middle aged man,
named Hampton had been murdered and rob
bed, and that Abel Adams. the young black
smith, lad been arrested for the CRIME aud
would be tried 10 morrow. Some said the
uurdered mans money 10 The amount Of over
two thousand dollars, had been found on the
Young mans person, but others denied this
statement yet all sympnthized with the pris.
oner. He was beloved by all his townsmen,
and but few Of them could believe anything
OF the reports that had creDt into circulation.
As was in no particular haste resolved TO
,.ms!, in NJ until the trial came of, 50
+ went ant, erased my name from from The
stace book, whers hal placed it, and then
informed mine host of my determination:
On the following morning at an early hour
the people began to flock towards the coGr'
house, and saw that i'll wished to secure a
place, mast join the crowd. did so; and al
length found myself within The building, and
as good fortune would have it, made stand
near .he prisoner's box. en- O'Clock was the
hour fixed for opening the court and before
that time every standing place outside the
dock was filled. Siagglngs were erected on
the outside under the windows, but these Toe
were crowded.
AttLe appointed time The court came in int
the prisoner was conducted 10 the box. He
was not more than FIVE and twenty, and pos
sessed one of the most pleasant countenance'
ever saw. II was one Of those bold, franl
faces, full OF courage and good nature-juS
such a one as is unhesitatngly taken as tht
index Of a pure and generous SOUL He was
stout, athletic man, and carried the palm q
every wrestling match in the country
thought within myself that man is no mur
derer-and yet We know rot 10 what extremi
tya man may be driven. Young Adams wa
quite pale and his neither lip Quivered as h
found the gaze Of the multitude fixed upo
him; but his eye was bright and quick, bu
not defiant, yet bold and hopeful in its blu
light.
The trial commenced. The complaint wa
clear and distinct setting forth the fact ihf
The prisoner Abel Adams, "did with malic
aafore thought" kill, &c., on such aday, OF
Matthew Hampton, in the first place by str
king him on the head with some heavy blur
wespon-and in the second place by stabbn
him In the breast, &c. To all this the prsoT
er nj cad HNot Guilty" From The frst test
Inony called up, learned the following fact
Near uundowp, one afternoon abouta wee