Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-04-11

At length Henry BiIger was upon the
stand. He was known by most of the peo-
pie of Nj, and though nothing positive
was known against him Of a criminal nature,
yet he was known to be reckless, wander
ing fellow, sometimes trading in slaves,
and sometimes dealing in horses, and some.
times driving fiat down the Mississippi:
He stepped upon the witnesses block with a
complaisant bow, and he gave his testimony
clearly and distinctly.
He said he was coming down the road
toward NJ on foot and when near the
bluff he heard struggle, accompanied by
loud groaus and entreaties. He sprang for
ward and arrived in season to see the prison
er leap into his saddle and ride off, The
moon was shining at thu time, so he could
not have been mistaken. As soon as he
found Mr.. Hampton was, as he supposed,
dead, he started to go after help. The mur.
dered mans horse fed towards, home, so he
could gain no assistance in that way. He
had not gone far, however, when lie heard
the sound of horses feet and on returning to
the spot be found Simple and Jordan stand
ing there.
Bilger was crossed,questioned very Sc.
verely, but his testimony was not to be aaw-
ed. He was very explicit in all his state.
ments, and at the same time he professed to
feel deep regret that he was called upon to
testify against a man for whom he felt as
much respect as he did for the prisoner.
At length young Adams arose to tell his
story. He spoke clearly and with the tone
of a man who tells the truth. He said that
about an hour after Matthew Hampton had
left his shop, on the evening in question, he
went to the sink to wash his hands, and
while there, he trod on something that at.
tracted his attention He stopped and pick.
ed it up, and found it to be pocket book,
and on taking it to the light, it proved to be
Mr. Hanpton's. He remembered that after
Mr.. Hampton had paid him for shoeing the
horse, he went to the sink after drink OF
water, and then he must have dropped The
book. The young blacksmith's first idea
he said was to keep the book until Hampton
came back, but upon the second thought, he
resolved to saddle his horse and try to over,
take him and restore the money. According
ly he set off, anu when he reached the bluff
his horse began to rear and snort. He dis
covered something laying by the road side
and upon dismounting and going to it, he
found it to be the body Of Mr.. Hampton
still warm and bleeding. He first satisfied
himself that he could do nothing alone, anc
then he started back towards M for as
sistance. When he was overtaken by Jor
dan and Biger, the idea of having Hampton:
money with him, broke upon him with stun
ming force, and hence his strange and inco
herent manner.
When the prisoner sat down there was 8
low murmur which told him that his story
was believed. But the judge shook hi:
head, and the lawyers did the same, and the
Jury looked troubled and anxious. The pri
soner's counsel did all he could to establish
his clients good character, and also to i'm
peach the character Of Biger, but he coulc
not refute the testimony that had beer
given in.
When the Judge came to charge the jury
ho spoke of the testimony against the prison
er, and of corroborative circumstances
In regard to the prisoners story, he said tina
! it was very simple, and sounded very muct