Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-03-02

remain by the body while Jordan md
bigger went in pur,uit Of the muir
derer. They pu, their horses 10 th,
top Of their speed, and in half an
hour they overlook the prisoner,
whom Biglcr at once pointed out as
the man. Jordan hailed the young
blacksmith, and found him nervous
and excited. lie then asked him il
he had seen Matthew Hampton, and
Adams replied in the affirmative, but
he spoke in very strange manner.
After some expos;ulation, the prison.
or accompanied Jordan to NJ,
and there lie was placed in the hands
of the sheriff; and upon examining
his person, Mr.. Hampton's pocket
book, containing two thousand dol
lars was found upon him, and his
hands were also covered with blood.
At this juncturc, the excitement
in the little court room was intense.
The crowded mass swayed to and
fro like wind swept grain-murmurs
loud and deep; and i, was few
minutes before any thing like order
was restored.
At length Henry bigger was called
upon the stand. lie was known 10y
most of the people of Nj, and
though nothing positive was known
ouaipst him az 9, .ri,,.i,,aI ,,turc ,ot
he was known 10 be reckless, wan
dering fellow, sometimes trading in
slaves, and sometimes dealing ia hor
ses, and sometimes driving a flat boat
down the Mississippi. lie stepped
upon the witnesses stand with com
PLEASANT bow, and he gave in his tes-
timony clearly and distinctly.
He said he was coming down the
road towards NJ, on foot, and
when near the bluff he heard the
sound of a struggle, accompanied by
loud groans and cnireates. lie
sprang forward, and arrived in sea-
son to see the prisoner leap into his
saddle and ride off. The moon was
sinking at the time, so he could not
have been mistaken. As soon as he
found Mr.. Hampton was, as he sup
posed. dead, he started to 90 after
help. The murdered mans horse
fled towards home, so he could gain
no assistance in that way. lie had
not gone far, however, when he
heard the sound of horses feet, and
on turning TO the slope he found Sim
pie and Jordan there.
bigger was cross questioned very
severely, but his testimony was not
10 be lawed. He was explicit in all
his statements, and at the same time
he protested 10 feel deep regret
that he was called upon 10 testify a.
gaiust nah for whom he felt as
much respect as he did for the pris-
oner.
Al length young Adams arose 10
tell his story. He said about an hour
after Matthew Hampton had left his
shop, OH the evening in question, he
, went to the sink and washed his
hands, and while there he trod on
something that attracted his atien-
, ton. He stopped and picked it up
and found il TO be pocket book,
, and on taking it TO the light il prov
cd TO be Mr. Hampton's. He re.
membered that after Mr.. Hampton
had paid him for shoeing the horse.
he went 10 the sink after drink OF
water, and that lie must have drop.
ped the book. The young black
, smiths first idea, he said, was 10 keep
, the book until Mr., Hampton came
back, but upon second thought he
resolved to saddle his horse and over
take him, and restore the money
, Accordingly he set off, and when he
reached The bluff his horse stopped
and began TO rear and snort. He
discovered something lying by the
roadside. and upon dismounting and
going to II he found ii TO be the body
of Mr.. Hampton, still warm and
bleeding. He first satisfied himself
that he could do nothing alone, and
then he started back toward NJ
for assistance. When he was over
taken by Jordan and bigger, the
idea of having Hampton's money
with him broke upon him with a
stunning force, and hence his strange
and lncoherent manner.
When the prisoner sat down there
was a low murInur which told that
his story was believed. But the
Judge shook his head, and the lawyer
did the same, and the Jury looked
troubled and anxious. The prisoners
counsel did all he could to establish
bis clients good character, and also 10
lmpoach the character OF bigger but
he could not refule the testimony
given in.
When the judge come 10 charge
the jury, he spoke Of the testimony
against the prisoner, md of the
corroboratlve circumstances. With
regard 10 the prisoners story, he
said II was very much like truth /;
but he would have the jury remember
how easily such stories could be
made.
1t was long after dark when the
jury retired to make up their verdict.
They were gone half an hour, and
when they returned the foreman
showed by the very hue of his