Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-11
TA Z BL AC NITH's TRIAL.
scene i'm Western Court
BY AUSTIN C. BIyRDIcK

| In the fall OF lo49 l was travelling in
the West On business. I left the Missis.
sippi steamboat at Columbia, Kentucky
having made up my mind to travel B,
land as far as Mulenburgh county wher,
should strike the Great River far enough
to the northward to take one of the small
fiat boats for the Ohio. Late one even.
ing | arrived at the town of M, in.
| tending to take the stage from there or
the next morning. The bar.room of tn,
the tavern was crowded with people, and
| noticed that large numbers of the citi.
zens were collecting about the street cor
ners, appearing to be discussing some
matter of more than usual interest. o
course l became curious to know the
cause of all this, and at the first favorable
opportunity asked the question of the
landlord. He gazed at me moment in 81.
lence, and then, with ominous shake
of the head, he gave me to understand
that most dreadful thing had happened;
but before he had explained to me what
1t was he was called away to attend to
other business, l soon found, how.
ever, that the "dreadful thing" was
the subject Of conversation all around
me, and by simply listening, gained an
insight into mystery. 1t seemed that
there was to be trial for murder there
on the next day, and that the criminal
was young blacksmith who had been
born and brought up in the town, and
who. until the present time, kad borne
character above reproach. l endea-
vored to find out the particulars, but
could ascertain little upon which to de-
pend, for different people gave different
accounts, and all who knew ANYTHING OF
the matter were too much excited to
speak camly. The murder had trans
plred only about a week before, and con-
sequently the event was fresh in the
minds of the people. The only facts that
came to me upon which l could rely were,
that middle aged man named Matthew
Hampton, had been murdered and rob-
bed, and that Abel Adams, the young
blacksmith had been arrested for the
crime, and would be tried on the morrow
Some said that the murdered mans money
to the amount of over two thousand dol
lars, had been found upon the young
mans person, but others denied this fact.
Yet all sympathised with the prisoner.
He was beloved by all his townsInen, and
but few of them could believe any thing
of the reports that had crept into circu-
lation.
AS [ was in no particular haste, re-
solved to remain in NJ - until the trial
had come off; so went and erased my
name from the stage book, where had
placed it, and then informed mine host
of my determination.
On the following morning, at an early
hour, the people began to flock to the
court house, and saw that if would
secure place [ must join the crowd. l
did so, and at length found myself within
the building, and as good fortune would
have it, made stand near the prison
er's box. Ten o'clock was the hour
fixed for opening the court, and before
that time every conceivable standing
place outside OF the dock was filled.
Stagings were erected upon the outside
under the windows, and those too were
crowded.
At the appointed time the court came
in, and the prisoner was conducted to
the box. Said prisoner was not more
than fve-and-twenty years of age, he
possessed one of the most pleasing coun-
tenances | ever saw-it was one of those
bold, frank faces, full of courage and
good nature-just such an one as is un-
hesitatingly taken as the index to a pure
and generous soul. He was q stout, ath-
letic man, and carried the palm at eyery
wrestling match in the country. l
thought within myself this man is no
murderer. And yet we know not to
what extremities man may sometimes
be driven. Young Adams was quite pale,
and bis neither lip quivered as he saw the
gaze of the multitude fixed upon him, but
his eye was bright and quick, but not
defiant, yet bold and hopeful in its deep
blue light.
The trial commenced. The complaint
was clear and distinct, setting forth the
fact that the prisoner, Abel Adams .sdid
with malice aforethought, kill" &C., on
such day. Matthew Hampton, in the
first place by striking him on the head
with some heavy, blunt weapon-and in
the second place by stabbing him in the
breast, &c. To this the prisoner pleaded
" not guilty"
From the first testimony called up, l
learned the following facts:
Near sundown, one afternoon, about
q week previous, Matthew Hampton
stopped at the shop of the prisoner to get
his horse shod. This Hampton was a
wealthy farmer, and his estate lay to the
southwark, near the Tennessee line, and
only about Is miles from NJ He
was known to have had some two thou
sand dollars with him at that time
money which he had received at Colum.
bia for corn. 1t was nearly dusk when
he started from the prisoners shop. He
took out his pocket-book to pay for the
job Of shoelng his horse. This he did
within the shop, and two persons were
present who now testified to the fact, and
also when the pocket book was opened, q
large bunch of bank notes were exposed.