White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-08-12

the hour fixed for opening the court, and
before that time. every conceivable stand.
ing place outside the dock was filed
Staglngs were erected upon the outside
under the windows, and these, 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
Eve and twenty,years of age. He pos
sesssd one Of the most pleasing @couute-
nances ever saw It was one of those
bold, frank faces, full of courage and good
nature-just such an one as is unhesita-
tingIy taken as the index to pure and
generous soul. He was stout, athletic
man, and carried the palm at every
wrestling match in the county.
l thought within myself, this man is no
murderer. And yet we know not to what
extremities a man may sometimes be
driven. Young Adams was quite pale,
and his neither lip quivered as he found
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, did,
with malice aforethought," kill, etc., on
such day, one 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, etc. To all the prisoner
pleaded mot guilty." From the first
testimony called up. / learned the follow
ing facts:
Near shutdown, one afternoon, about a
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 on the south
ward, near the Tennessee line, and only
about fifteen miles distant from M.
He was known to have had some two
thousand dollars with him at that time
money which he had received at Columbia
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
shoeing his horse. This he did within
the shop, and two persons were present
who now testified to the fact, and also. that
when the pocket book was opened, a large
bunch Of bank notes was exposed. About
an hour after, the prisoner came out Of
his shop and went to his stable, and hav-
| ing saddled his feetest horse, he mounted
and started off, at full gallop, in the d.
rection which Hampton had taken.
Next came two witnesses, "Mr. Simple
and Mr.. Jordan" both respectable citizens
of NJ, who testified as follows:
They had been into the edge of Uennes-
see on business, and were returning home.
AT about nine o'clock on 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
which looked like a man. They at once
dismounted, and found that what they
had seen was the body of Matthew Hamp-
ton. all gore covered and bleeding. They
had not been there more than a minute,
when they were Joined by third man,
who said that he saw the murder COM
mitted, and the murderer had fled towards
NJ.
Simple and Jordan had both recognized
this new conner as Henry Bilger, and
though his character was by no means of
the most exemplary kind, yet there was
no time for discussion. The body of
Hampton was still warm, so that the
murderer could not have been gone long.
Bilger had no horse, SO Mr. Simple agreed
to remain by the body while Jordan and
Bilger went in pursuit of the murderer.
They put their horses to the top Of their
speed, and in half an hour they overlook
their prisoner, whom Bilger at once point
ed out as the man. Jordan hailed the
young blacksmith and found him nervous
and excited. He then asked him if he
had seen Matthew Hampton, and Adams
replied in the affirmative, but he spoke
in very strange manner. After some
expostulation, the prisoner accompanied
Jordan to M, and there he was placed
in the hands of the sheriff and, upon
examining his person, Mr.. Hampton's
pocket book, containing two thousand
dollars was found upon him, and his hands
were also covered with blood.
At this juncture, the excitement in the
little court room was intense. The crowd
ed mass swayed to and fro like wind-swept
grain-murmurs broke the sanctity of the
place-murmurs loud and deep; and it
was a few minutes before anything like
order was restored.
At length, Henry Bilger was called
upon the stand. He was known by most
of the people Of M. and though
nothing positive was known against him
of criminal nature, yet he was known
to be reckless wandering fellow, some
times trading in slaves, sometimes dealing
in horses, and sometimes driving fat
boat down the Mississippi. He stepped
upon the witness block with complai-
SAINT bow, and he gave in bis testimony
clearly and distinctly.
He said he was coming down the road
toward M on foot, and when near
the bluff be heard the sound of struggle,
accompanied by loud groans and entreat-
les. He sprang forward. and arrived in
time to see the prisoner leap into his sad
die and ride of. The moon was shining
at the time, so he could not have been
mistaken. As soon as he found Mr..
l.. H.