, 1860-11-02
The BIaCkSmilh'S Trial.


In the fall of 1859, was travelling in the
West on business. l left the Mississippi
steamboat at Columbia, KY, having made
up my mind to travel by land as far as
Muhlenburgh county, where should strike
the Green River far enough to the north
ward to take one of the small fat boats for
the Ohio.
Late one evening arrived at the town
Of N, intending to take the stage
from there on the next morning. The bar,
room of the tavern was crowded with peo-
pie, and l noticed thatlarge numbers of the
citizens were collected about the street cor
nsrS, appearing to be discussing some mat
ter of more than usual interest.
OF course l became serious to know the
cause of oil this, and at the first favorable
opportunity, asked the question of the
landlord. He gazed at me a moment in
silence, and then, with an ominous shake Of
the head, he gave me to understand that a
most dreadful thing had happened; but be-
fore be could explain to me what it was,
be was called away to attend to other bus-
ness.
l soon found, however, that the dread.
ful thing" was the subject of conversation
all around me, and by simply listening, l
gained an insight into the mystery 1t
seemed that there was to be trial for mur-
der there on the next day, and the criminal
was young blacksmith, who had been
born and brought up in the town, and who,
until the present time, had borne a cbarac-
ter above reproach.
l endeavored to find out the particulars,
but could ascertain but little upon which
to depend, for different people gave different
accounts, and all who knew anything Of the
matter were too MUCH excited to speak
calmly. The murder had transpired only
about a 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 Matthew Hampton, had
been murdered aud robbed, and that Abel
Adams, the young blacksmith, had been ar
rested for the crime, and would be tried on
the morrow. Some said that the murdered
mans money, to the amount Of over two
thousand dollars, had been found upon the
young mans person, bat others denied this
statement. Yet all sympathized with the
prisoner. He was beloved by all his towns
men, and'but few of them could believe
anything Of the reports that had crept into
circulation. a..
As l was in no particular haste, l resolv-
ed to remain in M until the trial had
come of, SO went and erased my name
from the stage book where had placed it,
and then informed my host of my determn-
alton.
On the following morning, at an early
hour, the people began TO flock towards the
court house, and saw that if would Sc
cure place, l must join the crowd. did
50, and at length found myself within the
building, and, as good fortune would have
1t, l made stand near the prisoners box.
Ten o'clock was the hour fixed for the
opening Of court, and before that time every
standing place outside the dock was filled.
Stagings were erected upon the outside
under the windows, but 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 %
years, of age. He possessed one Of the
most pleasing countenances | ever saw. 1t
was one of those bold, frank faces, full oil
courage and good nature-just such one
as is uuhesitatingly taken as the index Of a
pure and generous soul He was stout,
athletic man, and carried the palm at every
wrestling match in the country.
Thought within myself, this man is no
murderer And yet we know not to what
e4tremities man may be driven. Young
Adams was quite pale, and bis neither lip