The union Democrat., 1870-11-26
Che llnion Democrat.
Murder VIII Cut-4n Tnnoceni Van Hun.
-Ja.tiee Fly Iear. Aner Datc.

world even. the just punishment for their
crime. Yet some ID. and. worse still there
are many eases where the innocent have suf-
ferei for the miSdeels OF those who were
guilty. We have case in point that ought
20 have publicity. as it c1mes from a source
Of high respeesAbliity. Ii recalls the story Of
n murder committed fftyihree years ago.
snd which, at the time. created a profound
sensation 10 the Green river country" as
follows:
In the year 1877, DR.. Jno. p. Sanlerson
was murdered 10 that par: of Barren county
which is now Metealie county. Ky, and
.'no. c. Hamilton. wealthy citizen residing
in the neighborbood where the body of the
murdered man was found, was arrested,
tried. and convicted for the murder The
evidence against Hamilton was wholly cir
cumstantial, aud so remarkable in its cbarac-
ter a. to produce not only in the minds of the
jury but Of the whole population in that see
ton clear conviction Of the guilt of tho ac-
cnseJ. Il appeared upon the trial that Ham
ilfon was trader, driving stock and occasion
ally carving slaves to Mississippi TO sell.
Tho family was aristocratic. one of the sis
tiers having married General Carroll. of Ten
nessee, and the other Colonel Anderson, OF
the same State. and there existed, "a was al
legged strong feeling of envy against the fam
ily. 1t appeared from the evidence that
Hamilton had just returned from n successful
trip TO Mississippi, in company with DR.. San
derson who was "a wealthy planter residing
near Natcboz. lie came to Kentucky for the
purpose of purchasing slaves 10 work on his
plantation, and brought with him q large
amount Of money, and of which fact Hamilton
was appriSed. They came through a wild
md eparscy settled portion of the "lndian
Territory, y aud DR.. SanderSon was very sick
during the greater part of the journey. Or
their arrival in Barren county they went to
the residence Of Hamilton father, were DR..
Sanderson remained for several weeks, and
until he recovered his health.
1t was shown that after his health was re-
stored, the two left the house in company,
Hamilton, who acted, as was said, as guide,
TO ascertain the point where the road forked,
and one OF which led to neighboring coun-
~, where "A sale of negroes was 10 take place
ut public auction, aud which Sanderson want
ed to attend. The forks of the road were
nine miles from where Hamilton father lived
The two were seen together at various points
on the road before they reached the point
named The last place they were seen to-
gether was three-quarters of q mile from the
forks of the road. A short time atterward
Hamilton returned alone, and the night fol-
lowing Sanderson's horse came up riderless
TO the house OF liamilton's father. Sander
son was never again seen alive. Several
days elapsed. and srspieions were aroused
that he had been feully dealt with.
The neighborhood en- maSSe made search
for his body 1t was found on tho road in
the direction to the point where the negro
sale was to have taken place, covered up with
brush and briars. His hat was discovered in
n hollow stump, and under log near by was
found brass horsepiStol, with the hammer
broken. Ia the head of the murdered man
was found number Of shot and a piece Of
tho hammer of the pistol, which fitted exact
". Under the lining Of the hat there was
list Of thirty-three one hundred dollar Missis-
sippi bills, the numbers thereof and to whom
payable.
When Hamilton was arrested the bills cor
responding with the list were found in his
possession. 1t was shown that he had Dor
rowcd the pistol from Col. Gorin, of Glasgow,
Barren county, and that the shot in the head
Of Dr. Sanderson correspondent in size with
shot purchased a few days previous by Dam
ilton. in Glasgow.
1t was also proved on trial that Iiamilton's
sherry -vallies were concealed in his fathers
barn, and there was blood upon them. They
we're fully identified by his sister. This was
the evidence introduced hy the State
Hamilton alleged in his defense that he
and Sanierson were and had been for wears
intimate friends that they had travelled to-
gether through wild country. and that, If
he had had sinister designs. nothing more
than little neglect of Sardersoo during his
sickness would have insured his death, and
that he could have thus secured the money.
He said that Mississippi money was Mt dis
count in Kentucky, and Kentucky money at
n discount in Mississippi thai he llnmiltonl
was about to return to Mississippi. where he
could use the money of that State, while Or.
:. wanted the Kentucky money to buy ne
grnes, and that, for mutual accommodation
and profit they made an exchange OF money.
And he further proved that he borrowed
ST 600 Of the bank in Glasgow to make up
TIE sum required for the exchange. A 70
the pistol, be said he borrowed it from Cole
mel Gorin to lend it to Dr. Sanderson, who
wanted it for his personal protection. and
that in parting with him ut the forks of the
road he had given it 20 him. He alleged
that his negro servant had stolen his sherry
vallies and gone to a dance, where he got in
T. fight, and concealed them in the barn
until he the negro) could have an opportu-
nifty to clean the blood from. them. His
statements were not corroborated and he was
convicted and hung.
The celebrated John Rowan was his chief
counsel, and defended the unfortunate man
with his accustomed ability, but the evidence
was so strong that he felt he presented hope
less cause. Indeed, Judge Rowan scbSe-
quenty declared that, with one exception, he
never had a case presenting Sc few points for
successful defense.
solomon Z. Sharpe, whose tragic fate few
years later sent a thrill of horror throughout
the State. prosecuted Hamilton, and. being
thoroughly convinced of his guilt, showed him
no mercy. Hamiltou's family alone believed
him the victim of circumstances, and the &C
cuSed died protesting his innocence.
Now for the sequel. In the year 1860 Hon.
Richard Ii. Rousseau. of Kentucky, then
Minister to Central America, was visited at
Tegucigulpa, Honduras. by Colonel Gibson.
n rich planter. who then resided near Weeks
burg. Hiss, which is still his home, and who
told him that so,ne thirty or thirty-hve years
ago man vas executed for murder in the
eastern part of Mississippi, and that while
under the gallows be heard him confess that
he and n comraie, both fugitiveS from Justice