The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-24

An Lasaocent Mam Hmged--J.rstics
Fifty Years after Date.


From the Louisville Courier-Journai
1t is said ''murder will out" and few,
comparatively, are those who escape, in
this world even, the just punishment for
their crime. Yet some do, and worse
still, there are many cases where the In
nocent have suffered for the misdeeds OF
those who are guilty. We have case
in point that ought to have publicity, as il
comes from source of high respectable
ity. 1t recalls the story of a murder
committed ffty-three years ago, and
which, at the time, created a profound
sensation In the "Green river country,
az follows:
In the year 1917, DR.. John p Sander
son was murdered in that part of Barren
county which is now Metcalf county,
Kentucky, and Jno. c. Hamilton, a
wealthy citizen residing in the neighbor-
hood where the body of the murdered
man was found, was arrested, tried, and
convicted for the murder. The evidence
against Hamilton was wholly circum-
stantial, and so remarkable in its charac-
ter as to produce not only In the minds OF
the jury but the whole population in that
section a clear conviction of the guilt of
the accused. 1t appeared upon the trial
that Hamilton was a trader, driving
stock and occasionally carrying slaves to
Mississippi to sell.
The family was aristocratic, one Of the
sisters having married Gen. Carroll, of
Tennessee, and the other Col. Anderson,
of the same State, and there existed, as
was alleged, strong feelings of envy
against the family. 1t appeared from
the evidence that Hamilton had just re-
turned from successful trip to Missis-
sippi, in company with DIR. Sanderson,
who was wealthy planter residing near
Natchez. He came to Kentucky for the
purpose of purchasing slaves to work on
his plantation, and brought with him a
large amount of money, and of which
fact Hamilton was appraised. They
came through wild and sparsely-settled
portion of the ''Indian territory" and DIR.
Sanderson was very sick during the
greater part of the journey. On their
arrival in Barren county they went to
the residence of Hamilton's father, where
Dr. Sandersen remained for several
weeks, and until he recovered his health.
1t was shown that after his health was
restored, the two left the house in COM
pany. Hamilton, who acted, as he said,
as guide, to ascertain the point where the
road forked, and one of which led to
neighboring county, where a sale of ne
grOes was to take place at public auction,
and which SandersOn wanted 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 together was three-quarters of a
mile from the forks of the road. A short
time afterward, Hamilton returned alone,
and the night following the horse of San
dtrson came up riderless to the house of
Hamiltons father, and Sanderson was
never again seen alive. Several days
elapsed, and suspicious were aroused that
he had been foully dealt with.
The neighborhood en- masse made
search for his body. 1t was found on the
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 hollow stump, and |
under a log near by was found a brass
horse pistol with the hammer broken. |
In the head of the murdered man was |
found number of shot and pieces of the |
hammer of the pistol which fitted exactly. |
Under the lineing of the hat there was |
list of SO 500 Mississippi bills, the num-
Der thereof, and to whom payable.
When Hamilton was arrested, the bills |
with the list were found in
his possession. 1t was shown that he |
had borrowed the pistol from Col. CORN,
of Glasgow, Barren county, and that the |
shot in the head of DIR. Sanderson, cor
in size with shot purchased a
few days previous by Hamilton, in Glas-
Cow.
1t was also proved on trial, that Ham
iltOn's sherry-vallies or over-hauls were
in his fathers barn, and there
was blood upon them. They were fully
identified by his sister. This was the evil
dence introduced by the State.
Hamilton alledged in his defense, that
he and Sanderson were and had been init
mate friends for years; that they had trav-
eled together through wild country, and
that, if he had had sinister designs, moth
ing more than little neglect of Sander
son during his sickness wsuld have insur-
ed his death, and that he could have thus
secured the money. He said that Mis-
sissippi money was at discount in Ken
lucky, and Kentucky money at dis
count in Mississippi, that he (Hamilton)
was about to return to Mississippi, where
he could use the money of that State,
while DR.. S. wanted the Kentucky money
to buy negroes; and that, for mutual ac-
and profit, they made an
exchange of money. And he further
proved that he borrowed 81 900 of the
bank in Glasgow, to make up the sum
required for the exchange. As to the
pistol he said he borrowed it from Col.
CORN to lend DIR. Sanderson, who wanted
it for his personal protection, and that in
parting with him at the forks of the road,
he had given it to him. He alleged that
his negro servant had stolen his sherry
vallies, gone to dance, where he got in
to fight, and concealed them in the barn
until he, the negro, could have an oppor-
tunity to clean the blood from them. He
statements were not corroberated, and he
was convicted and hung.
The celebrated John Rowan was his
chief counsel, and defended the unfortu-
nate man with his accustomed ability,
but the evidence was so strong that he
felt he presented hopeless cause. In
deed, Judge Rowan subsequently declared
that, with one exception, he never had a
case possessing so few points for a sue
cessful defence.
Solomon P. Sharpe, whose tragic fate
a few years later sent thrill of horror
throughout the State, prosecuted Ham
ilton, and, being thoroughly convinced
of his guilt, showed him no mercy
Hamilton's family alone believed him the
victim of circumstances, and the accused
died protesting his innocence.