The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-11-09
Retributiye Justice.

The students of Virginia University, during
the sessions of 1S66-7SS, will, many of them,
doubtless remember G. T.. Hill, Esq, of Co.
lumbus, Miss. Generous even to fault, affa-
BILE and courteous, brilliant in the social circle
of friends, by whom he was esteemed and be.
loved for all the higher and ennobling traits of
character that give grace to manhood and lend
charm of more than transitory interest to
life's career he was indeed q true type of q
man. Leaving college well prepared for the
more arduous tasks of life, and with the warm
wishes of his classmates for success, he settled
at his home in Columbus, Miss, and was re-
garded as young man of exemplary habits,
and one whose progress was onward and upi
ward to all that is bright and successful in the
practice of law. In the latter part of last wint
ter q gentleman from Mecklenberg county,
Virginia, by the name of Harvey Chambers,
who was also student of law at the Univers;1
ty of Virginia, while Hill was there, and pet
tween whom ensued friendship which, the
sequel shows, was more lasting than the pleasii
ant days of college life, came out to MISSISSIPPI
pi, and ere he had been there long became ini
7olYed in difficulty with two persons BY the
name of Moore and Gewen at Okalona. Know
ing full well his danger, and that one friend
there was who would readily and faithfully
render assistance, Chambers Immediately sent
to Columbus for Hill, who, without waiting Tor
more information as to the nature Of the ocl
casion demanding his services, at once left tor
Okolona, where he had no sooner. arrived at
night and registered satthe hotel, than he was
accosted by several persons, among chem Moore
and GsBen, who several times asked him if he
we're Nh. Hill, fram Columbus. :.Hill answered
in the affirmative, but--the questioning, as to
his identity, continued several minutes, until
he was.surrounded by the parties, who, now se1
cure of their victim, extinguished, the lights
and commepced firing -sau witheuta warning.
Innocent and unsuspecting, in the dark Of
night, Nt.anly by fhe7 death-aash of the de-
mons pistols, he fell; weHering in his own
life's blood. Friends and Others present rush
ed to his assistance, but, alas too late. The
angel Of death had placed its ssignet on his
brow, aad ere two hours had passed. his soul,
brave -apd generous man, had calso fed and
passed away from:friends and those who knew
him but to love- Many hearts we're bowed in
grief, aud the whole community. by whom he
was 80 highly and truly esteemed, were shock
ed and deeply, Oh how deeply panied; no words
could tell, no pen describe. Columbus was
robed in grief and the citizens, one and all,
testified as to his worth, and expressed their
loss in his death by draping their homes and
houses in mourning. But there was one, q
gentle, loving maiden, with whom he was soon
to be married, whose heart was racked with an
guish, that yet weeps for the noble dead, with
grief that is as pure and unfeigned as their
love was deep and lasting At the time, friends,
and those who knew young Hill, vowed 8
deathless vengeance on the murderers' heads.
The guilty parties were arrested and tried by q
jury composed of two white men and the rest
negroes. A mis-trial or conviction and new
trial granted, we are not exactly informed
which, was the result; suffice to say they were
acquitted. Hill was assassinated about the
10th of March, and was tenderly placed under
the sod. Flowers were spread above his grave
kind hands placed them there, and weeping
friends watered them with tears. By some the
event was passed away and lost in the back
ground The trees had budded and bloomed
the grass had grown and withered above the
grave of the silent, but not unwept and remeni-
bered dead. Vengeance-the vengeance Of
justice YVES only sleeping, for on last Thursday
two weeks ago, at or near Okolona, Gewen him
self was murdered by an unknown hand From
an unseen place deaths messenger, grim with
horror and terrible with the memory of its deed
of sin and guilt, once more winged its stayless
fight and rested on the soul of him who was
deemed living shame Of criminal degradation