The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-10
AN INNOCENT MAN HANGED.
A Case Of Circumstantial Eyidence-A
Story OF Crime Half n Century Ago.


4. murdered in that part of Barren Co..
which is now Metcalfe county Ky, and
John G. Hamilton, wealthy city rcsd-
ing in the neighborhood where the body
OF the murdered man was found, was ar
rested, tried, and convicted for the muir
der. The evidence against Hamilton
was wholly circumstantial, and so remark
able in its character as to produce not on
ly in the minds of the jury, but of the
whole population in that section, clear
conviction of the accused. 1t appeared
upon the trial that Hamilton was u ira
der, driving stock and occasionally carry
ing slaves to Mississippi to sell
The family was aristocratic, one of the
sisters having parried General Carroll,
of Tennessee, and the other Colonel An
derson, Of that same State, and there ex
lsted, az was alleged, strong feelings Of
envy against the family. 1t appeared
from the evidence that Hamilton had
just returned from Il successful trip to
Mississippi, in company with Dr. Sander.
son, who was a wealthy planter, residing
near Natchez lie came to Kentucky for
the purpose of purchasing slaves to work
on his plantation aud brought with him
large amount Of money, Of which fact
Hamilton was apprised. They came
through wild and sparsely settled por-
ton of the Indian Territory, and DIR.
Sanderson was very sick during the great
er part Of the journey On their arri-
val in Barron county they went to the
residence of llamilton's father, where
DR.. Sanderson 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 was said, as
guide to neighboring county, where
sale Of negroes was to take place at pub
| lie auction, which Sanderson wanted to
attend. The two were seen together at
various points on the road. A short
time afterwards Hamilton returned alone,
and the night following the horse of
Sanderson came home riderless to the
house Of llamiltOn's father. Sanderson
was never again seen alive. Several days
elapsed, and suspicious were aroused that
he had been foully dealt with The
neighborhood en- mUSSc made search for
his body. 1t was found on the road in
the direction to the point where the ne
gro sale was to have taken place, covered
with brush and briars. His hat was dis.
covered in a hollow stump, and under a
log near by was found brass horse pis-
tol with the hammer broken. In the
| head of the murdered man was found a
number Of shot, and piece of the ham
mer Of the pistol, which fitted exactly.
| Under the lining of the hat there was Il
list OF thirty.three 500 Mississippi bills,
the numbers thereof, and to whom paya-
bic. When Hamilton was arrested the
bills corresponding with the list were
found in his possession. 1t was shown
that he had borrowed the pistol from
Colonel CORN, of Glasgow, Barren coun-
ty and that the shot in the head of
DR.. Sanderson corresponded in size with
the shot purchased a few days previous
by Hamilton in Glasgow. 1t was also
proved ou trial that llamilton's sherry
valles, or overalls, were concealed in his
fathers barn. and there was blood upon
them. They were fully identified by his
sister This was the evidence introduced
by the State.
Hamilton alleged in his defence that
he and Sanderson were, and had been for
years intimate friesds that they had
travelled together through wild country,
and that, if he had sinister designs, moth
ing more than little neglect of Sander
sou during his sickness would have in
sured his death, and that he could thus
have secured the money. lie said that
Mississippi money was at Il discount in
Kentucky, and Kentucky money at dis
count in Mississippi that he (llamilton)
was about to return to Mississippi, where
he could use the money of that State
while DIR. Sandcrson wanted the Ken
tucky money to buy negroes; aud that,
Tor mutual accommodation aud profit,
they made an exchange of the money
And he further proved that ne borrow
ed 81 900 of the bank in Glasgow to
make up the sum required for the ex.
change. As to the pistol, he said he Dor.
rowed it from Colonel GOrin to lend tC
DR.. Sanderson who wanted it for his pei
sonal protection, and that parting with
him at the fork Of tAe road he had Civ
en- it to him. lie alleges that his negro
servant had stolen his sherry-vallies, gon,
to dance, where he got into fight, ant
concealed them in the barn until hc---thc
negro--could have an opportunity t
clean the blood from them. His state
ments were not corroborated, and he wa
, convicted and hung,
l.. ,,.,