The Van Buren press., 1872-01-16
og.r,p.s I'm 1s-o-
OZARK, 4ARK. Jan,5, 1872.
EDITOR OF THE PREss:-
In Yonr issua of Deem her 2Gth, ISL, ! no.

ticed an article over the signature of"Jus-
tice " in which the writer indulges in severe
structures upon one of our oldest and most re-
spected citizens, and champions the cause OF
an incarcerated murderer. 1t would seem
that the bereavement OF father, who has
lost a son. at the hands of set of outawed-
assas.ins, should, at least, elicit that commits
seration which should shield him from the
shafts of spitefnl malevolenco and unjust ac-
cusations. Justice says" the excitement pro-
duced by the killing of II. G. Collins has been
greatly allayed since the examination of
Hammonds, showed that he was only guilty
of manslaughter, if even of that. =" | am at a
loss TO know how Justice ever arrived at such
a conclusion, as the Honorable q. ". Suther-
land, who tried the cause unhesitatingly pro-
noUncci him guilty Of murder in the second
degree and fixed his bail At ten thousand dol
la,fI; .!!,;; aili 0st every man who heard the
evidence, believed Him guilty of murder in
the first degree.
The efidence showed that young Collins
was an officer in the discharge Of his duty
that he had warrant for the arrest of one of
Thomas lIammond'S sons; that he produced
his warrant and handed il out towards Thos.
Hammond and before lie could read it. 4.
Hammond struck him violent blow on the
back of the head with drawing knife, and be-
fore he could recover, the son of Thomas
Hammond shot him through. 1t also disclosed
the fact that after Collins was shot and had
fallen, Thomas Hammond said to his son,
"d-n him shoot him again, " and that in Obe
dience TO that order, he was shot twice more.
After the killing the murderer robbed young
Collins ofhis pistol, horse and saddle and be-
ing furnished with money by Thomas Ham
mond, he made his escape, This latter fact
4 in, lo b,,
whom it would have been proven was absent
at the time of examination, and as the attor-
news fer tho State deemed the proof amply
sufficient they did not wait for him.
The proof further showed that Thomas
Hammond allowed the murdered man to lie
at his door steps nearly all day without even
showing enough humanity to take him in his
house, and when, party of men went to
his house several hours after the killing, he
positireiy denied that there halbeen any diili-
Guilty AT his house that day
Upon these facts Justice bases his assertion
that H. was guilty only of manslaughter, il
that, and takes occasion to indulge in a Ii
rade of abuse against the father Of the deceas-
ed. +lustice say thesympathies of the peo-
Pie have changed on account of the malicious
and yindictive feelings exhibited by the faith
or of the deceased, and his attempt to make
political capital of it, and his threats Of mar
tial law," etc. | am lfotautho HkG jus
tice, to speak of the sympathiys ofQitthe peo-
pie of a community but if tleryi.anEANhi-
btiou OF sympathy for HamrnJhts& &3iEaA not
been able TO find it. unless iy isl nariftHS Sby
subscribing literally for the Trest Qf fthe AAr-
dercrs and BY claiming the bns &rrcstedl IN
the cage of the Jail. That Afr. Collins W ould
feel desrous of bringing to Justice tho muir
dercr of his son, Is natural The exhibition
of any other feeling would show him as desti-
tute OF the ordinary fet!i6eS Of humanity as
Mr. Hammond did at and dfter tic murder of
H. c. Collins. Justice furnishes tile first nti-
nation that have OF any political feeling be-
ing manifest in the whole affair. The father
of the murdered man is a conservative repub-
licau, his son took no part in politics. and
probably never voted in.hs life. Al to the
politics of the Hammond do not TO this day
know. II political .capital is sought to be
made out ofthe fact, that the murdered was a
repu rliean aad the mQrlerer Democrat, ii is
singular that ninc-tcnth> of the amount sub
scribed for the arrest of Hammond except
what was subscribed by the father of the de-
ceascd) was subscribed by dcmocratS., As to
threats of martial Law by Mr. Collins, am
authorized 10 say that the statGmrnt il With
ont foundation. and That no man would more
deprecatc such a calamity tlan he would, and,
that he has Qt at times SO stated, and further,
that he has at ali times said he wanted Ham
mond to have a lair trial, and if not guilty be
acquitted. With Justices denunciatioD of
radicals, | have nothing to do. They deserve
much. but | must raise my voice to protest
against bitter and uucalled for abuse against
n highly respeeLed aud law abiding clliIen--
one who has lived here thirty years and al
ways enjoy ed the confidence aud respect of
the people. -
Affairs like the murder Of Deputy Sheriff
Collins are at all tinIes to be deplored and the
duty of every good citizen is to try to allay
any political feeling that might arise out of a
private affair, and when one INDUCES in the
course pursued by Justice, lie exhibits more
of the partizan enthusiast than the quiet.
law-abiding citizen. Our community are
quiet and the bitter feelings of the war are
happily fast giving way to spirit of neigh
borly friendship. Let us encourage this lcol-
ing, rather than stir up again the bitter ami
m0sities Of past years VIII the course pur-
sued by Justice tend to that much desired
end? - 80 ga NlNDICATOR.
THE ST LOUIS TIMES ALMANAC