The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-22
THE GEORGIA OUTLAWS.
A Gang that Rivals the Lowerys In
BoIdness and Bloody Work.


a Gang that Rivals the Lowerys In
BoIdness and Bloody Work.
Correspondence Augusta Constitutionallst
THOMSON, Ga, March 19.
Last Monday the preliminary trial Of Captain
G. Y. Hamilton was called. The courtroom
was densely packed. Tom Willis was put
upop the stand, and the facts ellclted point to
Hamilton as the boldest highwayman and land
pirate that ever cursed community. The
frst raid to South Carolina was the pretence
to he present at the arraignment and trial of q
man Nv M whom he named Baker. He selected his
associates, three of whom were well posted as
to The real Intentions. These were Tom Willis,
r. Howard Long and John Ramsey. They were
the sworn copfederates OF this daring pirate.
Under the pretence Of having good time at
the trial. they dec0yed youg man named
Charlie Wilkerson to join them. After they
arrived IN about seven 6s es nans et me
TO Young Wilkerson, that they had come to
rob and murder man for his money. Young
WIlkerson, startled by the exposition emphat-
IeaIly declared he would have no part In the
matter. Hamilton was prepared for the emer-
pepcy, aud informed the clan that Wilkerson
must be murdered; that he would take prl-
vate with him up the river and shoot him,
and sink him In the water. This foul act
was prevented by the interference of Ram
sey and willis. Thus the dlabolIcal plot
to rob and murder was blighted in the bud.
The Marty, we're compelled 10 return home,
and Hamilton has endeavored several
times to slay WllEerson, and have no
evidence in this matter. A short time after
this defeat he arranged and planned an.
fhn nf hrtn
ing out his wife, who had been left behind In
South Carolina, TnIs time he selected the
same gang, except yonng Wllkerson. Their
plan was to take public conveyance by rail,
and visit Edgeleld County, murder Llttleton
Smith. his wife aud q family living In the yard,
burn the dwellings, steal the horses, aud re-
turn through Lincoln County. At the river
they were to kill and disembowel their horses
and sink them In the river, Captain Hamilton
assuring them they would leave no traces be-
hind; but It seems that only apart Of the plan
was carried out, and after abusing the person
OF Mr. Smith, getting but little booty, they re-
were compelled to pawn their pistols
to. the conductor for their passage to
Augusta. The conductor was directed to take
the pistols to one Blease, who kept a bar
room, and he would pay the passage money
for the pistols, which Blease did, and Hamil.
ion went and got the pistols and returned
them to the parties. Their absence by this
time began to create some suspicion, and the
newspapers were searched for some clue as to
what they were doing, but nothing could be
found, and so their deeds were once more con-
ceaed from the public eye. Soon another ar
rangement was on foot for another raid. Their
plan was TO try the railroad again, and.now
new new confederate was taken 10. and the testi-
mony led to the arrest OF young man
named George Tut, an inmate of your Jail,
in common with the other prisoners. war
rant was also issued for one Joe Mnsgrove,
who has fed. unwhipt Of justice, thus I'M
pressing the public mind Of hfs guilt. These
are tho confessions Of John Bamsey made to
his friends, but he is still at large. What was
accomplished by the last raid has never been
known, az Ramsey was suspected of being
traitor, and was not one Of the party. The
facts have been corroborated In the main by
the evidence and confession of Tom Willis.
These are but parcels In the career OF this
most wonderful freebooter, who claims 10
have murdered seventeen men, and over
whom there Is now hanging In South Carolina
seventeen indictments for murder, and 1t was
reported to-day that police officer 10 your
cIly has q reward Of five thousand dollars ior
his arrest for the crimes committed In South
Carolina.
Hamilton has not confined himself exclu.
siyely to raiding, but has shown himself an
expert in many little ways. About three
weeks since his cunning and adroitnees was
exhibited by the following: A party named
Br;scoe, hallIng from unknown parts, stole
horse in the neighborhood OF Union Point and
brought the animal near this place, tied 1t IN
the woods, came on foot to The village, had
conference with Hamilton. They both went
of In q buggy, and the party some time after
rode the horse to the stable and ordered 1t fed.
In few hours the parties who had lost the
horse arrived and called at the stable to feed
their stock and make inquiries, and discover
ed their lost horse. They were required to
watch while Hamilton went to secure the
thief, which was only q ruse to warn the
party to get out of the way, while Hamilton
blu1dered about for some hours, and after
dark arrested a stranger, and thus giving
his confederate time 10 distance his pur.
suers and lose his track. Altogether, could
Ramsey be apprehended ana induced 10 d.
yulge, Hamilton's villany could be seen In lts
true light; but Ramsey ts still at large. with
sufficient aid to assist nun TO conceal MN.
self from the penalty of the laws he has so
grossly violated. To say that there Ia an or
ganized band of thieves, robbers and murder
ers ln our midst Is q lamentable fact. The en-
tire gang are not active operators, but some
thing worse. 1t is the business OF some to
secrete and conceal something worse then
stolen goods or money. While writing this
letter. force is being organized 10 assist the
sheriff 10 guard his stable. Two shots have
been fired at thief who was making an effort
10 carry off one Of his horses.
About sunset this evening party OF citizens
discovered man securing the woods, earn
estIy engaged in searching as lf for some
secre,ed person. He was followed for about
two hours, supposed TO be an aid 10 Ramsey;
He went to the suburbs Of town unmolested
and secured his horse. A few citizens were
standing BY the roadside as, he came In sight;
observing Them, he SHE'D off Into the swamp,
iorsook Ills horse and began to to-, fly to, to the the
thlckeIs. He was ordered to halt, but this
only Increased his speed. One OF the party
tried to bring him 10 a halt by firing at him,
Why was this fellow 80 ready to run |? No
would have s0qgat ys If a,gsstRg sDR him n
rho service of Ramsey and the bands, and his
gnlt I exposed lsrl. Ho wfar this organization
sxtends. Its strength and numbers, we cannot
tell. Our citizens are determined J., to , pursue
them until they are calgnC ana the lash OF
tho 10 m y,pornI1av anDlied.