The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-10
Capt. Ch harles v. IIa m ilton Denies I'm pIt-
cation with the Nc d udic Hohhera

o" Win the hAcOumc Robbers.
Yesterday our reporter had an inter-
view with Capt. Charles v. Hamilton.
the alleged leader of the band of rob.
bers, and who was convicted at the last
term OF McDuffie Superior Court, and
sentenced to ten years imprisonment in
the penitentiary for robbery.
Capt. Hamilton said: with to make
statement in regard to the evidence of
Long aud Willis, and also in regard to
the previous character of those men. It
was tissue Of lies from beginning to
end. Longs statement was identical
with a passage in book called "The
Fancy Man; or, A November Day in Bos-
ton Long had this book here in Jail
with HIM and learned that passage before
the trial took place. Long stated that
this robbery was his first offence. That
was not true. He confessed to me, when
he was with 1ne in this Jail, some time
before the trial, that he had been impli-
Gated In number of crimes during and
since the war. In 1864 he stole horse
and exchanged it for mule, which he
sold to Mr.. Lanier, in Abbeville Coun-
ty, South Carolina. He snid that after
the war, in 1865, he was hired by several
parties to kill Mr.. Lanier, for which
he got to Lanier's house, however, he
oncluded not to kill him, but to give
him good Whipping. Lnnier was a
horse doctor, and Long sent u man up to
his house to tell him that gentleman
had sick horse down the road, which
lie wanted attended to. Lanicr went to
where Long was, who gave him 300
ashes, almost killing him. He was next
III with purity who robbed an old man
named Rountree, in Abbeville. Long
was to kill Rountree with q sledge- ham.
mer. but rs he made blow at him the
ola man lodged, and the hammer slipped
from Longs grasp. Rountree then
Jumped to his gun and the robbers ran
Oft, taking with them about $500. I'm
mediately afterwards Long, with two
others. stole u lot Of guns, pistols, watch.
and $3.50 i'll money from party of ne
groes on Little River, in South Carolina.
Finding that lie was getting under sus-
plclon, he said he came down to Edge
field nnd hired himself to Serle, & Hew-
1T. who were working gold mine.
While there he frequently stole gold,
which another person was suspected Uf
taking. He and another party went to
rob a negro on the Savannah River, but
AS they entered the house the negro
struck at Long with an nxe, cutting open
his shoulder and nearly clenving him in
twain. He afterwards tried to make it
appear that 1t was the Elan boys, of
Lincoln County, who were concerned
IN this robbery. at Doln's Mine, S. C..
Long robbed the United States census
taker in 1870 of his books and money.
be said that there was n man named
Harriss came to him afterward, and told
him TINT If he gave up the books he
might keep the money. He told Har-
riss he knew nothing about the robbery
Harriss then went to nun who was
concerned with Long in the affair, and
told him Long had confessed. Tue man
then gave up the books. Again falling
nnder suspicion, Long said he went 70
Coweth County, Ga, and afterwards 10.
Gated IN Thomson. He also stole horse
from man named Blackwell, in Edge
field County. s. c., and sold it in Glns-
cock County, GA. Willis, who tried to
make the impression that had induced
hlm to do wrong, was as bad as Long.
He helped to murder Atkins, besides
being engaged In other crimes. Ram
sey, IN 1856, went with party to Lin
coin County, and searched the house of
an OLD negro man, named Henry Cobb,
for money. Failing to get any Mt this
house, they went to the honse OF Cobb's
son, whom they hung until he was nearly
dead, to make him confess where his
fathers money waa. They then wene
back to Henry Cobb's, where they were
fired upon by party of negroes. One
of Ramsey's party was killed and the
others were Nil wounded Last spring
Ramsey went to New York to get coun,
terfeit money. His expenses were pnid
by four citizens of the County, whose
names never expect to make known.
Reporter-If you are innocent, Capt.
Hamilton, why were you convicted? A
jury OF twelve honest men tried yonr
case.
Hamilton-I was unable to employ
lawyers until the last moment; conse-
quently, was no. prepared. II 1 had
had chance. I could have proved that
Long and Willis were induced to testify
against me, and could have established
my innocence to the satisfaction of every
one. That which did mo tho most harm
was the report that was United States
detective, trying to ferret out Ku Klu1.
If was that, was certainly danger.
GUS man IN the community.
Reporter-Long's evidence in relation
to you. Captain Hamilton, was very