The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-04-12
A Reminiscence of the Past
by PRESTON HAY.
To the Editor of the Comet:

To the Editor of the Comet:
In recent conversation with a gentl'
: man who has known me long and well, h
: did me the honor to suppose that my reco
lections of departed men and rast events
would be widely read and highly appre
ciated.
think my friend is right in assumin
that personal "reminiscences of the oldsl
time are read with pleasure. My apprehen
sion is that mine are too unimportant il
themselves, or will be too defectively mar
rated to meet the demands of the public.
The mention, in your last issue, from
the Courier-J Journal, of the horrible Beau
clamp Sharp tragedy of 1924, Gall the par
ticulars of which I know,) has served tc
revive my recollections, not only of that
most melancholy affair, but OF another,
which occurred five or six years prior to
it, in the same part of the country, and
which made an impression on my then over
sensitive and sympathetic nature, which the
lapse of sixty years has not sufficed wholly
to remove. The circumstances are briefly
these:
There was then living in Barren county,
KY, a highly respected and well-to-do
family of the name of Hamilton. 1t con-
sisted of father, mother, sons, Gone of
whom was grown, and will form the promi-
nent feature in this sketch, and daughters.
He was described at the time as a young
man of intelligence, activity, warm hearted
generosity, ardent friendships-in fact, as
possessing all the qualities which could
give promise of future usefulness,
and of high standing in the community.
At the same time there was living at or near
Natchez, in this State, family named San
derson, and between these families there
had grown up an acquaintance and an inti>
macy, probably originating in such trad
ins relations as then existed in their respec-
tive portions of the country. However
that may have been, the intimacy led to a
protracted visit by young DR.. Sanderson
to the home of the Hamiltons, in Kentucky.
During the weeks, perhaps months, of his
stay with them, he and young Hamilton
were inseparable companions; they made
excursions together all over the adjacent
country, and the most uninterrupted
friendship seemed to exist between them.
1t would appear that in this visit Sander
son combined business with pleasure, for
he took with him what was then considered
a large sum of money, to be invested in
horses, mules, and such other up-country
products as Southern planters needed.
When the time for his departure arrived,
young Hamilton accompanied him some
niles on horseback, and returned home.
He had been there but short time when
he body of Sanderson was found by the
dead, perforated by rifle or pistol
hot, and his person and baggage stripped
If every thing valuable. He was found
within short distance of the spot where
he two had been last seen together. OF
curse, suspicion was at once directed to
-oung Hamilton. He was arrested, ex-
searched, and the damning fact
anne to light that there was upon his per-
on a large sum of money, known by
he neighbors to have been short time
efore in the possession of Sanderson.
hamilton stoutly maintained his innocence,
eclaring that he had parted with Sanderson
n full friendship, and that none deplored
he sad fate of his friend more than him
elf. He accounted for the money found
n him by saying that at the time of sepa-
alton, Sanderson had said to him that
@ had money which would grow
sss valuable the further he carried it toward
is home, and had handed it to him, with a
equest that he put it to the best use he
ould, and account to him for it at some
uture time. As the currency of the coun-
ry then consisted almost exclusively of
'tate ard independent bank notes, which
ad little or no value outside of the locali- !
les in which they we're issued, this state
ient was, in itself plausible enough; but {
for the accused, there was I
othing, beyond his own naked assertion, {
} sustain it. In due course of proceeding I
hamilton was indicted and brought to trial; ,
nd in spite of all that the best legal abili- ::
les of the country could do for him, he
'as convicted of deliberate and wilful mur-
er; and the executive clemency having
zen invoked in vain he was hanged with
lis last breath asserting his innocence. e
lhese scenes were enacted in a part of the t
ountry where great crimes were hitherto !
lmost unknown; and believe it is yet n
free from them. In these 4
ays of frequent homicides men can form h
o estimate Of the profound sensation .
lused by the events have narrated They :,
lrmsd The staple of conversation at fire.
des and in casual meetings of neighbors,
IT years; and though opinions were vari-
us, upon the whole they sustained the ver- ,
let of the jury. Doubts still fingered J."
The minds Of some that pour Hamilton y