The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-02-09
The Hamilton Case.


the whole country is interested in it,
as II is in many respects test case.
We are constantly in receipt of letters
asking about it: When does it come
OFF, What are the prospects, etc.
1t is impossible to answer privately
with the multitude of other cares on
our hands. Though closely connected
with the case personally, we have con-
stantly felt that as prosecutor we fill
a public station. In this view of the
case alone have we given time and
thought to the vexatiOus, and to ms
narrowing proceedings.
The trial is expected to come off in
February, beginning probably eli the
Sd Monday. Everything now indi-
Gates trial at that time. The
prosecution will be ready, and it is
understood that Hamilton will venture
much before continuing in Jail. We
hope for trial and shall urge it.
AS to the prospects, it is hard to
speak with any certainty. If an hon
est jury can be got, Il conviction is
confidently expected. 1t is known
that efforts are making by Hamilton
to thoroughly commit the Negroes to
him in Rankin county, hoping, no
doubt, to get some of them on the
jury. The prosecution will go into
the trial with the courage born OF
conviction of right.
Since last summer it is certain that
Hamilton's case has constantly
weakened. He and every one of his
supporters have been eliminated from
the penitentiary management. The
army of strikers around that institu-
ton have been dismissed. The city
government, which in such shameful
disregard of all law, or the solemn
sanction of their oaths undertook to
carry their boss over law has been
overthrow, and another, decent in
behavior, has been established i'll its
stead The effort to " boost" liamil-
ton as fine gentleman, far too high
toned to be guilty of such great crime
has signally failed. One after
another of the charges lodged against
him have been proven true. The
recent decision of the Supreme court
Oh the bond case shows that he syste
matically planned to detraud the State,
and has accomplished his purpose to
the amount of more than $50. 600.
Something of the old time gentility of
Southern people has risen up against
the man who has plundered the peo-
pie for his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
In short, Hamilton will not go into
court as the invincible Prince of
Belhaven, but as II man whose sins
have found him out most terribly. A
defaulter, the boss of a lawleSs mob,
the companion of assaSsins, gamblers
and outlaws, with the judgment t
every court from c0roners jury to the
Supreme court against him, as Il
murderer, he will have much to do to
relieve himself from his terrible
situation. 1t is difficult to see how,
in the face of all the facts, his counsel
will be able to maintain their lofty
bearing The tide is set terribly
against their client, and they must be
sensible of it.
Already great results have been at
tanned 1t has been demonstrated
how profoundly the people feel Oh the
right side of question and how de
termined they are for the right when II
case is brought home to their hearts.
And already it has been demonstrate
ed that no man can SO lntrench him
self in wickcdness as not to be reach
ed. The superstructure of evil built
up around him with such care and
such disregard of all that men ought
to care for has fallen in hopeless ruin
about him. Not again soon will one
like him be able to rob the people or
to play with their interests as he has
done. AS factor in public affairs,
he has been completely eliminated, so
much so, that if he were released to-
day, he would be utterly without
power, in political circles,
Up to this hour the people have, in
the main, kept i'll Il proper mood.
There has been much prayer, and we
believe, much answer to prayer. Let
us still keep this case and ourselves
before God. Law has been wonder
fully magnifed in the land. God is
still our refuge.-Rer. j. b. GambreU,
IN Southern Baptist Record.