The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-21
Rhoderick Dhu aambrell. another young

man about Martins age and q close
friend of the editor OF the New Missip-
| plan, likewise removed his lares and
Ipenates to the capital from the little VII
lage of Clinton, and started the weekly
Sword and Shield as the official organ OF
the Mississippi Prohibi.ionists. John
Martin was recognized, for all his lack
of years. as the most forcfble newspaper
writer in this section, and his friend
| Ganbrell was close second. Together
| these boys began an attack on Colonel
| Hamilton, the leader of the opposition,
which for virulence and audacity has
rarely had an equal In the annals of
American Journalistic warfare. Not an
issue of either paper came from the press
that was not filed with denunciations
of Hamilton and h record. He was held
up 10 scorn as thu boss OF State politics,
the corrupter of le sslature and the black
beast OF all people who desired honest
government.
At first Hamilton felt himself above
! the onslaughts OF two such springolds as
Martin and Gambreil. and so expressed
| himself. But after the warfare had been
kept up for several months the editor OF
the New Orleans TmesJDemocrat wrote
an editorial denouncing the Mississippi
lProhibtionists and the injustice of their
attack upon reputable citizens No
names were mentioned In this article,
but 1t pointed so plainly to Martin and
Gambrell VS.. Hamilton that there was no
MISLEADING Its meaning. No sooner had
the editorial come to the notice of young
Gambrell--who was an expert pistol
Ishot-than he posted his friend Martin
off to New Orleans as the bearer of
cartel to the editor of the Tlmes-D Demo-
crat. The challenge was ignored, but
nevertheless brought the two young
journalists into still greater prominence
as factionists and fire-eaters.
| Meanwhile Colonel Hamilton had re-
1 t.l
bic, and kept out OF the fight raging
between "Prohibs." and "Anti-Pro-
hibs,' in order to give his attention and
| energies to the construction of Gulfport
and its railway. When he heard OF
Gambrell's challenge TO Baker. how
ever. he expressed his opinton-and ex-
| pressed 1t freely. II was TO the effect
that the boyish editor of the Sword
and Shield was n cowardly notoriety
| seeker. and couldn't be forced into
fight IL the opportunity were offered
him.
This remark reached Gambrelrs ears
the same afternoon 1t wl,s made, and
again his friend Martin was sent as the
bearer of n challenge to mortal combat
this time to Colonel Hamilton, who
treated 1t with silent scorn.
This sort of thing could not last much
longer without resort to arms; and
finally, in the issue OF the Sword and
| Shield following Hamilton's refusal to
recognize young Gambrell's challenge
| there appeared an article which, In the
vernacular of the swamps, was FILLED
with pizen." 1t pretended to review the
career OF the President of the Gulf and
Ship Island Railway Company from
boyhood up. touching. with no light
hand, his army record, his financial
methods, his personal habits and wind
ing up with the allegation that as lessee
of the State peniientinry Hamilton had
robbed the citizens of Mississippi out of
| $50 600.
This was the signal for war!
In all or the attacks Heretofore made
| by Gambrell and Martins there had never
been II specific charge OF downright
dishonesty. and now Colonel Hamilton
was warned by his friends that some
| radical step was necessary. That phrase
mas a peculiar meaning down South.
and the day after the publication Of the
offensive article, Hamilton and Gam
brell met on the bridge which connects
East and West Jackson. There were no
witnesses and when the firing ceased
the first arrivals on the scene found
young Gambrell dead, with a bullet
through his brain nd two others in his
| Dreast, while an arms length away
hamilton lay weltering in the blood
from two dangerous wounds In his
AT once the Prohibit!onists. who num-
nered among their ranks some Of the
most influential men in the State, raised
the cry that Hamilton had waylaid and
| ussusSinated the young editor, and,
wounded as he was Hamilton was
taken to jail-which by the way had to
De heavily guarded for several days 10
prevent Gamhrells slayer from being
nnoopeu by the dead mans friends
| EVERY effort was made TO obtain bail
Tor Col. Hamilton, SO that work on the
Guil and Ship Island enterprise might
continue undated: but without success.
he stayed in Jail for over one year and
| when he finally walked forth q free
man he found himself bereft of home
ana fortune-all his holdings having
been consumed In the defence of the
plttereSt prosecution ever known in the
south. 'Bellehaven" was sold to a DR..
t1tzhugh, who had been one of Hamil-
| toms harshest prosecutors. He turned
the OLD home into Methodist female
| seminary, and where the portrait of its
former owner had hung OH the drawing
room wall. the new owner placed the
portrait of RodericlS Dhu Gambrell. a
year later the house burned to the
ground.
Besides this. the appalling tragedy
was followed by series of happenings
SO curious and strange as to almost call
Tor occult explanation. First of all.
Wlthln two weeks after Hamilton's ac-
quittal, young Martin and Gen. Writ
ADAMS (who had been n brigadier In the
confederate army killed one another
In Il street duel at Jackson. And in
the years that have passed since then
every Judge. attorney and juryman who
was adverse to Hamilton in his trial for
| murder, has either died, become insane
or been reiegated to obscurity: while.
20 nfh .,. lao. Il (,