Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-07-25
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V
: Died For Another'S Crime !
-
- Tale of n Man who Disbelieves !
e. Cir3umstantial Evidence. ,
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W HEY were talking in the hotel
Office and the conversation
turned into n discussion of
the value Of circumStantial
evidence. The sporting man couldn't
Sc how on the evidence given against
q dentist in Il famous case then on
trial, any sane person could have voted
lor his acquittaI of the murder. and
said strong things about what he
would have done to the jurymcn who
differed with him had be been in the
Jury room at the recent trial. Most
of the others were inclined to agree
with him.
"Gcntlrmcn," said the drummer
from The South, who had been shift
ing uncasily i'll his chair during these
remarks without having had q chance
to break into the discussion, Il should
lave agreed with you about six
months ago, in fact, before my last
trip South; but now, should l ever
have the power, never would [ con
denim any human being to death on
circumStantial evidence alone"
y
and Tie other men waited.
con MY last trip said the drum
mrr, Il passed through the western
part Of Kentucky and there l heard
this story, which forever has destroyed
my faith in uncOrrOborated circum-
StHntial evidence. il was down in
I:nIIGn County. / was struck by the
appearance OF q fine old mansion.
They told lie down there that it had
belonged to 4 wealthy and aristocrat
t. family named Hamilton, now eX-
tinct, and thou l heard of the crime
which for years put the HamiltonS
under a cloud of disgrace.
somewhere about 1929, when the
family hold their heads as high as
any folk il Western Kentucky. John
Hamilton, thr Young head of the
house, TOOK 10 Louisiana Il drove of
mules for III" Southern market. In
New Orleans he was stricken with
yellow fever and lay for weeks at the
point OF death. At the hospital in
which he was confined was Il certain
Dr. SauGCrSOn. The doctor took
fancy to young Hamilton and pulled
him through the fever
"iIamiltOn on his part seemed to
take IN equal liking to SandersOn.
They were thrown much together and
a warm friendship spranS up be-
tween them. Sanderson had money
and when The time came for Hamilton
to leave the hospital, the Kentuckian
invited his friend to return with him
and try Il venture in the slave market
in Kentucky. SandersOn was only too
willing. He resigned his post in the
hospital ana the Two men started out
together on horseback through the
then almGSt untravelCd wilderness Ec-
tween Louisiana and the Blue Grass
State.
They arrived safely at the Hamil-
ton homestead and SandersOn was
Hospitality entertained for two weeks.
He had brought with him $4,000 for
investment i'll slave dealing, and he
was anxious TO go on further to a
part Of Kentucky where it could be
readily invested. The $4,000 was in
bonds Of the Louisiana State Bank.
one summer morning the doctor took
his departure for the slave market at
Glasgow, and young Hamilton rode
with him for Il mile or two to get him
on his way and wish him good luck
Hamilton returned in an hour or
two and went about his work. Sew
Cral days passed and nothing was
heard OF thc doctor. Then one morn
Ing, the horse On which he had ridden
from tho Hamilton hpu1pctOO1
was found ridcrlcsS in the road q few
miles outside of Glasgow The sad
die was stained with blood. In the
grass by the roadside not far away
there was picked up Il brass barrelled
1lint-locll pistol. 1t was recognized as
belonging to Hamilton. The lock was
broken and q fragment of it was
missing.
'turthcr search revealed in a shall
low hole only about 300 feet from
where the pistol was found decaying
body which was readily identified as
DR.. Sandorson's. The $4,000 worth
of bonds which he had carried away
with him were missing.
NOW all this was discovered before
HHmiltOn was informed that his friend
was dead. As soon as the body was
found, he was placed under arrest ac-
cusGd of the murder One of the first
things lie did was to produce from
tie lining Of his hat the $4,000 worth
OF Louisiana State bonds which DE-
SQnderson had brought to Kentucky
lie Gid 50, protesting that the doctor
had given them to him in exchange for
cash and that he was innocent of the
murder, but nobody believed him.
Then Il pair of bloOd-stained over
allS that had been Worn by Hamilton
were found in a corn crib and the evil
GCnce seemed complete. The young
man was placed on trial at the next
term OF court. Till then he had had
the best OF reputation, and his friends
had been legion. He hadn't many
friends left when he went on trial
CEc of the ablest lawyers of the Ken
lucky Lar of that day defended him,
bat it was q hopeless case.
Hamilton took the stand on his own
behalf and he was IN excellent wit
ness. according 10 the stories they've
handed down i'll Kentucky. He swore
lEtl ne E"u accompanied LII. SduueF-
son 4 mile or two on his way, had
given him the pistol because the doe
tor had none and also had persuaded
SanGers0D to exchange his bonds for
United States currency because he
thought the doctor might have Difficult
ty in cashing the bonds. He had bid
den Sanderson God-speed at last, be
said, and had left him riding away
toward Glasgow.
"a negro was ready TO testify that
he had stained the oyerallS with blood
himself, having stolen them from his
master, to wear to 4 party. But he
was slave and his testimony was
iG1G i1iIlilli1 G61 0f tnGif who heard