The Sun. — 1823-09-20 (London, England)

INNOCENT MAN.  ( From the Providence., Rhode Island, Journal.) We stated a‘few days since that John C. Hamilton was executed in Kentucky, a few years ago, (1817), for the murder of Dr. Sanderson, of Natchez, Mississippi, and that a man had recently been executed in Mobile, who confessed himself the murderer of Sanderson, and declared that Hamilton was innocent. The following are the particulars of this melancholy affair, the perusal of which is sufficient to wring tears of anguish from the heart of apathy itself : 4 The annals of judicial proceedings rarely afford a report of a trial and execution of a more extraordinary and distressing character than this, and it should be universally circulated, that Judges and Jurors may be guarded against condemning supposed culprits on circumstantial evidence. Young Hamilton, through life, supported an unblemished character, and ob. tained the love, esteem, and admiration of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. As is common with the young gentlemen of Kentucky, he was in the practice of spending the winter season in the more genial climate of the Mississippi. On his return from a winter residence in that quarter, he accidentally fell in company with Dr. Sanderson, who being in ill health, was journeying to the celebrated watering-place at Harrodsburg Spa, with hopes of recovering his lost health ; and as he was anxious to make something out of his pilgrimag,e, he took with him a large sum of money, with which he contemplated purchasing negroes on speculation. On his way up the country, his infirmities increased, and as he was apprehensive he might expire on the road, he committed to the charge of Hamilton his treasure, having in his short acquaintance discovered that he was worthy of unlimited confidence. In a few days, however, his indis, position abated, when he pursued his journey, and finally arrived in safetrat the residence of Hamilton, in Barren county, Kentucky, where he remained during the summers and received from his young friend every mark of courtesy, at. tention, and hospitality. In the month of October, Dr. San. derson made arrangements to depart, and on taking leave of hit hospitable host, young Hamilton accompanied him several miles on the road, and then took an affectionate farewell. Ten or twelve days after, as some hunters were rambling through the forest, they discovered the body of Dr. Sanderson in a state of corruption, shot in several places, and mangled in the most shocking manner. As Hamilton was last seen with him, anti as it was known that he had from time to time made use of sums of money, originally the property of San derson, suspicion fell on his head, and he was arrested, tried, and executed, " Previous to his arrest, he was advised to leave the country, to avoid danger; but as he was conscious of his innocence, he disdained to take a step which would cast a cloud of obloquy and disgrace upon his character, and resolutely remained at home. As the inhabitants of the county were divided in their opinions as to his guilt, the affair gradually died away • but Hamilton being anxious that a trial should take place, firmly believing that in such an event ills reputation would remain unspotted, he solicited at the hands of justice a trial, which, to his astonishment and sorrow, closed with his condemna' don. The only evidence against him, was circumstantial, viz. that near the body of Sanderson were found a bloody pair of pantaloons, and a pistol, both bearing the name of Hamilton. Through the whole of the trial he manifested that fortitude and determined coolness characteristic of innocence, and expired with a full conviction that the real murderer would ulti. mately be discovered. When on the scaffold, he took a Manly leave of the world, expressed not the least regret for his fate, but lamented that his misfortunes would cloud the prospects of his family, and shed an indeliable disgrace on his memory.— Thus through the weakness of the law, was an interesting young man and a worthy citizen hurried from the world, and doomed ti expiate on the gallows that crime committed by the hands of a villian and assassin."