Barren-Metcalfe County KyArchives News.....John C. Hamilton November 1, 1870 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virgle Lee Chappell vchapp@aol.com February 20, 2012, 3:54 pm Louisville Courier-Journal November 1, 1870 1788 John C Hamilton was born to Abner Hamilton, a wealthy and prominent plantation owner in Barren/Metcalfe Co, Ky. 1810 Cen: Barren Co, Ky John Hamilton 00100-00111-00 Male: 1 16<26 Fem: 1 16<26, 1 26<45, 1 1>45 1817/1818: Hamilton-Sanderson Murder Trial: from "Blood Runs in the Barrens" by Sandra Gorin "It has been sneeringly, and with much force, said that a man of high social position and wealth could not be hung in KY. for crime, by the verdict of a jury. Better, far better, than this be true in fact and without exception, than the life of one innocent man taken in the name of justice, as in the following case (condensed) from an article in the Louisville Courier- Journal, lNov 1870. "In the year 1817, Dr Alexander Sanderson was murdered, in that part of Barren County which is now Metcalfe county; and John C Hamilton, a wealthy citizen of the neighborhood was tried, convicted, and hung for the murder-- upon evidence wholly circumstantial but of so remarkable a character as to convince the jury and the whole population of his guilt, not withstanding Sanderson was his friend, his fellow-travelor and his father's guest. "It appearing upon the trial, that Hamilton was a trader, driving stock to Mississippi to sell. His companion on a return trip, was Dr Sanderson, a wealthy planter, residing near Natchez--who visited Ky to purchase slaves for his plantation. He brought with him a large sum of money, of which Hamilton was apprised. Their route, which was on horseback, lay through a wild and sparsely settled portion of the 'Indian Territory', and Dr Sanderson was very sick during the greater part of the journey. "On their arrival in Barren Co, they went to the residence of Hamilton's father, where Dr Sanderson remained for several weeks, until he recovered. Shortly thereafter, the two left the house in company, Hamilton going as guide for nine miles only, to a point where the road forked, one branch of which led to a neighboring county, where Dr Sanderson was to attend a sale of negroes at public auction. The pair were seen together at various points on the road; the last time, at a point three-quarters of a mile from the forks. Shortly thereafter, Hamilton returned alone, and the night following, the horse Dr Sanderson was riding came up riderless to the house of Hamilton's father. "When John C Hamilton was arrested, the money identified as Sanderson's, was found in his possession. Sanderson's body was found and a brass horse pistol with broken hammer was found nearby. The weapon was identified to have been one in Hamilton's possession. Hamilton's overalls were found in his barn with blood on them. "Explaination given at the trial was: Sanderson had Mississippi money and Hamilton had Kentucky money. Each would have been discounted, being from another state. Since Hamilton traded in Mississippi and Sanderson was to buy Negroes in Ky, they had exchanged equal amounts of money before parting. Hamilton proved he had borrowed $1000 at the bank to make the exchange. Also, Hamilton gave Sanderson the gun to use for his own protection if it became necessary. The overalls had been worn by one of Hamilton's negroes to a dance where he had gotten into a fight. The negro had hidden them in the barn until he would have a chance to wash them. "Several character witnesses were called and gave Hamilton the best of testimony. Still, John C Hamilton was tried and speedily hung, protesting his innocence. Years later, another killer was executed in eastern Miss, and while under the gallows, confessed to having committed a murder in the location where Sanderson was found, and had hid his the body at the head of a ravine." (From "Historical Trip Through East Barren Co, Ky" by Clayton Simmons The Glasgow Times, Dec 3, 1942--Sept 2, 1943 "About one-half mile south of Hendersonille, in a somewhat isolated spot, Dr Alexander Sanderson was murdered in June 1817--the first murder to be committed in Barren Co, Ky. John C Hamilton, who had been a traveling companion of the doctor while buying negroes in the adjoining communities for a few days, was arrested, tried, convicted and hanged wholly on circumstantial evidence for the murder. "Because of the wealth and social prominence of John C Hamilton, and the further fact that he was convicted by circumstantial evidence only, many articles have appeared in the press at various times during the past fifty years relating to this unusual case. "John C Hamilton was hanged for murder. In his diary, John C states that his father, Abner Hamilton went to Frankfort for a respite or pardon. From the diary, his father was in Frankfort sometime between Apr 28 and May 6, 1818. From the Barren County Circuit Court records, I know that a new trial to the Court of Appeals was not even tried for. So Abner Hamilton must have went to see Gov. Gabriel Slaughter in person." Letter from Perry A Brantley, Winchester, KY. Date: 1/28/1979 "On Thursday, the 17th of May, 1818, John C Hamilton was taken from the jail by the Sheriff of Barren Co, carried to the gallows erected in the hollow between the present residence of Chas Shader on Cleveland Ave and the triangle part adjoining Leslie Ave, and there hanged by the neck until he was dead, in due obedience of the order of the law. "The remains were carried to the cemetery at Old Liberty Church, about one half mile west of Cave Ridge in Metcalfe Co, where John C Hamilton now lies in an unmarked grave. The grave can be pointed out to visitors by many of the citizens living in the community. "Eugene Newman commented on the character of Sheriff Pascal Craddock, 'I see that Pascal D Craddock was a witness in the case. He was the sheriff who executed Hamilton. As he lives in tradition, he was, probably, the most pernicious scoundrel Ky ever produced. He was (later) mobbed by a band of Vigilantes near Louisville in 1858." (His body was found with a dozen slugs, lying in a hedge bordered lane.) 1818 May 17: John C Hamilton died on the gallows. 1818 Aug Session, Barren Co: Ordered that the sum of $450 levied at the last Oct term for the Support & benefit of the guard who should attended to guard John Hamilton from the time of s'd Court setting to the time of Conviction, be paid by the Sheriff unto the hands of Charles Harvey, James Forbis (John Grinstead) (for the benefit of George T. Wood) and Samuel Bell who attended as said Guard during said period & that the same be certified to the Sheriff. 1820 Census, Barren Co, KY: Elizabeth Hamilton, (p015) Ref: Res & comp by Virgle L Chappell, Vchapp@aol.com File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/barren/newspapers/johncham533gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/