Charlie L. Hampton, born January 16, 1869, murdered by JOE LONG August 28, 1917. He was the son of Edmond "Green" Wood Hampton and Patience TABOR. He married Patience JONES.
Below is an article printed in Ozark County Times newspaper, Ozark Co., MO about the murder of Charley.
Joe LONG is said to have murdered him because Charley threatened to kill his parents.
Per the latest info I have received (from descendants who were either alive at that time and remember the stories, or have heard the stories all their lives), Charley is said to have murdered at least 7 men. The three known about at this time are: 1. ____DAVENPORT (shot), 2. ___ MARSH, and 3. Jack FUGITT (shot and his body dumped over a fence in a pile of brush).
Charley said "The Devil rides with me" because he heard the sound of a saddle squeaking behind him when he was riding. He was obviously not of sound mind...:-)
Ireland WELLS had thrown a rock and broke one of Charley's cows legs and Charley blamed it on Joe LONG. Charley said to Joe, "I'm gonna kill that old pus-gutted father and toothless mother of yours and knock your gold teeth out and give them to lillte Charley to play with. I'm gonna kill your father first, then your mother, then your brother. I'm gonna make a pile: your father on the bottom then your mother then your brother on top because I don't have anything against your brother so I'll put him on top." Charley was mean enough to do it, so Joe set out to kill him before he killed his family.
Nathanien HENDERSON and Henry JONES (Joe JONES' father) got together with Joe Long and decided that Nathaniel would fire a shot the next day when Charley rode by on his horse so Joe would know he was coming. Henry JONES went along and laid down on a ledge with a rifle so that if Joe missed Charley, he could finish the job. Nathaniel found a tree with a hole in it so he could have an excuse for firing the gun to warn them. (This info came from an interview with Joe Jones, Henry Jones' son, who overheard the conversation about the plot to kill Charley and the conversation afterwards.)
As Charley approached, Nathaniel fired the gun. Charley heard the shot and rode near Nathaniel and said, "Why did you shoot like that. You ought not do that." Nathaniel said, "I was shooting at a squirrel and he went in that hole up there. I was waiting for him to come out. I think I crippled him." Charley said, "Don't be doing that again." and rode on. He waited a good long time before deciding which fork in the road ahead to take because he was expecting an ambush since Joe had already tried once unsuccessfully to kill him.
He took the wrong fork, Joe came from behind a cedar tree and spooked his horse. As Charley reached for his gun, Joe shot him straight in the face and he fell from his horse.
Charley was mean to his brother Dave. He always made him WALK behind him as he rode his horse. That day Dave was walking behnid him and saw the whole thing. Joe didn't spend even one day in jail. The sheriff (I think it was) took him hime with him then to Harrison or Yellville the next day for arraignment. There was $100,000 bail...the highest ever for anyone up to that time. The poeple in the neighborhood raised the money for his bail in thanks for killing Charley. Dave HAMPTON, Charley's brother who saw all of this, was Joe LONG's best witness and he was acquitted.
Charley was MEAN according to everyone I've talked to that are still still alive who knew him. He is said to have killed a man himself once and stole things from people. It is said when he wanted something, he just TOOK it from the person who owned it. He would help people out in time of need, but apparently expected to have what they had if he wanted it.
Once he was talking with KELSAW (or Kelso) RISLEY and decided Kelsaw should "dance" so he took his gun and shot all around Kelsaw's feet and said, "Dance, Kelsaw, dance." Kelsaw took out HIS gun and said,, "Kelsaw don't dance." I guess for once Charley met his match...:-)...I don't know what happened next, but Kelsaw was probably not bothered by Charley again.
Charley was a school teacher. He was Joe LONG's first teacher. Joe ran off from school one day and hid under a washtub. Charley found out where he was and sat down on the tub and talked a good long while to someone while Joe was under the tub. It was a HOT day and Joe couldn't stand it any longer. Joe made a noise and Charley then got up and let Joe out.
First article is about the FIRST time Joe Long shot Charley. He survived this shooting.
June 22, 1917
Word reached this city late Saturday evening that Charley Hampton, who lives across the line in (Marion Co.) Arkansas a few miles from Dugginsville, (MO) in this county had been shot by Joe LONG and that there was slight hope for him. Our Dugginsville correspondent on this page gives the best account of the affair we have.
DUGGINSVILLE ITEMS: THE HAMPTON SHOOTING
While on his way here to mill Saturday, C.L. HAMPTON was shot. He had just reached the mouth of Dark Hollow and was looking up at the phone line when he saw Joe LONG and Port LONG off about 30 yards to his right. Joe had something in his hand which Charley thought first to be a hoe; but as Joe ran in front of Port's horse, he saw that it was a gun which fired instantly hitting him on his right side. There was not a word spoken by either party. Nineteen shot took effect on his head and body. He rode up to Pearly WELLS' house and Eber LONG, JR. helped him into the house and placed him on a bed and hastened to let his friends know. Drs. PACE, KYLE and NICHOLSON were called but the could not remove the shots. Dr. KYLE, Jack JONES and Mrs. Hampton (Patience JONES) went with him to Springfield (MO) where he will undergo some surgeries. Many of his relatives and friends gathered to see him start (leave for the hospital), which was a sad parting. Thurman HOLT of Protem was hired to take him by auto.
JUNE 29, 1917, DUGGINSVILLE ITEMS
Mr. Hampton was shot on the LEFT side instead of the right as was stated in our items last week.
JULY 6, 1917
The last report from C.L. Hampton who was shot a few weeks ago was that he is improving. We understand that Joe LONG, his assailant, gave up to the authorities and filed bond to appear for a hearing later on.
JULY 20, 1917, DUGGINVILLE ITEMS
Elzie JONES went to Yellville (AR) Sunday to meet Mr. and Mrs. Hampton who have been at Springfield for 4 or 5 weeks.
AUGUST 24, 1917, DUGGINSVILLE ITEMS
Dave HAMPTON passed here Monday with a load of wire for his brother, C.L. Hampton.
Patience HAMPTON visited her sister Monday. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
ALMOST killing Charley was not enough for Joe LONG.
On August 28, 1917, he finished the job. The next long article explains in detail the facts and events surrounding his murder.
FROM OZARK COUNTY TIMES:
HEADLINES: CHARLEY HAMPTON KILLED AUGUST 28th by JOE LONG who shot him last June. Charge of buckshot in face
Another tragedy has been enacted in MARION Co. (AR) in which one of her most prosperous and progressive stockmen and farmers lost his life.
On Tuesday morning of last week, about 10 o'clock, while Charley Hampton and his brother, Dave, were riding along the road in search of cattle, a shot rang out suddenly upon the morning air from ambush, and the lifeless body of Charley Hampton fell from his horse to the ground.
The facts as we get them as told by Dave Hampton who was with Charley at the time is as follows:
Tuesday morning Charley Hampton who was just recovering from gunshot wounds inflicted by Joe LONG on June 17th, in company with his brother, Dave Hampton, left his home in Cedar Creek township and went in search of some of his cattle. While riding along the road about two miles east of Mr.Hampton's house and while passing thru the Double ___ Glade when near the east edge of it, a shot was fired from ambush striking Charley in the face and kiling him instantly. The shot excited Dave's horse and he, too, was thrown to the ground. As he arose to his feet, Joe LONG emerged from the lap of a fallen tree about 10 steps away with a shotgun in his hand, presented at the prostrate form of Charley. Dave asked him not to shoot Charley anymore as he was already dead. After convincing himself that the shot was fatal, he lowered his gun. Dave said: "You haven't any grudge against me, have you, Joe?" He said, "No, I have done all I wanted to do." and turned and walked back to the tree lap and picked up a heavy calliber pistol and started to walk away. Dave asked him where he was going and he replied home. Dave asked him to stop at Pete GRACE's, who lived a short diatance away, and tell him to come up there. Joe said he would, but Pete said he did not tell him.
Mr. V.B. BILLINGS, who lives in that community, and who was in Yellville (AR) Saturday, said he heard of the tragedy and arrived at the scene before the body was removed from where it had fallen. He said it looked as if the whole charge of shot had struck him in the head and face--that both of his eyes and his teeth were shot out, and his face was disfigured beyond recognition. An inquest was held Tuesdy evening, but up to time of going to press, we have been unable to learn the finding of the jury.
On or about June 17th, LONG shot and severely wounded Hampton with a shotgun--he was placed in an auto and rushed to Springfield, MO where he hovered for some time between life and death. LONG was placed under bond to appear at the August term of the grand jury, which he did. Mr. Hampton was just able to be around and was still suffering from his wounds while in attendance at court.
Hampton was killed about two miles from his home and on a road which he frequently traveled when hunting his cattle and about three miles from the home of LONG.
The remains of Mr. Hampton were laid to rest in the cemetery at Lutie (Theodosia), MO. He leaves a wife, two brothers: DAVE who lived with him and ABE who lives in Oklahoma. Also a half-brother, Monroe, who lives in (Theodosia) MO.
The sad affair is deeply deplored by every law-abiding citizen of the county. All parties connected with the affair are substantial citizens of the county. We understand that last spring when food and feed was scarce and high and many of his neighbors did not see how they were going to be able to make a crop, Mr. Hampton came to their rescue and loaned them several thousand dollars which tided them over and enabled them to make splendid crops. A man who will stand by his neighbors and his friends with his money and during a time of need and when almost dire distress is facing them has a principle in him which ought to cover a multitude of sins.
September 7, 1917, LONGRUN (MO) ITEMS
Several here attended the funeral of Charley Hampton.
DUGGINSVILLE ITEMS
On last Wednesday evening, a host of friends and relatives gathered ar rhe Lutie Cemetery to pay their last respects to Charley L. Hampton, one of Arkansas' most prominent businessmen. Brother George WILLHOIT conducted prayer services and his Brother Masons (Masonic Lodge) laid him to rest. The bereaved have our sympathy.
SEPTEMBER 14, 1917, DUGGINSVILLE ITEMS
Mrs. Hampton is having her cattle gathered and is making ready to sell them.