Marion Co TOC

    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 cold-blooded murder of Charley. Joe LONG is said to have murdered him because Charley threatened to kill his parents. Henry JONES (Joe's father, I think) is said to have fired a shot telling Joe that Charley was coming then Joe killed him.
    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.

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 distance 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 Tuesday 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 at he 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