Campbell - John - 1892
Source: Crawfordsville Review 24 Dec 1892 p 1 c3
John Campbell, the ex-prisoner returned here yesterday afternoon on the
Monon after his confinement of near 20 years in the penitentiary. He was
dressed in a neat blue clothing overcoat and black slough hat and seemed exceedingly
happy to again shake hands with old acquaintances. Fully 200 persons were at
the train to see him, impelled as most of them were through curiosity.
Source: Crawfordsville Review 24 Dec 1892 p 1 c6
In August 1872 in the village of Alamo occurred a terrible tragedy from
which also resulted a remarkable legal battle. John Campbell, a native of that
place, in fact the first person born there became involved in a quarrel with
John Little. Both were armed with knives. In the contest Campbell fell down or was
knocked down, Little, falling on top of him.
They both aimed savage blows with their knives at each other, Campbell
being slashed in the left arm with the knife while Little received a blow in
the heart from the knife in Campbell’s hands which caused his death in a few
moments thereafter. Campbell was at once arrested and jailed. After a few months the trial of the case was
had. The state was represented by Benjamin Harrison, now President of the
United States and Hon. RBF Pierce, the defense by Senator Voorhees and Hon. MD
White. It was a long and exciting legal battle. All the facts possible in the
case, both for and against the defendant were brought out. The speeches on both
sides were distinguished for their logic, research and eloquence – in fact aside
from the Owens case of 15 years before a stronger legal fight has not been
known in the annals of the county. It resulted in the conviction of Campbell
and sentence for time to the Northern prison. He was taken north in March 1873
and has been a prisoner ever since until yesterday when the joyful information
was furnished him that he was a free man and could again return to the well
remembered but long absent friends and scenes of old Montgomery. Efforts were made during the official term of
Gov. Williams to secure his pardon or parole but ineffectually, also during the
time Porter and Gray occupied the gubernatorial chair but they did not good.
The friends of Little were as prompt in counteracting the petitions sent to the
Governors for his release and his friends almost despaired of ever seeing him a
free man. A sister, Miss Edna Campbell, a teacher at Shannondale has worked
heroically month after month, year after year, to secure the freedom of her
brother. And who could help tender her the warmest congratulations in the
success that has at last crowned her efforts. Dr. Irwin Mike White and two or
three other gentlemen have continually for years past worked in the direction
of a pardon for Campbell. Gov. Chase has
given the matter much attention and finally concluded to issue a parole, not a
pardon to Campbell. So long as he
conducts himself properly as a citizen he is a free man but a violation of this
agreement subjects him to reincarceration.< Campbell is now about 52 years
of age and is a premature old man. He is small in statue, does not weight over
120 or 130 pounds, and has for some years acted as a cook at the prison. His
father and mother and two sons live in Ripley Twp. A married sister, Mrs. Geo.
Ammerman lives in Crawfordsville. Campbell’s wife after residing here and at
Lafayette for a few years moved to California and remarried. Campbell, we
understand, arrived here yesterday on the Monon.