Calaveras chronicle., 1852-01-03
Correspondence.

THE TRIAL OF JAMES CAMPBELL.-JHr.
Editor-I crave portion Of your columns
for the purpose of personal vindica tien,
and desire, ut the same time to give q true
history of certain events that have lately
very much occupied the public mind in the
neighborhood Of Mokelumne Hill.
[Mr. G. Campbell here gives clear and
succint account of the tragedy, and de-
scribes the proceedings of the trial with
great minuteness, differing in no particular
from what appeared in our last. We are
sorry our limits prevent US giving this
weIl-written letter at length. Mr.. G. H.
Campbell was elected judge, and his duties
prescribed, namely, to see the case t1'Tty
tried. He thus continues j
During the whole Of these proceedings
great excitement was manifested by the
audieaee, and twice a considerable move
ment was made toward the prisoner. Each
time, endeavored to persuade the crowd
to keep back. and do whatever was to be
done in an orderly manner; and once de-
clared (holding pencil, and not pistol, as
has been reported) that the prisoner should
not be taken from the stand except by the
committee elected TO have custody Of him,
while lived.
do not wish to go behind the verdict of
the jury to inquire whether the prisoner
was guilty Of murder or not; but wish
to vindicate myself from certain charges,
which, since the day of trial, have passed
from mouth to mouth in the community.
1st. That being relative Of the prisoner,
was biased in his favor.
II onc~rou dooloro khok Lun- of NO
relationship existing between US, and do
not know that l ever saw James Campbell
before the day Of trial.
ID. That l was bribed to show him favor
have only to say in reply, that if any
one innocently thinks have received q
bribe from anywhere, he is quite in error !;
and if any enc make such an assertion,
usIgu0lifedly pronounce him liar.
| 3D. That feared should offend the
gamblers if took course that would en-
sure the execution Of the prisoner
do not, Mr.. Editor, boast of any very
great degree of bravery, but if any one de-
sire it, let him produce the occasion for the
test, and "we shall see what we shall see. !"
So far from having any particular fear of
gamblers, as o class. have never known
them to act more bravely than other people,
and as I have not risked dollar upon any
game during the last ten years, am sure I
shall not be suspected of any sympathy for
their profession.
The truth is that when the jury that had
convicted Campbell, were seen coming to-
wards the Empire, his friends at once rush
ed into the room. They demanded the ver-
dict, and do not know what an impartial
man could have done except to read it. Mo-
tions, duly seconded, followed the reading
of the verdict, and / have never before
heard that it was unfair for the presiding
officer Of meeting to put questions so
brought up. l did feel it my duty to use
nv influence in protecting, as much as pos
sible, the prisoner from the hands of any
set Of men that might attempt to force him
from the room, for whatever purpose, until
he should have been delivered over to
the hands Of the committee elected to take
charge Of him, and therefore acted as did
in that matter.
Some persons have inquired why we did
not, as judges, sentence the prisoner to suf-
fer death, after the jury had pronounced
him guilty Of murder. | can only say in
reply that we were not elected to pronounce
sentence, and if we had been, there was a
large majority Of persons in the room at
the time opposed to his execution, as their
vote to deliver him over to the civil autho-
rites shows. So far as observed, the au-
dience generally were pretty well armed,
and such course would doubtless have
resulted in general fight, in which the
chances were that the prisoner would have
been rescued, and much innocent blood
spilled, for no good purpose
In conclusion, deny that I acted with
any prejudice in the matter, and further
more, am still of opinion that under simi-
lar circumstances, should again do as did
then. 1t was not my business to refuse to
read the verdict Of the jury when it was
called for; and aside from the unfairness
of such refusal, have no doubt it would
have resulted in the rescue Of the prisoner,
and probably bloodshed Pronouncing of
q sentence Of death would probably have
had similar result
l have, Mr.. Editor, been present at se-
veral similar meetings since first arrived
in California, and have invariably found
that the gamblers exercise perseverance,
when one of their number is in danger,
worthy of q better calling, while it has
formerly been almost invariably the case
that other classes Of the community ne
glect to carry out those wholesome regula-
tlons that would ensure good order. I am
happy to know, however, that Vigilance
Committee has been organized that will
probably act energetically and efficiently !;
and they have adopted such regulations as
will ensure the execution of any person
whom jury shall say is guilty of murder
By publishing the above, you will doubt
less correct some false impressions rife in
the community. GEO. II. CAMPBELL.