Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-23
MkLASoHoLy. .Su1cIDE.-Our city was

thrown into . state Of intense excitement OF
Saturday last. BY report that r z CAnPsn1
ESQ. the we'll known banker, had committed
suicide BY shooting himself. Upon repsirins
to the Office Of the dsesassd. ~ found that th,
report vas too true, and the grey haired olt
man lay stretched upon lounge lifelsss, bu
looking - calm - if slseping-he must hav,
died without . struggle.
Various reasons have been assigned fer hi
committing the rash sst. many Of them without
the slightest foundation Of truth, and Others
partially correct. Hr. Campbell vas borr
and brought up in Ohio. His early years wer.
spent on . farm. where be labored for eieh,
dollars per month. After getting . start in
the world. he moved to Ravens, Ohio, wher.
for nearly eighteen years he carried on ths
Matchmaking and jevslry business. He cam.
west some four years since and opened Bank
ing House in this city where be has remained
up to the time ef his untimely death.
Mr.. Campbell vas . very proud mau-when
We say proud. We mean of bis commercial and
financial reputation, and be has often said ths,
sooner than he would live to see his name dis.
honorsd, be would commit suicide. There has
been q great deal Of trouble experienced in
settling up the affairs of Nichols. Isbell 4
Co., and Nichols, Campbell 4 Co., Bankers. st
one time doing business in this city. Mr..
Campbe had become involved, and made Tia.
bls for money which he thought it vas unjust
for him to pay. This had preyed upon his
mind to such . degree that he had become
partially deranged. Sheriff Thorington enter
ed the Bank on Saturday last, with an exc
cutior Of 81 600, obtained against the above
parties, Mr. Campbell being one. Mr.. Can p.
bell pail it. and Mr. Thorington came behind
the counter to look over the money, and
write a receipt While counting over the
1000. Mr.. Thorington thought he not eed
wild and strdnge in Mr.. Csmpbelrs
appearance, and determined to keep An eye
upon him, but while his attention was drawn
off for moment. Mr. Campbell stepped behind
the vault. and applying colts revolver to the
back OF his head. fred the fatal shot. He sank
back upon . lounge, and expired without .
word or groan.
Mr.. Campbell was one Of the most honorab BILE
and upright men We have ever known. But a
ew dsys since, he told = we'll known citizen,
hat he would not consent to live single
lay if he thought he could not pay his
lebts as fast - they became due-thst he
could not look man in the face If he owed
,im q cent. and could not pay it when called
,pon. The testimony given before the Cor
'ner's jury shows that Mr.. Campbell was evi-
lsntly laboring under partial arrangement, and
t was probably this that led him to commit
he unfortunate and fatal set. Mr.. c. leaves 1
wife and two sons. youlg men grown, ore of
hem living In this city and the other in Tex
Is. We append the testimony and the jury's
7erdict
JAMES rHoRINGroN, sHxRIFF, SWORN.
l called on the deceased, R. E. Campbell, at his
Banking Office ON Main street in this city, this
morning. April 2lst, 1860, at about IL O'Clock, to
zee him in reference to settling the balance due
IN an execution in my hands as Sheriff, in favor
Il John Vanderslice vs.. Nickolls 4 Co., he being
me of the defendants; when entered the Office,
10 other person was In the room but the deceased,
lis son, Augustus Campbell and myself; went
'ehind the desk and the deceased closed the door,
hat leads behind the desk was then ex-
'luded from view, to any one that might be trans
cting business in the front part OF the Office the
deceased was aware OF the object Of my visit
lad on the 23d Of March last, fixed the goth of
inst Hkai iay,. -E &ln.v -
lin on the execution | informed him the time
lad elapsed-'possibly," he remarked, $50 soon !"
lie exhibited unus0al excitement, but not o that;
xtent that made me other than observing
neither believed he wouli do violence to him
elf or any one else, though previously he had
made some very harsh, threatening remarks ~ to
What he would do toward himself rather than to
uffsr financial dishouor; had great confidence in
he deceased Is to his rectude and believed he
possessed too much confidence in his ability to
meet pecuniary difficulties to lead him to commit
uicide Was with him thus probably An hour,
lis son passing around where sat and at times
n one part Of the room and than another; dsce-
'sed inquired of me the amount due; informed
lin the balance was $l005; heremarked that this
sould not trouble him so much, if it was the end
& it; he paid me the amount for which l wrote
Jim receipt, he took up the receipt and placed it
.vay: enquired Of him If he had counted the
mount correctly and knew that it was right /; he
insisted upon my counting it; proceeded to do
o the small bills that we're on Top, delayed me,
md he stood at my left when dssisted, or rather
vas disposed to observe him when he crossed the
com and took his position 90 ~ to place the
trong box, or safe between himself and son !;
vas sitting SO that could see him by locking up
t any time: ] resumed the counting, when on
he third hundred dollars heard the explosion Of
pistol, sat facing where the deceased stood;
a looking up saw he had shot himself Colts
II in vi0Af han Sko
nuxxle was pointing upward from his right ear,
nd the relaxed appearance Of the arm, and the
linking Of the whole system, together with the
moke near the mussle and head, satisfied me
hat he had made fatal shot; NO eroan or ex-
ression Of pain or agIny escaped him afteTward
uicide deceased conduct was strange in his fire.
uent visits to the door that led to the opening un
er the stairs, with similar door that led to the
ana opening from the room sG the State Bank,
e closed the door several times and aone it very
autioa.ly that led into the State Bank room and
vould close the door from his own room and Dc 20
autiously. and appeared to act - if something
night be in the closet, that be wished kept to
imself, or that psssons in the adjoining Banking
Dom might not hear, this latter opsnion was up-
ermost in ny mind; his department Vas such
hat thought there was > possibility Of his doing
ONE. act, which seemed to distress him very
,uch had no fear Of him, for then - before,
egarded him scrupalsasly exact and upright he
poke Of his efforts TO get IN adjustmeut Of his
abilities with Isbell Co., who had created
be liability for which he was to sufEsr he said
. had write them and took from his side pock- |
An envelope - il to read it, bat replaced it !;
avoided conversation with him, il wss Painful |
, conduct it, it distressed hin was Of the
pinion it was but to say little the subject and
lat he would become sooner quietsd, yet he
,owsd no symptoms Of passion or temper I have |
o doubt he prsmeditatsd the aet and his insist |
e upon my counting the money, vas, that my |
res might be withdraw from him He either |
I'd the pistol in the closet or took it from his |
srson, when he went il 70 shut the door hi. left
de was partly toward M when he fred tank |
vas for the purpose Of keeping the pistol from |
y view; am mot aware Of knowing anything |