The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-29
THE GREENsBURG MURDER.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.


SHOOTING OF JOHN A. CAMPBELL BY BEN
RUBLE-AN AFFRAY AT a HOUSE OF ILL
REPUTE-TEsTIMONY IN THE CASE-MOLLIE
AND BEN RUBLE BOUND OVER FOR MAN
LAUGHTER-D EsCRIPTIoN OF THE PAR
TIES.
A special to the Cincinnati Gazette, dated
Greensburg, the 23d, says: A shocking trag
edy occurred in this city last night, which
involved the life of one John 4. Campbell, 2
fireman on the pay train OF the l., c. & l..
Railroad Company. The train reached this
city in the evening and laid over till morn
ing. About IL O'Clock last night the engi-
Deer of the train, Lewis Anderson, his fire.
man, John A. Campbell, and William CLARK,
his brakeman, and party residing here by
the name of Roszeli, started out on a bum
ming expedition. After filling themselves
with beer the party proceeded to the house
of Mrs. Rebecca Ruble, a house OF i'll repute.
Here they knocked at the door and woke up
the inmates, but were refused admittance.
g daughter OF Mrs. Ruble, and a son,
seventeen years old, got up and went to the
door, and, after some parleying, the party
were ordered away swearing and INDUCING
in anything bat becoming Language. From
here they proceeded TO. another establish
ment, and were, as at Ruble's refused adj
mittance. The party started back, and, as
they came in front of Mr.. Ruble's, saw the
daughter and son sitting in the door, and
they halted, and Campbell turned into the
gate and proceeded two or three steps to-
ward the door. Miss Ruble ordered him
back and fired shot from pistol, but it
did not take effect. Then the party threw q
few stones at the house, some of them lodg-
ing inside the house. The son, when the
throwing began, fired at the crowd with
shot gun, and hit and instantly killed Camp
bell, and the balance of the party fled. Short
" aiterward MOllie and Ben amin Ruble,
who did the shooting, were arrested and
lodged in Jail. A letter of the same
date to the Cincinnati Enquirer,
gives the following account OF the
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION.
William Clark, railroad man living in
Cincinnati. testified: Know John a. Camp
bell saw him last last night lying down in
the road near gate in the southern part of
the town. Campbell came to town last night
on the pay train; Anderson, Campbell and
myself came TO town together, and with Jas.
Russell went to Rubles; Campbell and L
went in the yard; Campbell asked the
girl to go in the house, but she re-
fused; we then went of To place on
the hill; after q while Campbell and l re-
turned TO Ruble's; he went in the yard; stood
off; some one shot; Campbell then started
to leave, and opened the gate, when they
shot again, hitting him; this about
twelve O'Clock; there seemed to be man
and woman; they told Campbell twice to
leave; don't know whet Campbell said; / Was
Just outside the gate, and Campbell inside
at the first shot; was in the road and
Campbell just outside at the second shot;
there were no stones thrown at the house
until after the firing was done; Campbell
was stranger here; don't know whether be
knew the Rubles or not; 1 suppose Camp
bell said something, but don't know what it
was: don't know that Campbell was armed;
he didn't say anything about being armed;
the first time we went Campbell
knocked on the door; woman opened it
and told him TO go away; Campbell stepped
Ia the door; the woman pushed him out and
shut the door; don't recollect any talk or
threats by Campbell; when we returned
Campbell went ahead; they ordered him out
three or four times, telling him to stay away
and 60 out or he would get hurt; then they
fired a shot; following that / threw one
stone out; think one or two more were
thrown. Mrs. Corwin-Live whear Mrs.
Ruble lives; saw Campbell alter he was
killed; think l saw him alive last night,
between II and l o'clock; he and another
came to my door and knocked;
REFUSED TO OPEN;
| the one with the cap talked insulting; they
started of, one taking a chair from the
porch; called them to bring the chair back; ;
| man, Anderson, railroad man, brought it
back; a man with a cap p as with him ;wben
| the men returned to the street they started
| toward Mrs. Ruble's and two stood in the
street; I heard no talking, but heard shot
| just as they reached Mrs. Rube's gate; after
| the shot heard rocks thrown; almost I'M
medistely a second shot was fired; saw the
| fash of both: they were fired from the
| house;'I went Immediately to Mrs. Ruble's
the back way; saw Geo. McKraner iusteom-
ing out OF Lhe door; met Mrs. Rubie st
the kitchen door, who said they have been
rocked; started to so home, when Mollie
4 Ra1hi ~ Soid w
a man shot or killed at the gate. She said
| she fired the revolver and her brother the
/ shotgun. She aimed at the one with the
cap on. All that saw in the house were
Mrs. Ruble Mollie, Sallie and Ben. went
and looked at the dead maIir think Ben
had the gun in his hand. The dead man
was lying with his feet TO the gate and
L ahaut txua stans from IL his haad To tho