Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-26
AFTER FIVE YEARS.
Farmer C~ampbeIrs Murder by John c.
Fare---The Latter's Arrest and
Esuape---His R~eoapture
and Prospective
Punishment.

A man named John O. Fare passed
through this city yesterday, in the custody
Of Sheriff John B. Haskins, of Mississippi
county, Ark on his way to Jail at Osce-
ola, to await trial for killing an inotiensive
and worthy old farmer named Campbell,
about five years ago.
II CIRCUMSTANCES,
as related by persons familiar with the
murder, show it to have been both unpro-
yoked and cold-blooded. A thread of ro-
nance also attaches, which renders the
story a rather interesting one. John Fare
and a brother of his named Joshua moved
from the Madrid Bend country, where
they were raised and where they had
mixed in numerous broils in their early
years, to the vicinity of Chickasawba or
F~renchman's bayou, in Mississippi
county. They were a rather hard pair,
frequented cross roads groggeries, and were
quarrelsome fellows when filed up with
bsd whisky, which was often. One of the
WORTHLESS abused a daughter of Mr.. Camp
bells, and it is limited that the cause Of the
abuse was non other than that she de-
clined to favor him as a sutton. Mr..
Campbell gave expression to unpleasant
remarks concerning the matter, which
was retailed to the Fares.
HUNTING FOR GAME.
While out in the swamps on a squirrel
hunt the brothers called at Campbelrs
house and accused him of talking about
them. High words followed and the
Fares ~endeavored to enter Campbelrs
house, the latter obstructing their passage
through the door. While doing this he
was shot down with a rifle bullet, falling
dead across his own threshold in presence
of his aged wife and children. The frail
old widow has since left the ~neighborhood
with her family and moved over the St.
Francis, on Crowley's ridge, where she
now resides.
The Fares were both arrested shortly
after the killing and incarcerated in the
Osceola Jail, where Joshua died soon after.
John managed to break Jail, was pursued
by a posse and shot, as was supposed dan
gerouslyi also shooting in return though
not dangerously, n of the citizens who
aided in his capture. As he lay wounded
under surveillance he managed to escape,
not being as badly crippled as had been
supposed, and ever since, until his recent
capture, he has eluded pursuit, though
officers have constantly been in search.
FARE LEFT THE COUNTRY
after his escapade with the possee and
went on a tour of wanderings in search of
places where murderers are more welcome
than they are in the Frenchman's bayou
country. He strolled through Texas and
Louisiana, tarrying a while in each State,
and finally located near Purdy in Nc
Marry county, Tenn, aregion where many
of his sort have found a haven. After
settling in McNairy his old mother en-
igrated from her early abode and went to
live with him. His wife, left in Mississippi
county, subsequently obtained a divorce
and remarked.
DECOY LETTERS
finally brought Fare to grief and arrest.
They were sent to numerous points direct
ed to his relatives and friends. At last
the officers, after five long years of labor,
struck the right trail and found his exact
location. A requisition was obtained, a
warrant issued and Fare was captured on a
charge Of carrying concealed weapons
while out in a field gathering cotton. As he
moved with shackled hands about the
cabin Of the steamer Calf last night, on
which vessel he took passage for Oceola,
the murderer attracted the attention of
visitors and passengers by his rough and
uninviting exterior. He appears to be a
man full forty years of age, and is not a
person any wayfarer would care to tackle
in a retired place.
1t is said that during the Interstate war
Fare and a number Of his kind played
fast and loose, carrying water on both
shoulders, as it were, now serving as a
rebel and again as a federal, as occasions
were presented, to commit d~epredations
under the twofags. Thetestimony against
Fare for the murder Of old Mr.. Campbell
is said 10 be conclusive, and the indications
are that he will not again find opportunity
to elude the majesty Of the law. Fare, it
is believed, will attemptthe insanity dodge
to escape the hangman's rope. He stated
last night beforehis arrest in McNairy that
his mother had a dream in which the ex-
act manner Of his capture was depicted.
This dream, when told, rendered him quite
uneasy and he had a presentbnent that
officers were on his track.