The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-06-11
HOW HE GOT IN JAIL,
A Playwright's Adventure-The
Result Of a Strong Dialogue.
How hartley Campbell Got Locked
UP for Contempt of Court-'sIn-
IUdiCIOus EditIng'' and "In-
appropriate HemarISs.D

One evening last week I met Bartley Camp
bell, author Of the cJmedy-drama "separa-
tion,' now running at the Union Square
theatre, and congratulated him on the sue
cess Of his play after two or three managers
had rejected it.
81 have now i'm hand something Of a more
robust type" he said; ga strong drama Of
domestic life, tropical passion and death.
The scenes are laid i'm Havana and Mexico,
[ got the chief dramatic situation from one
Of the 'sunbeams' Of The Suu--a paragraph
Of about ten lines"
Campbell is a tall, lean and bony blonde,
with a neck so long that his intimate ac-
quaintances call him "the giraffe" He is Of
Irish parentaga, and so is a dramatist by
heredity Hishmen have held a large place
in English play writing; Congrove Farqua-
har, Sheridan Sheridan Knowles, O'Keefe,
John Ranim, Goldsmith, Tobin Lawler,
Shiels, Balfe Sullivan to say nothing Of
John Brougham, Boucicault and Augustiu
Daily Without the hot-blooded and ingeu-
ious Celts where would tho English drama
be
"Why didn't you stick to journalism
asked him.
II could make more money in play writ
ing; then don't really think had a genius
for editing newspapers. Don't sou renem-
Der what a splendid and rank variety Of
fool l was down in Pennsylvania" L
laughed in response to his laugh, and ac-
Imowledged that I did remember it. 1 re-
memember that the discipline Of the reform
atory institutions Of the Key Stone state
helped to transform Campbell from a boy
into a man, And 1 don't believe he will
care if tell the story; he has long since
outgrown any harm it could do him:
When BARLEY Campbell was young edi-
tor in a village of western Pennsylvania he
seemed to imagine that the town belonged
TO him, and that the people lived there be-
cause Of his kind permission. He would
complacently pat one man on the back and
go for another with his little tomahawlz.
He had several rows as all young men do
have who begin that way, and in eight
months he had four suits for libel on his
hands. He thought this was great fun; it
would give him certain sort of fame and
no trouble.
One Of these suits was brought in Phila-
delphia, and one Of young CampbelIs ac-
quaintances, DR.. Mackenzie, believe, gave
bail for his appearance. So he had to
humor the judge and jury by going. Accom-
panied by three or four cronies, he went up
to the big city to spend a couple Of days and
have a good time. When they arrived at
the hotel, Bartley said to the Others "WoI,
boys, you've each got your own business to
attend to, and have got to go down to the
court house and put that case Of mine
through, and we will all meet here at five
o'clock, and dine and spend the evening to-
gother." So it was agreed.
When Barley got to court he was amazed
to find a good deal Of serious interest taken
in the case. There was an inclination to
blame him which he strongly resented. He
had merely written sharply and wittily
for the purpose Of holding a citizen up to de
rision and contempt. A gentleman who was
present told me afterwards Of the scene.
When the lawyer for the prosecution spoke
and alluded to the young defendant as "a.
VIPER" a "hyena,n "an nsidious destroyer
Of good name, - Campbell cried out "You're
liar and you don't dare to come outside
and tell me thatln His lawyer tried vainly
To keep him still, and finally gave up the
case. The jury brought in a speedy verdict
Of guilty, and the judge rose to sentence
him.
He interrupted the judge repeatedly, and
when that functionary reprima ded him
and told him it was cowardIy to attack a
defenseless citizen behind the shield of a
newspaper, Campbell cried "Shut upl How
dare you use such language to me! You are
an old poltroon yourself to attack a defense
less prisoner from behind the shield of the
benchm
Young man, you are incoTrigiblel" said
the outraged judge, whose patience had at
last vanished. "You are hereby sentenced
keep stilIl-to pay fve-how dare youl-
five hundred dollars and be confined i'm
Moyamensing prison for four months"
BARLEY was confOunded at the Judges
audacity He took his measure, and was
just considering whether he had better climb
up on the bench and punch his head when a
quiet, gentlemanly looking man touched him
on the shoulder and mmmured, 'T would
like TO speak to you a moment if you will
kindly step this way"
I IrecOllect hearing Campbell tell the rest
% it himself while a smile Of genuine
humor crept around the corners Of his
mouth.
oI have never thought that I really had
the universe by the tail since that day.
When that chap whispered that he wanted
10 speak to me thought i5 was the cover.
nor or the president Of tho United States
come to save me from my prosecutors. 1t
wasn't. 1t was tho deputy sheriff. I went
to the door with him as if he had been an
old friend, and then 1 saw that a friend of
his had kindly brought my overcoat, hat
and umbrella, And he had a pair of hand
cuffs dangling to one Of .his fingers. Out
side the door was long black wagon filled
with hard looking cases peeking through
the Stats, like sheep going b3 market. Il wont
ride there L said 20, yes, / guess you will,
remarked the quiet man. you SEQ there'
room enough slipped q S. bin into hi
hand and told him to get a carriage. H,
did. When we got to Moy,lmensing 1 didn't
want to go in a cell, but the keeper said
had better, Just for Uniformity he added
So I yielded the point l was the only thin
In it when they shut the door, There wasn'