Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-19
GENIUS IN JAIL.
A Grandson Of Poet Campbell In
the Parkersburg Jail,
Charged With Chicken Stealing---A Won
. derfuI Romance---Again Fact Com
pIstelY Gets Away With
Fiction.


Fiction.
A singular romance has transpired at
Parkersburg. The graduate Of European
universities, an accomplished physician, Q
brave soldier, and above all, the grandson
Of the author of "Hohenlinden," the poet
Thomas Campbell. The Journal says
On the 25th day of November, q man and
his wife we're arrested for stealing chickens
from the poultry yard of Mrs Bennett Cook.
They had preliminary hearing before
Squire Davis, and were sent to Jail. Dur
ing the time he has been confined in Jail 1t
has been remarked that he was man OF no
ordinary attachments, in fact, that ne was
once cultured gentleman. On several &C.
casions he has written letters, couched in the
choicest language to parties in the city, and
one of them found its way into the columns
of this paper. Campbell wrote letter to
| Chief of Police Mehen few days since,
giving detailed history of his life. A re-
porter CHANGED to see it, interviewed Camp
bell, and the result is given below:
ri am a grandson Of the poet, Thomas
| Campbell, of Scotland. was born in
Edinburgh and came to this country when
only four years of age. Was raised near
Morgantown, Va, and served four years IN
the Union army during the late war. L
now draw a pension on FIVE separate gun
shot wounds received in battle. l was a
member of the One Hundred and Thirty
third Pennsylvania Infantry, Col. Collyer,
commanding.
after the war went to Europe, and in
1870 graduated at the University Of Paris.
l then studied the profession of medicine at
the University of Berlin, Germany, where l
received the degree and diploma of Doctor
of Medicine in 1872. l returned to Ameri-
ca and in 1872 began the study OF medi-
cine in Ohio. i am general practitioner
but also a specialist in certain diseases.
| Nv practice was successful, and / found
myself possessed of $1,000, over all ex-
penses." :, -.
The story goes on to say that with this
money he bought stock of drugs, IN Gin
cinnati, but they were carried off by the
food and he was left penniless. After
working as a farm hand until September,
he drew his pension and rented house in
Fayette county. Pa, which was destroyed
by fire. He then got foati boat. and
started down the river, buying rags at
various towns. At Steubenville his little
girl was burned to death. He passed by
Wheeling and on down to Petersburg.
He then told the reporter how he was
| Joined by a covered boat from Marietta.
he and the proprietor of the other boat
became acquainted and drank together
so frequently that they became intoxicated.
Campbell and his wife sold eighteen of
their chickens. The next morning Camp
bell and his friend, again drinking heavily,
started for town in q skif, crossing near
Mrs. Cooks house. The stranger in
throwing the chickens aroundl in the BOAT
let some Of them escape, but stated that ne
could easily replace them, which ne did
from the stock of Mrs. Cook, where he said
his brother lived.
Campbell was found lying down suffering
from a gunshot wound in the abdomen, re-
ceived, as he stated to the reporter, ct the
battle of the Wilderness. He is nnely
formed man, of medium height, with wavy
brown hair burnside whlskers, fine features,
a high intellectual forehead, and he talks
with polished ease, giving data with an as
surance apparently born Of ease. de en-
tered readily into conversation and gave his
history without hesitation. As he spoke OF
the fate of his little daughter, and again
of the depths of misery to which
he was reduced, his voice trembled and
tears stood ia his eyes.
Mrs. Campbell is a plain woman with
nothing to soy. Suffering and hardship
seem to have destroyed what little spirit
she ever had. Her husband informed the
reporter that her maiden name was Thomp-
sen Her father was captain in the Sixty,
third Pennsylvania Infantry and was killed
at the battle of the Wilderness. For twenty
vea1s she was a member of Smithfield Street
Church, in Pittsburg and the family is well
known there.
Campbell admits that circumstantial
evidence is against him, but emphatically
denies his guilt, and seems hopeful of an
early release. He intends should he be re-
leased, to remain in Parkersburg and on
his pension money 90 into business in a
small way until he has established himself
in the confidence of the people, after which
he will return to the town in Ohio where he
formerly resided and resume his practice.
Such is the romantic story OF man who
boasts of famous ancestry, Of brave deeds
OH the field of battle in defense of his coun-
try of all the learning and culture which a
Continental education can bestow, Of one OF
the noblest OF all the learned professions.
Well has it been written truth is stranger
than fiction"