The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-20
THE RAMAGE TRAGEDY
CAMPBELL IN JAIL AT BELIAmE

To AWalt a Hearing Before Mayor W, IL.
Brown On the Charge of Murdor-Fullcr
Particulars Of the FIendish Crime, IfIt
was u Crlme-Was Dynamite Used?
The shocking death at the Union Coal
on Sunday morning Of Robert
Bruce Ramage, a brother OF the Lessee Of
the mines, was the leading theme Of con-
ysrsation everywhere yesterday, The
Union Coal Works ia owned by Dr., John
Frisaell, OF Wheeling, and ], W., Gallaher
and Charles Thompson, Of Mouudsvllle,
but has for some time been operated under
a lease held by ], d, Rsmage, brother OF
the murdered man, The change in the
office as manager, by which Henry Camp
bell, the alleged murderer, was displac'
ed, angercd the outgoing official terribly,
his passion being directed toward the new
manager, and he and his wife we're irs'
quently heard to make threats against the
lie of Bruce Rsmsge, the woman being
said by some to bs the more violent OF the
two, Mrs. Campbell thought she had u
special cause OF quarrel with Bruce, he
having by instructions from his brother
refused her credit at the store. 1t Ia now
said that in the store were kept eleven
kegs Of blasting powder, to be used in the
mine, and two barrels Of oil, one for the
miners lamps and the other for petroleum
Tor Lighting purposes. 1t is believed that
the second and third explosions were
caused by those substances catching, and
possibly the store was only set on fire, and
the three explosions were caused by the
ignition OF the explosives in thestore. The
fire communicated to u stable on the
Thompson estate, which was also entirely
destroyed.
Ralnage was only 81 years old, and his
family are in good circumstances, living
on a fine farm neal West Alexander, which
he owned, He was to have gone home to
500 Lis vile and children Sunday. In
stead Of that his blaCkeued and unreCog'
nizable remains were brought home yes
terday, He will be buried today.
CAMPBELL BROUGHT TO BELLAIRE,
Before the injured man died he told his
brother Joseph that he had seen Henry
Campbell standing about n hundred
yards from the store after the flames burst
out. CirCumstantlal evidence OF Camp.
bells gnilt aCcumulates, and 1t Ia believed
direct testimony will be forthcoming,
Campbell was brought to BsllaIre yes.
terday morning on a boat, in charge oil
Special Constable Henry Day, He was
lodged in the lookup at Bellaire to await
u preliminary examination before Mayor
Brown, which will take place at | O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon.
A reporter called on Campbell before he
left the coal works, and asked II he was a
native Of Ohio. He replied:
"No, | am q West Vlginian by birth,
but have been living in Ohio for SOME
time"
"How long have you been in partner.
ship with Mr.. Ramagep"
"AbOut two years aud q half"
"When did you dissolve partnership
"Our partnership was never dissolved"
During tho interview Mrs. Campbell
took a seat on the side Of tho bed and
seemed very eager to help at every point,
In answer 10 a question as 10 whether he
visited the other works operated by Ram
age aud himself, Campbell replied that he
dld-that he had business III st. Glars.
vile and came back that way. His vile
quickly interrupted with, "Why, you
vent there first"
"How about the threats which they say
you made?h Baidthe.sCribe.
"0h, well, may have made them when
| was in a pats.on, and suppose l did,"
he replied. III know 1t Is wrong, and a
man ought not to do 1t.
"rhat was against Joe Ramage. had
nothing against Bruce and didn't know
him very well he hadn't been here long"
-%c1NlPDELL's TORY.
In regard to Saturday night, the story
as told by Campbell and his wife ia as fol-
lows:
In the evening Campbell went over to
"Peel" Campbell's to get some fiSh.
Campbell said it was between ten and
eleven o'clock, but his vile did not think
1t was 30 late. Coming back, he sat on
the porch and talked with an old ''cloCk
tinker named Smith, who was staying all
night with them. Alter they retired Mrs.
Campbell said she was up several times to
quietthO children, who were frightened at.
the thunder, About half-past two o'clock
their son came rushing into the room and
said the store was on fire. She went TO
the window and cried, "My Godl II Ia
true!" Campbell and the old man Smith
hurriedly dressed, but she would not let
Campbell have his boots, for 1t was rain.
ing, and as he was not we'll she did not
want him to 20 out. Campbell then told
Smith TO 60 and tell them to try and save
the other property. Smith went, but the
fire was 80 hot he could not get past 1t,
and came back.
when you went to 'Peel's' Is when
Ramage'an Fowler saw you, WAS it2"
"rhat was all the time they could have
seen me- It was all the time | was out.
That was three hours before the FIRE. l
don't see how they could blame me with
It. l didn't know any mi slept In the
store. The last time ! was In there was
no bed there. 1t wouldn't be likely l
would destroy my own property. ! own
half the store. l have S 1900 interest In
the works, and my wife has q suit In court
now against Joe Ramage for $500"
1t Is said that Campbell has repeatedly
made demonstrations, as well as threats,
against the Ramages, and that after Bruce
refused to give his wife goods on credit
she remarked that II her husband knew
how Bruce kamSge had insulted her he
would blow the store sky high"