The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-10-25
GUILTY AS INDICTED.


Young lovers feet shot through the head
by the accidental discharge of a revolver
in the hands Of Vebster IT, Campbell, with
whom she had been keeping company for
some months and between whom existed a
strong regard for each other. A recent
grand jury indicted young Campbell for
involuntary manslaughter and he was tried
and convicted on this charge in our courts
last week-the trial lasting less than two
days.
The case was called last Friday after
noon Campbell pleading not guilty lie
was represented by Attorneys Craig and
Loose. District Attorney Fisher was as
sisted in the prosecution by Messrs. Frey
man Il Heydt. out Of twenty three Jurors,
the following twelve good men and true
were chosen to pass judgment:
Andrew Weiss. laborer, Franklin,
Herman Bartes, foreman, Mauch Chunk
Abraham Henry, farmer, Franklin
Henry Bacon, miner, Lansiord.
Samuel T.. pealer, policeman, Lansiord
Harrison Bauer, gentleman Lehlghton.
Jerry Weller, operator, = ist Mauch Chunk
William Siliman, teacher, Mlllron
G. r. Leonard, painter, Lansford.
Chas. II. Weeks, machinist, Wcalnerly,
j, w. Steigertalt teacher, East Penn
Joseph Koch, aborer- Penn Forest
Following the swearing in of the Jurors
District Attorney Fisher briefly presented
the case-telling the jury how, when and
where Gertie Hislkey was found lying cold
in death with a bullet in her brain, and
that the commonwealth were prepared to
prove that Campbell was the cause of her
death. He defined involuntary man
slaughter as a case "where death results
unintentionally, so far as the defendant is
concerned" Tn first witness called was
FraRz Mackl:
Franz Mackl, sworn live at NIauch Chunk
am "a civil engineer; know where Mrs. sonnet
lives in Lehighton, made a draft OF the INSIDE
of her house; the house is on the corner OF Ie-
high and Coal streets; the draft shows the posi-
tion of the entrance, kitchen, bed room, win
dows, table, chairs, rocking chair, etc. they oc-
cupied at the occurrance as pointed out to me
by Mrs. Sonnet and her daughter: also the place
in the room where the body lay The map or
draft was then explained to the members of the
jury by,witness.
Layina Sonnet, sworn Live az Lehighton, Car
bon county; know Webster H. Campbell: he
came to my house on the 2Oth of March last, mt
half past p. M. when lie came to the door he
knocked; Corneda Went to the door: she asked
him to come I'M but he asked her to come out
and they stood outside the door aud talked fully
an hour; by and by Mary, her half sister, went
to Prayer meeting; | got out some books and
passed the evening at readings at half past
eight O'Clock they came i'm; he sat at the dOol
and COrneda sat on rocking chair; there was
some talk and the conversation was about the
man who was buried that day--Hauks baker
he talked about gold watch and said he bought
one that day; he showed it to Curneda and She
showed it to me- she handed 1t back TO him ant
sat down on "A chair; the talk continued theI
and was about Corneda'S breast pin: Mary cam,
home and after doing little work she starte,
to go to her he'd room; I followed her to tn,
same room; looked at the clock; it was ethe
five minutes to eleven or five minutes pas
eleven; the last thing that Corneda said to Mar
was that she would pay what she owed to tn
Church society at the next meeting; this wa
just before Mary left the room and they wer
the last words she ever spoke to her sister,
At this junction Mrs. sonnet tainted and cour
adjourned unul Saturday morning On conyer
ing Mrs. Sonnet continued
When | went into the bed room Campbell sa
on the chair and she was sitting on his lapi III
light was burning bright; heard them both &c
up from the chair and walk across the Idtche
to the corner where the high ana low chat
Iatn Il. ,ssI,. aI..
cloths ON the floor and while was putting theI
away and turning around to come ont, hear
the shot; ran out, and as l came through In
j, door met Campbell and he threw up his arm
and said, 'NIy God, snot my Gertie"; locke
for the revolver but there was none on the cul
board or on the floors Mary came running OF
, and picked up Gertie's head nuttmg il in he
lapl / started for the door and he said, Mr.
sonnet, will you call 1t an accidente" Her
peated 1t in rough way but did not answ,
and ran out across the street; he followed N
and before ] got across the street, he fired IL
revolver again; [ saw the fash from the r.
, yolyeG ran to Mr.. 0. Brian's and called OF
For Gods sake, come quick, Webster Cam
bell shot mv Gerie"; | met Iafe Schoch an
John WateYs and told them to take Campbe
1 in charge Charles Wagner and William Sch;rl
p were the two first in the house: Schoch M
Walters came next; ! was too much frighten,
and can not tell how l got back to the hous
Gertie was lying in front of the cupboard wi
her two feet between the table and the t,
: chairs her head was lying wight in iront of ii
cupboard Map shown TO witness and the 81
u designated. She was dead when came ba
to the house; did not see her make any mo,
=, ment before ! went out; when he met me al
said he had shot Gertle sank on the floor a,
Mary came running by me she was the first o
to get to Geltie there was no one in the llitch
excepting Webster and Gertie when left it
70 goto my bed room.
Cross-eXamined by Mr.. Craig I have liy
{. in LehightOn nearly nineteen wears; Ger
would have been 10 years old on the 10th of
month she was my daughter; Mr.. Sthrm
took her when she was six months old, and d
y her one yeari she was sitting on Websters
t, when went into the room; Webster had be
n. at my house 20 "see" Gerlie for about tin
RI monthsi so lar as know there was no quar-
or between them; they were friendly to ei
other that evening but he was different d
evening from other evening. lengthy
et animation then ensued as TO the testimony
Us gave before the corOner's Inquest It diae
slightly, but not material points.
a Mary a, sumet WAS the next witness. Ma
ing new was eholted, her testimony being ST
Ia lar to her mothers
William SchWbo swOn-Iive al Lebipht
a got to the house Of Mrs, Sumet on this event
at found Gertie lyingo ON the floor; Campbell
standing ia the room; Campbell wanted Il
for the doctori told him he had better s
g, there there were no signs of live in Gertie.
90" Mary seiey, swon-All know is tbat Il
crying for help woke me out OF sleep; loo
ter out OF the window and seen the people ON
in street went in the house, / heard Campbell
that he laid the revolver on the cupboard
90. that IL fell on the floor and shot her.
~ NJ o. BRYAN, sworn-l was reused out of
s9 between II 80 and l2 went over to sum,
-, asked Campbell how 10 happened; don't rem
~ Der distinctly whether he said the revolver
81 ~ on the cupboard or whether d went of h
100 hands think he said it fell OH the clpho
found the revolver on the street near nav %
SSIAs meni. Revolver shown and idonuhed "a
ll99 bell told me he tlrpW lt acrnss fita sti