New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-06
HE ROBBED A DEAD WOMAN.
A SOUTH AMERICANS INFAMOUS CRIME.
DIAMONDS AND MONEY TAKEN FROM HER BODY
HE rs A COLOMBIAN GENERAL.

DIAMONDS AND MONEY TAKEN FROM HEIR BODY
HE Is COLOMBIAN GENERAL.
Julio Campo, who says he is general In the
army of the United States of Colombia and
commissioner from that republic to the WORLDS
Fair at Chicago, is prisoner at Police Head
quarters, accused of the infamous crime OF robbln2
dead woman. When he was arrested there
was found in his pocket letter. supporting his
claims. signed by a well-known South American
living in this city. Inspector Byrnes said ias5
evening that the prisoner had confessed his guilt.
Campo is only twenty-nnc years old. but is
well-educated and clever When he arrived IN
this city recently he hired elegantly furnished
rooms in the house of Chares II. Traitteur NO.
115 East Twenty-eighthFt Mr.. Traitteur is an
officer in the Custom House. His wife, who was
subject to attacks of heart trouble died suddenly
on the morning of October 30. On that morning
Mr. Traitteur had left the house early to go 70
Quarantine on business. His wife had given some
orders to two servants in the house few minutes
before one of them found her insensible in her
room. Both girls became frightened at the con-
dition of their mistress and called Campo from
his room on the second floor. as he was the
only other person in the house at the time
lie ran out Of the house TO summon n
physician. but Mrs. Traitteur was dead
when the physician arrived After the physician
had left the house. Campo told the servants to leave
the room in which Mrs. Tratteur's body lay, and
they obeyed him. A few minutes later he called
them back, saying "Why did you 60 away? l
cannot be left alone with the corpse When they
reminded him of his order to them, he said they
must have been mistaken.
A dispatch was sent to Mr. Traitteur. calling
him home Immediately. Mr.. Traitteur was so
much overcome by grief that he took no notice
of anything in his wife's room for time. Campo
was away from the house part Of the day. but
returned in the evening and sat with Mr. Traitteur
the greater part of the night, making apparent
efforts to soothe him. He also attended Mrs
Traitteur's funeral on October 81. Immediately
after the funeral Campo disappeared from the
house, leaving his baggage in his rooms. Mrs
Traitteur's body was buried on Sunday. That
evening Mr.. Traitteur missed some of his wlfe's
jcwelry which should have been in her room. and
also some papers of value. He questioned the
servants and learned about Campo's peculiar be-
havor Immediately after MB. Tratteur's death,
On Monday he went to Police Headquarters and
consulted with Inspector Byrnes, who sent Detec-
tive-Sergcants Heidelberg and Dolan to tub house
in Twenty -eighth-st to make an investigation.
Campo was still away from the house. 10 his
rooms the detectives found some receipts and a
purse which Mrs. Traitteur had carried on her
person when she was alive. Her husband said
that it her custom TO carry her diamonds in the
purse, along with the money. He Thought
she must have had about 500 in cash, AID her
jewels were worth about $4,000.
The discovery Of the purs, in Campo's room
caused the detectives TO believe that the South
American was the thief. but they did not know
where to search for him and they remained in
the house to watch for his return. knowing that
no had key to the front door and might return
at any hour Of the day or night. Other detectives
by order of Inspector Byrncs searched for Campo
high and low in the city, but could not find him.
At 3 q. m. yesterday Campo let himself into
the house with his latch-lSey and went to his
rooms, accompanied by young man who was
stranger there. The couple looked crestfallen
when Heidelberg and Dolan pounced upon them
and placed them under arrest. At Police Head
quarters, when the prisoners were searched.
abundant proof of Campos guilt was found. In
his pockets were pawn-tickets representing the
diamonds which he had stolen from Mrs.
Traitteurs body, two certificates of deposits in
the Park Bank, each for 81 ,OOO and some deeds
of mining land in Montana. In the face of such
positive proof of his guilt Campo could only con-
fess that he had robbed the dead. Left alone with
ordered the servants ont of the room. he had
torn open Mrs. Traitteurs dress and had found
the purs, which she had carried in her bosom
Then he had looked hastily through the bureau
in the room and had taken the certificates and
deeds before calling the servants back.
Campos companion said he was George II.
Simpson. Of No 1,?55 BostOn-ave. He denied
all knowledge Of Campos theft but admitted
that he had been to various pawn-shops with the
thief. He was held on suspicion, partly because
he could be used as witness against Campo
The prisoners taken to the Tombs Police
Court and were remandcd until to-day. Yesterday
the detectives were able to recover the Jewels which
had been pawned by Campo. The prisoner also had
the money which was in Mrs Traitteur's purse.
Campo was visited at the Central Office in the
afternoon by Mr. Hummc, Of the law firm OF
Howe & Hummel, who had been retained to look
after his interests in the police court to-day. AS
he was leaving thr Central Office, after the inter-
view Mr.. Humme politely refused TO talk TO n
reporter about the case. Inspector ByrTes said
that Campo undoubtedly was well connected i'll
his native place and had powerful friends or he
could not be a general in the army and Worlds
Fair Commissioner. Campo was born in Bogota
according to the letter Of Introduction which he
had in his pocket when he was arrested. In
spector Byrnes would not tell the name Of the
respectable South American who wrote the letter
STORIES OF CHINESE IYPLUK DISCREDITED
Chicago, Nov. CspeciaD-Two of the special agents