The Portland daily press., 1892-06-07

ton the more trying. The findings and
verdict of the court that had tried young
Campbell had been approved by General
Burnside, SO that there was nothing left
but to carry out the sentence.
In reply to Captain Forbes question
as to the guilt of the unfortunate man,
General Boyle said:
"The court was composed of good
men, and think they tried to be i'm
partial. But Campbell was caught in
citizens dress sneaking within our lines,
and the proof of his completely in the
murder of Rogers would have convinced
any jury in the land of his guilt"
81 have no reason to like Ed Camp
bell," said Captain Forbes in response,
''for he has made himself obnoxious to
the Union men in his old home, but !
cannot think that he would commit a
wanton murder. Has he no excuse to
offer?'
''Oh, he stoutly denies that he was
spy. He had been wounded in the
shoulder and was trying to get home I'M
observed; so that it was possible he was
not playing the spy. AS to the Rogers
murder, Campbell in his own defense
swore that he was down on the Holston,
in Tennessee, when the murder was
committed, and he declares that if he
could get a thirty days reprieve he
would be able to prove this"
"Have you asked the president for a
reprieve?'
Eyes, but have had no response"
''Do you expect any?"
Hardly, after forty eight hours wait
ing and only fourteen hours before the
execution takes place, said the general,
with groan. He further told Captain
Forbes that Miss Jennie Campbell, the
condemned mans sister was assigned to
quarters near his own, and that the poor
girl was nearly crazed with anxiety.
During the two days she has been here
she has eaten nothing and has not had a
wink of sleep, while she has importuned
every officer in the camp to intercede in
her brothers behalf She will not be-
heve that we are powerless, and much
fear that the inevitable blow will kill
her."
Captain Forbes, at his last meeting
with Miss Campbell-he was in uniform
and had called to bid her goodby-was
ordered from the house, told that he was
''a traitor and a Lincoln hireling," and
warned against ever setting foot within
that door again. But as a manly man
he found no pleasure in the changed
conditions that led her in her agony and
weakness to call ON him for help; indeed
he forgot that he had been insulted, and
his old affection for the woman stirred
into warmth in this the hour of her sore
distress.
AS he followed the black boy to the
quarters assigned Miss Campbell, the
captain imagined himself meeting her
with becoming reserve, but as soon as
he caught sight of the white, pain lined
face the hauteur of his manner vanished
and the feeling he had had for her since
his boyhood asserted itself. Reaching
out both hands and taking hers, he sat
down beside her and said, with his old
time tenderness:
'sJennie, I am very sorry for your
troubles"
'sDo not think of mer she cried.
sFThink of your old playmate, Brother
Ed, sentenced to be hanged tomorrow
morning, and for ofenses of which he is
as innocent as you or I! know you do
not like him, and perhaps he has been
overzealous, but he was once your good
friend, as I have been, despite what
may have said; and oh, captain! oh, How
ard! save him! save him! Tt is not in the
blood to do murder or play the spy!
Get him q reprieve, if only for thirty
days, and he will be able to prove this.
You know that he could not help being
in citizens clothes; but few of the Con-
federates are able to get regular uni
forms, and then he was wounded, and
the poor fellow was trying to crawl home
to be nursed when he was captured
This and much more the poor girl
said with an awful earnestnes that hid
the repetitions and even the contradic-
tions of her statements. The captain
was eager to help her, but he felt like a
manacled swimmer who sees helpless
fellow sinking out of sight in the flood;
yet, in very pity, he did not dare to ex-
plain the exact situation to the distracted
sister.
''Mother is very sick at home" she
continued, ''and if Ed dies in this horri-
BILE way it will kill her, and as for my
self-but it does not matter" She
seemed to understand the difficulties
arising in his mind, and with woman's
ready tact she went on to show how
they could be overcome. ''The presi-
dent may be too busy to heed General
Boyle's request, but Judge Speed and
General Holt, of Kentucky, both friends
of your family and strong Union men,
are in Washington. Telegraph them
and beg them to intercede for reprieve,
a reprieve of only thirty days. Before
the time is up shall be able to get evi-
dence showing Eds innocence. will
work night and day. But oh, Howard
Forbes, give me the chance to be sue
cessful, and the God of the widow and
orphan will bless you"
In her intense earnestness she took
the captains hands and bent over them