Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-22
COMMITTED NO WRONG.


1t will be remembered that last
spring Rev. Larrabee M. Campbell. of
Western, Iowa, brought suit against
F. c. johnson, vice president Of the
Citizens bank, of Omaha. and we'll
known in Rock Island and ad ioininc
counties, his home having originally
been in Mercer county, for $50, 900,
for having alienated the affections of
the plaintiffs wife and otherwise de-
stroying the domestic happiness of
his home. The case has Just been
completed at Omaha. with q COM
plete vindication of MIR. Joh nson, as
his friends here will he pleased to
know. The Omaha Evening Bee of
Monday thus speaks of the tormina-
ton of the suit:
Victory for Mr.. johnson.
The famous and somewhat sensa-
tional suit of Rev. Larrabee M.
Campbell against Frank &. Johnson
of the Midland bank is at an end, the
plaintiff having been Knocked out in
every round, after which he vas de-
MED the new trial for which he asked
some time ago. Mr.. johnson is kept
busy acknowledging the congratula-
tions of his friends, who are glad to
know that he has passed through the
scathing fires of the mills of the
courts. and that without receiving a
scar.
AS is well known, this suit was
commenced last March, the plaintiff
suing for $685. and alleging that
the defendant had broken up his
home and estranged his wife, Hattie
Campbell, to whom he had been mar
ried some Is years.
When the suit was brought, the
papers were filed and Immediately
withdrawn, it being claimed that this
was for the purpose of preventing
Mr.. johnson from knowing just what
charges were alleged. However,
there were several sensational stories
printed at the time, all of which were
proven to he false when the witness
went upon the stand, and the clergy
man was called upon to face the man
he had accused. The petition and
the dispositions of Mrs. Campbell re-
lated number of escapades and long
carriage drives, TO saw nothing of a
home in Council Bluffs, a piano and
a gold watch, which. it was claimed.
Mr.. johnson had bought and pre-
scented to her. When the testimony
was in. this was shown up in a differ
ent light. 1t was clearly proven that
Mr.. johnson had done nothing of the
kind. but that instead he loaned Rev.
Campbell the money to erect the
Council Bluffs house, and that the
debt had not yet been paid, though
Mr.. johnson still has the notes as
evidences of the existing of the same.
The watch story was also disproved.
it being established that the watch
was purchased by the members of
Campbell's Iowa church, and that the
only connection that johnson had
with the matter was to take the
money and make the purchase during
one Of his trips to this city. After
having purchased the watch with the
money so subscribed, Mr.. johnson
turned the same over to the preach
er. who in turn gave it to his wife.
The piano story was even thinner
than the one concerning the watch.
The instrument was bought by the
preacher of firm in Council Bluffs.
and Mr.. johnson was merely called
In TO give his opinion with reference
to the value. During the whole of
the trial there was not a line OF testi-
mony to indicate that Mr.. Johnson
had ever been upon intimate terms
with the woman. even she not daring
to come into court and testify to the
allegations made in the dispositions.
Notwithstanding the fact that she was
In Lincoln during the whole OF the
trial. There was no evidence tend
ing to show that Mr.. johnson and
Mrs. Campbell had ever taken the
moonlight rides, which it was claimed
they had enjoyed together.
Terms II Blackmxii.
Mr.. johnson has no hesitancy in de-
nouncing the prosecution as a black
mail. and in stating this he has de-
tailed the manner in which he was
induced to settle prior to the filing of
the petition. When the attempt to
settle failed, he was induced to have
a church trial that the matter might
be kept quiet. This proposition he
rejected, SAYING that he had commit
ted no crime and was willing to
trust his interests and rights to a
court and Jury. Even after this it
was shown that Mr.. johnson was
bounded, and that some of those
who were prosecuting him tried to
induce him to 60 to Lincoln in order
to bring on settlement outside of
the courts, that the whole affair
could be kept quiet.
During the trial there were no wit
nesses who testified to indiscrete acts
on the part of Mr.. johnson, every
one, even the witnesses for the pros