The San Francisco call., 1896-08-06
How He Was Decoyed Into a
Strange Room, Bound, Shot
at and Robbed.
A BULLET.HoLE IN HIS HAT
Captain Lees and the Other Detec.
tives Confer and Search for
the Suspected MiscreantS.


night with a story to the effect that he
was the victim of a bold conspiracy to
rob him of large sum of money.
He left mis- hotel last Monday afternoon
in com pany with man of notorious repu-
tation. Tuesday morning he was to have
sailed on the Australia for his home in
Honolulu, passage having been already
engaged for himself his wife and two little
daughters.
AS he failed to appear at the pier up to
the hour of sailing Mrs. Campbell can
celed the tickets and, returning to the
hotel, notified Detective Curtin and
ne and his men began a search for the
missing millionaire. Yesterday morning,
however, the case was called to the atten-
tion of Chief of Detectives Lees.
Ali day the force was on the alert for a
trace of Campbell or of tie man with
whom he was last seen. Neither was
found by the detectives or by the police.
1t was reported that at FIVE minutes before
noon the man who had left the Occidental
with the wealthy planter entered an up
town office and made certain inquiries.
He was gone and left no trace when the
detectives arrived.
At u minutes before 9 o'clock last night
the tall old capitalist walked into the
Occid entail office and went at once to the
elevator. He was accompanied by his
friend Fred 1Vundenberg, Postmaster
General of Hawaii during the monarchy.
Mr.. Wundenberg had only met Mr.
Campbell on the sidewalk near the hotel
The two men went at once to the
Campbell apartments-a suite of rooms on
the second floor, Montgomery-street
front-where the anxious wife was plan
ming with Attorney c. w. Ashford, for
mer resident of Honolulu, and "Gov-
ernor" E. G. Freeth as to the course to be
pursued on the morrow.
When her husband suddenly appeared
upon the scene, well and apparently un-
Injured after his inexplica bic absence of
over two days and two nights, Mrs. Camp
bell tainted, and her condition became so
alarming that no other thing was thought
of just then but a doctor.
While Mr.. Ashford and Mr.. Freeth
were hastily summOning physician and
telephoning for Detectives Lees and Cur
tin Mrs. Campbell revived, and the order
Tor a doctor was countermanded in ac-
cordance with a determination to keep
everything as quiet as possible.
In the meantime the husband told the
story of his absence. He said that he had
gone out by appointment with a friend.
They went into a saloon and had a drink.
Having Withdrawn to a side-room they
were in conversation, when a masked man
suddenly entered and, covering Campbell
with two pistols, said, ''Give up" He
didn't give up. There was tussle.
A shot was fired and bullet passed
through the mlllionaire's hat He was
overpowered and, to use his own words,
twas chained to the floor" He was
robbed. Last night he was liberated and
given nickel for carfare. 1t all occurred
somewhere near the French Hospital
This is in substance what Mr.. Campbell
told his wife.
Then Detectives Lees and Curtin and
three other men-including the one who
had been detailed in the hotel Office for
two days-arrived and q discreet silence
became the watchword.
After over half hours consultation
Lees telephoned lengthy orders to his as
sfstants at headquarters and returned to
the room while Mr.. Ashford hurried away
from the hotel to engage a hack as de-
velopments showed. Soon after Campbell
himself, Curtin and one of his assistants
left the hotel by the side entrance and
started toward Market street
Lees came down shortly and refused ab-
solutely to say anything about the case
and walked leisurely up Montgomery
street. In the entrance to the Masonic
Temple Cam pbell and the two detectives
awaited the chief. He joined them and at
the kearny-street corner of Post street
carriage came quickly up and the whole
party was driven rapidly up Post street
1t was then l0:30 o'clock. They were
going to visit the place where the OLD gem
tleman had been held in durance vile.
Mr.. Campbell came into the Occidental
Hotel about 80 O'Clock this morning.
He was escorted by man, presumably a
detective of the Curtin agency.
The only answer he gave to the in
quiries OF the reporters was, please do
not ask me anything now. | am too tired
and have not slept for several nights"
Mr.. Campbell walked up the stairs as if
having gone through severe ordeal. His
escort repeated his inability to answer anv
questions, saying. He can't answer any
questions tonight; don't ask him, gentle
men,"
James A. Campbell is a very tall, wiry
man of angular build. For his age ne is
strong and active, physical condition in
duced by years of hard work. In 1850 he
went 10 Honolulu. He was then boy of
90 an apprentice to ships carpenter. He
was born in the north of Ireland.
His father was Scotch. In time
he accumulated some property and con-
tinued to ada to his wealth. He owns a
handsome residence on Emma street in
Honolulu, and another at KapioIanl Park.
He owns plantations on several of the
islands. One of these ranches alone is re-
puted to furnish an income of $45, 600 per
annum.
In Honolulu be owns business blocks.
Altogether he is the moneyed man of the
Republic of Hawaii.
The Lahaina plantation which he first
owned in partnership with Henry Turton
proved to be a stepping-stone to his great
wealth.
He early made sugar mills with his own
hands and with his own hands tended
the great iron kettles in which the sugar
was boiled crawling wrapped in wet sacks
under the furnaces to repair the flaws.
II was his great physical energy and his
inherent tenacity that made him danger
GUS old man for persons to tackle with
intent to torture or intimidate into paying
a ransom.
About sixteen years ago he was married
to a native Hawaiian, and four girls are
the result of that union. Three months
ago Mr.. Campbell came here with his
family, and recen.lv the two older girls
were put in the college of Notre Dame in
San Jose.
In year Mr.. Campbell was to return
from the islands and take his daughters