The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-22
AB. CAMPBELL'S DEATH
He Left a Pathetic Letter Tell
ing His Reasons
For Taking His Life-His Last
Years Sad.
A Man Of UnbridIed Passions and I'm
pulses, bat Warm Hearted


4 B. Campbell who committed sui
eide in Chicago, as detailed in yestar-
days State Journal. was for several
years q central figure in Kansas
politics He was one Of the most eIo-
quent speakers in the state and was in
demand for soldiers reunions and
Fourth Of July celebrations He vas
one of the strongest temperance ora
tors IN the state. and II was predicted
BY the politicians that hA would be
sometime a formidable candidate for
governor.
But than came one Of those backsIid-
ing experiences which had haunted aim
through life and with IL went all his
political prestige
He vas assistant adjutaut general
under Gov Humphrey. and after THAT
was &d1uL4DC general or the O. 4 R
under Tim Mccarthy He struggled
hard to regain his former position but
finally gave Up and went to California
Before he left Topeka his year old
son Bliss was killed oy street car
Soon after Gen Campbell reached Cali
t0rn1a- his wife died. and after that he
was confined in an insane asylum for
q short time. the result Of excessive
drink and ueIanchoIIa he was a man
OF little seIr-restrai1t- but warm heart
ed
When Gen Campbell came to Kansas
it was as minister of the Christian
church and he was pastor OF a MauhaC-
tan church Wh=n he was appointed
chaplain Of the state peDitentiary by
Gov ST John
When John A Martin was elected
governor Gen Campbell was appointed
a6Juraut general and he held the post
tiOu during Gov. Martins term
ne E9ll4VNLng letter, " hlch was round
with his body in the Chicago hotel. ax-
plains why he committed suicide-
CAMPBELL-S LETTER
4 Alexander b Campbell make this
statement OF the cause IF nay death TO
relieve the coroner of the necessity of
an inquest and also To let my friends
know the motive that led me to take
my life Ny death Will be caused by
morphine. which have deliberately
taken with suicidal intent This pur-
pose was fully formed when I left
RushviIIe- Ind and came To this city.
I have not drank 10 great excess since
I left home and now write without he
ing at all under the influence Of WhIs-
ky
The reason why 7 take my life is
because want 10 90 10 my wife and
. boy Ny usefulness IN this world * al
an end I cannot be satisfied in any
business and can not be without their
comp Partnership 1 have never been a0Le
To devote myself 10 business since my
wife died and after Bliss was killed I
lost all interest in life but lived for the
sake of living When she died want
ed To die also IN Los Ange-=s, Cal T
tried to commit suicide but did not
take enough Of the drug i then con
Guided I would 90 hOUe u Rush lie
10 comfort there Ny friends all re-
garJied me as a nan of unsouud mind
I because I held the view that my wife
was with me in spirit always have
lived with her spirit guiding ne every
day and she Is with me now I
write this letter, and helps me 70 do As
{ I an now doing
7 VIII be with her before another day
/ goes by. and I die with pleasure [
I am glad ID go TO my wife and baby
7 boy
7 have not one single doubt or fear
/ about my future life with them I be
+ uave in God and immortality Ny
trust and faith are perfect 4 do not
regard IL as wrong 10 take my life De
/ cause L simply change my place of res
( I1enCe and go where my wife and baby
are I viii be reunited with them and
We viii al be made happy by the
+ change Besides. my usefulness hare is
+ destroyed beCa use all Of my friends
{ think ne q man Of uusound mind II I
% among strangers. the story Of my
( insanity soon follows. ard do not care
10 live such a Life Wb hen I can in z FEW
+ hours go 10 my wife and boy
WANTED No FL NERAL
In the other life VIII be the better
able 70 esta blish ny sanity, and hope
I 10 meet all my friends when they come
What few things I have left in my
+ room. may be sent by express to my
Brother George " Campbell. Rush
F Vile Ind and hz is the proper person
70 notify Of my death I do not want
anv fTIreraI services over my body. and
where I am buried is of no concern to
me whatever I am through with this