The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-03
Takar IN e>harlt tie by the .Officers
Yesterday Story of F4is Lite IN the
PenitentiarY--Sw he VIII
XIII Two Men.


Kill Two Men.
Liberty is sweet, but it is "a Gonfection
of which C. G.. Campbell will notIbe allow
ed to partake for some years yer
Last Thursday morning he thought he
had the prize within his grasps but just
as he reached out for it, it vanished like
dream. Indeed, having completed a two
wears term, he was upon the Grain with
his discharge from the penitentiary au-
thorities in his pocket, and a TICKET which
would take him out of the county. Capt.
Fleming, penitentiary parden, had just
handed them to him, and Guard Holder
field had said goodbye. Surely now he
was free. How bright the cloudy day look
ed, how light ne felt, how refreshing the
air. What's that? What is the man
standing over him saying? "You are my
prisoner, sir Consider yourself under
arrest
The muscles In the strong face twitched,
the lips settled more firmly over the
clinched teeth of the erstwhiIe convict,
and dangerous look came into his eye
Read your warrant" he demanded IN
cool, low tone, as if he feared to attract
the attention of those about hlm. III
do that later responded officer Haynes.
The man glanced quickly around, as his
right hand slipped toward his. left side.
But it was no use. There thay were
one, two, three, four, five officers stand
ing about him. He arose and went with
them. He had feared this, and he had
asked Capt. Fleming on his way to the
depot whether he would be tugned over
to the authorities or not. He.had been
told that it would not be dones that his
discharge and ticket would -be given
him on the train, as the law. required,
and then the penitentiary authoritiea had
nothing further to do with hHm. This
programme was carried out to che letter.
Campbell. however, didn't shink So
He believes he was betrayed caught in
trap. Rage boiled within m.and ven
ON leaped like lightning fiashesfrom his
eyes. Passing by Capt. Fleming he hiss
ed, I've you to thank for this@ and I'll
get even with you, some day. You shall
nav dearly for it." The words Bere low
and kissing, but distinct like the warming
of the coiled RATHER before he strikes.
Those who heard them invoIlntarily
trembled.
When taken to the Jail Campbell told
tale of cruelty and ill-treatmelst prac-
ticed upon him in the penitentiary. charg-
ing that Capt. Fleming was RESPONSIBLE
for it: that the warden had formed an
intense dislike to him and took all posi-
BILE occasions to punish and humble him.
All the time Ike kept swearing that the
day would come when the score ewould
be made even. He said he had be2n put
into a dark cell for eleven days, hung up
by the arms, whipped from the head TO the
feet, and fed on bread and water. .After
this, he said, he had been compelled to
wear a ball and chain for fifteen months.
During this time he had ben sent cut to
the brick yard and in going to and from
the yard, distance of five miles. h4 had
compelled to carry this iron ball OF 40
pounds.
1t IS now, he says, being worn by Agera
Butler, the boy from Sampson county
who shot his father from ambush.
The penitentiary authorities, on 7the
other hand, say that Campbell is a Most
desperate unruly fellow, and has given
them more trouble than any one else there
confined. Even with the closest guarding
and the strictest discipline they say it is
wonderful the amount of deEilment th.s
fellow was able to hatch UP. And thefe
are many circumstances to bear out this
statement, even ON CampbelPs own show
ing as the reader will see.
When about 10 be locked up in Jail
Campbell took a long dagger from be-
meath his clothing and delivered it to the
sheriff, with the comment that the wea-
pom was no lonbger of any use to him.
He added that if he had any idea of this
intention to arrest him at the depot, he
would have killed Capt. Fleming with it
on the way there. He had made it for
that purpose, he said.
It is a beautiful piece of workmanship
this knife, when you consider chat it was
made by convict who had few TOOLS and
was compelled to do his work stealthily.
Indeed, il is hard to conceive how he
could ever have done it. 1t is six and a
half inches long, sharp and polished as
Damascus. blade. The hilt is carefully
fashioned piece of wood, painted steel
blue and capped with a piece of German
silver, upon which is engraved peculiar
designs. A cross bar of thin piece of
steel completes the weapon. 1t is
sheathed in a well made leather cover.
He made it Of a file which he put into the
brick kiln and drew the temper out OF
and then sharpened with another file.
This is the second weapon of the kind
which ne has made since he has been in
the penitentjary. The first one was made
a year and a half ago. while Campbell
was planning TO escape from the peniten-
tiary wai1s, and his betrayal by a fellow
convict led TO its discovery. He and the
other convict were lOadtng Dflck Into Il
box car when Campbell conceived a dar-
ing plan for setting himself free. He
c0nfided it to his companion on pledge of
secrecy, and set about its censummation.
A trap door was cut into the Bottom OF the
car, opening upward, and large enough
TO admit a mans body. This was covered
with one layer Of brick. the loading of the
car was completed and the doors closed
and sealed The engine came id for the
car, started away with it when Campbell
sprang under it, lifted mp the trap door
and crawled in. His companion, however,
gave the alarm car was brought back
and the convict taken out.
This is what made the penitentiary aIl-
thorities lock him in solitary confinement
in the dark cell and make him wear a ball
and chain the balance Of his term And
well they did. They knew their man
lie had escaped once before, and gone to
South Carolina where he was captured