The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-08-02
FATE'S QUEER PRANK.
A Mother Must Pay the Reward Which
Hangs Her Son.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

Hangs Her Son.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
One of the most unique and tragic
cases in the history of the state was
brought to a close yesterday, when the
supreme court handed down a decision
affirming the decision of the lower court,
which will compel Mrs. Sarah CampbeIl
TO pay the reward which she offered Tor
ii conviction, unknoWingly, or her
own son for the murder of his 0rother.
1t IS doubtful if the case has parai-
lei, and the entire affair READS more
like fiction than fact. The strong thread
of tragedy which is woven IN the faorlc
of the story is of character seldom
found even in the annals OF the courts,
and the dramatic and pathetic SIDES or
this most unusual case need no Guy de
Maupassant's facile pen to make them
appeal to human interest.
The hideOusness of the calm assertion
that a mother must pay for the appre-
hensiLn and conviction OF her SOD to
pay the penalty for murder is one of
those things that rarely show themselves
outside the covers of yellow literature,
and the further fact that the murdered
one was the brother of James Campbell
only adds tenfold to the tragic interest.
Down in Jasper county one day
William G. Campbell, the eldest son of
the widow Campbell, was murdered.
The crime was cloudcd in mystery, ana
the entire community was worked up to
an excitement that threatened the life
OF the perpetratOr of the deed, had he
been caught Immediately after it was
discovered.
The circumstances surrounding the
murder were of nature that ba1fled
those searching for the faintest cleWs.
The man had been murdered, and that
was about all that could be learned.
But the mothers heart never gave up
the idea that some time the one who
robbed her of one son and supporter
would be brought to justice &c pay the
full penalty demanded by the laws OF
man.
The thought of her son lying ont
there in the cemetery unaven9ed preyed
on her mind until she was nearly
Frustrated, and then it was suggested by
ceItains one that if a suitable reward
were offered the guilty one might be
found. The woman grasped at the idea
like a drowning man catching at StraWs.
70 her it meant the solution OF the hid
eOus mystery.
81 a paper, bearing all the eaImarks
of law, was prepared and Mrs. Campbell
signed it, guaranteeing the payment OF
certain sum for the arrest and conviction
of the murder of her FIRST born. She
SAYS now that it was her understanding
that a negro, well-known in the CON-
munlty, was suspected, and it was
upon this statement that she consented
to be responsible for the reward.
Had she known that she was signing
the death warrant of her only remaining
SOD, a son upon whom she lavshed all
the love Of a lonely heart, she would
never have put pen to paper. But this
she could not know.
Fate plays queer pranks sometimes.
Scarcely had the ink dried on the paper
offering the reward than her son was
arrested for the murder of his brother.
The denouement came like a thunder
bolt, and the shock nearly upset the
reason of the widow.
Her own son the slayer Of his brother.
The THOUGHT was sickenlng. Then
those who had arrested her son demand
ed the blood money. To her it was
like Shylock seeking his pound OF flesh.
According to her own statement her
soul revolteu at the idea that she, the
one who had nursed this remaining boy
from his birth and given him all the
Jealous affection of a lonely mother,
should pay to have him hanged.
She refused to pay the amount of the
reward and the claimants carried the
matter to the courts to force her to
give up the money agreed upon. But
law is not constructed upon sentiment,
and the lower court found for the
plaintiffs.
Mrs. Campbell siezed her only re-
naming chance and appealed the case to
the supreme court. y esterday morn
ing that tribunal affirmed the decision
of the lower court and Mrs. Campbell,
after lighting off the payment for
months, will now have to accede to the
demands of those who hold her written
agreement.