Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-09


telegram from San Francisco, rejecting
generally upon Miss Florence NJ. Camp
bell, of New Cumberland, Hancock
county, a niece of Judge John A. Camp
bell, Of that place, and lady well and
most favorably known to many Wheel
ing people.
The substance of the article in ques-
ton was: That Miss Campbell was a
Wheeling lady; that she had received
on Friday last box of candied cherries
containing arsenic; that Miss Campbell
and Mrs. Elsie Scheib, a friend, had
eaten of the fruit and were subse-
quently very i'll, but that both had re-
covered; that the fruit had been sent
in a bamboo basket, addressed to Miss
Campbell with the face of an envelope,
in the handwriting of Mrs. John R.
Rathom, wife of San Francisco news
paper man; that Rathom's wife had
left him on account of Miss Campbell;
that Rathom maintained his wife had
nothing to do with sending the cher
ries; that an analysis Of the fruit
showed arsenic; that Mrs Scheib says
the basket was left at her house on
Thursday of last week. and was I'M
wrapped by Miss Campbell; that Miss
Campbell went to California with the
gunboat Wheeling party, in 1897, and
that after the visitors left she turned
her attention to newspaper work, met
John Z. RathOm, who took a liking 20
her, and coached and helped her in her
profession" that for a short time Miss
Campbell lived at the Rathem resid-
ence in Mill Valley; that Miss Campbell
and Mrs. Rathom were for a while
great friends; that later Mrs. Rathom
left her husband, and that the disagree
ment was on the point Of being adjust
Ell when. the poisoned cherries inter
vene3; that coi9Cident with the receipt
of the cherries came letteI from Mrs.
Rathom, which Miss Campbell had
written her, but which was returned I'M
opened; that Mrs. Rathom admitted the
address On the basket was in her hand
writing, but denied any knowledge of
the cherries or Of the poison, and that
finally Mr. Rathom had stated that he
was responsible for the trouble, but
that both his wife and Miss Campbell
were innocent of any wrong doing, and
that his wife had never upbraided him
for his attentions to Miss Campbell or
had said an unkind word to the latter.
That Miss Campbell is the victim of
nnjuSt cl1GnininnC and allluatin-r
be readily believed by all knowing her,
and many Wheeling people know her
well. She is the daughter of the late
NJ. B. Campbell, an insurance man of
New Cumberland, and having during
his life time many business connec-
lions in this city. He died about
twelve years ago. He was a brother Of
Judge John A. Campbell, and Miss
Campbell is thus a neice of the Judge.
She did not go from Wheeling with the
gunboat Wheeling party, in August,
1857. as is alleged in the Dispatch tele-
gram, but left with the Christian En-
deavor excursion in June of that year.
When the gunboat Wheeling excursion
arrived in California, two months later.
Miss Campbell was staying with rela-
tives at Alemada, about ten or fifteen
miles out of San Francisco As soon
as she knew of the arrival of the party
she came to San Francisco, and called
at the Occidental Hotel on the first day
of September. She was intimately
known TO many in the party and ac-
cepted cordial invitation to join it,
charming every one with her intelli-
gence and brightness. She was at Mare
Island when the presentation took
place afterwards went with the party
to San Jose and Monterey, and back to
San Francisco, where she intended TO
leave the West Virginians, but was
prevailed upon to go as far south as
Los Angeles. There, a week later, she
was again urged to continue the trip,
and came as far east as Ell Paso, Texas,
where she was left with many expires
Sions of regret, returning directly TO
San Francisco. There was a rumor
current in the party at the time that
she was engaged to be married, but
it may have had no foundation. During
her entire time with the. party she was
shown the greatest attention, and made
a most favorable impression, and her
friends scott at the idea that she could
have in any manner compromised her
self. with Mr.. Rathom or any one else.
and the injustice is manifest For two
years past Miss Campbell has been en-
gagged in newspaper work in San Fran
cisco. where her work is spoken Of with
decided approval by those competent
to judge.
Yesterday there were many express
sions of disapproFal and disbelief in
the alleged facts contained in the Dis
patch article, both in Wheeling and New
Cumberland. The Register was author
lied to say. from Judge Campbell, dur
ing the afternoon, that the telegram
was denied in toto by him, and that
the allegations against his neiee were
unfounded and untrue.
Last evening a Register reporter had
an interview with Judge Campbell,
who was naturally greatly distressed
over the undesirable publication. he
said his niece had originally gone 70
California against his personal wishes,
but had the idea Of securing position
in the mint at San Francisco. Not
long after her arrival she was en-
ployed on the San Francisco Chronicle,
and was soon advanced 10 the position
Of literary editor, having charge OF
the book reyisions, etc. In that Office
she met Mr.. Rathom. 1t WAS Judge
Campbelfs opinion that Rathon had
only been married about q year. at the
present tine, but he distinctly and with
emphasis resented the idea that his