Gilpin observer., 1900-07-26
MAYOR WAS ORIGINAL
KEPT AN OHIO TOWN GUESSING
Chief Executive Campbell, of Bowling
Green, Ohio, Displayed His Originality
In Many Ways.

In Many Ways.
Ex-Mayor Campbell of Bowling
Green, Ohio, was unique officer. He
made one of the best all-around Off
cials that the city ever had, though his
eccentricities have made him famed far
and wide.
Among the first acts by the mayor
was the punishment of himself. Some
time after he had been elected to the
office and had taken his seat he got
out with some friends one day and be-
fore he was aware of the fact disgraced
the dignity of the office. So soon as he
recovered sufficiently to know what he
had done he issued a warrant for him.
self, had himself arrested and fined a
. self-imposed fine, which he paid.
1t was not long after this that the
official had to exercise his ingenuity in
the punishment of n youngster about
fourteen years of age, who played
hockey from school, committed petty
thefts and terrorized the neighborhood.
Finally after the mayor had had his
patience tried time and again, and after
he had lectured the youngster on many
occasions, he hit upon a new sort of
punishment. Jimmy Firsden, the boy,
was to take his choice of ten Sundays
at Sunday school or ten days in Jail
for stealing fruit from a neighbor's
nursery. Jimmy took the Sunday
school sentence, and the mayor rugged
him out in new suit of clothes, that
he might appear as well as the rest of
the youngsters.
This seemed to work well, at least
In the mind of the mayor, and he had
half dozen boys attending Sunday
school who had never before set foot
inside a nbnrnh
chestnut with the boys. as they formed
habit of sleeping throughout the SER
vices. Mayor Campbell then racked
his brain for some other method of pun
ishing the pests of the town. Jimmy
stole peaches and other fruit with the
same hard-heartedness and with the
same skill as of yore
The next time Jimmy failed to evade
the officers he was brought up before
his honor and heard the stern execu-
tive say:
Jimmy, have tried to make a good
boy of you. l have bought you new
clothes, rugged you out like other boys
and sent you to Sunday school, but it
noes not seem to have done you any
good. You shall go to jail for ten days
pr be logged by your father" Jimmy
had been tlogged n great many times
by his father and remembered that the
rod was laid on rather lightly, so he
chose the whipping. Jimmy supposed
mat he would be released to 90 to his
lather TO get the administration of JUS
tlce, but the mayor had another idea F.;
he sent for the father. had him doff his
coat and lay on the birch vigorously
TILL his honor announced that Justice
had been satisfied.
1t was not long before Jimmy was
again before the tribunal for CARRYING
OF bushel of peaches. The peaches
could not be returned, as the lad, with
what help he invited to assist, had de
voured the entire bushel. The mayor
concluded that since peaches were so
good more would be better. He bought
bushel and sat Jimmy down before
them with orders to eat every one of
them within two days or stay in Jail
till he did. Jimmy became sick before
he had the bushel disposed of, but the
punishment proved effectual. and jim
my has not had any craving for
peaches since.
Another perpleNing problem which
racked the brain of the mayor was
what to do with a man who was
b Drought before him every week or two
on the charge of drunkenness. He
fined him time and again and then sus-
pended the same that the wife would
not have to pay it. Finally he SEN
fenced him to years total abstinence.
agreeing to fine himself $50 providing
= the offender did not violate the condi-
tlonS of the sentence He gave the
mans wife check for $40 payable in
one year, provided the husband re
mained sober that long, and il the
man perseveres he will compel the OF
ticial TO pay the fine. He has been So
ber three months and vows he will
continue nine months longer.
Lately the mayor successfully carried
out style of punishment on tramps
that drop into town that promises to
rid this section of the alleged work
hunters He makes every one who
asks assistance about town 90 to the
city building and work for an hour
carrying ton of coal from one side
of the basement to the other. The coal
has been worn smooth by frequent
handlings, but II still answers the pur-
pose. As n result of one of his latest
eccentricities he settled hotel bill of
500. He owns Il farm in the southern
end of the county and while the farm.
ers In that nelghborhood posted mo
hunting allowed signs, he put up no.
tices requesting everybody to hunt on
his place and then get their dinner at
hotel in North Baltimore. charging
the same to him.