Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-07-27
MAYOR WAS ORIGINAL
KEPT AN OHIO TOWN GUESSING
Chief Executive Campbsii. Of Bowiins
Green. Ohio. Displayed His Originality
In Many Ways.

Chief Executive Campbell. OF tSowun8
Green. Ohio. Displayed His Originality
In Many Ways.
Ex-Mayor Campbell OF Bowling
Green. Ohio, was "A unique officer. Ha
made one OF the best allSiround OIL
clals that the city ever had. though his
eccentriclties 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 aud BE-
fore he was aware of the fact disgrnced
the dignity of the office. So soon as he
recovered sufficiently 10 know what he
had done he issued q warrant for HIM
self. had himself arrested and fined .
self-imposed fine. which he paid.
1t was not long after this that tho
official had to exercise his Ingenuity In
tho punishment OF II youngster about
fourteen years OF age, who played
hockey from school. committed petty
thcfts and terroriZed the neighborhood.
Finally after the mayor had had his
patience tried time and again. and after
he had lectured the youngstcr on many
occasions. he hit upca a new sort OF
punishment. Jimmy FIrsden. the boy.
Nur ~ tuht Air oA A'h
mt Sunday school or ten days In jail
for stealing fruit from n nelghboril
nursery. Jimmy took the Sunday
school sentence. and the mayor rigged
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 a dozen boys attending Sunday
school who had never before SGT foot
inside church. Finally this became q
chestnut with the boys. as they formed
n habit OF sleeping throughout the ser.
vices. Mayor Campbell then rackcd
his brain for some other method OF pun.
ishIng the pests OF the town. Jimmy
stole peaches and other fruit with tho
same hard-hcar,cdncss and with tho
same skill NJ Of yorc.
The next time Jimmy failed to cyado
the officers lie was brought up before
his honor aud heard the stern cxccu-
tive say:
Jimmy. have tried 10 make good
boy or you. hav. bought you new
clothes, riggcd you on, like other boys
and sent you to Sunday school, but II
does not seem TO have done you any
good. You shall 20 TO jaI! FOR ten days
or be foggcd by your father" Jimmy
had been iioggcd n great many tlmcs
| by his father and remembered that the
/ rod was laid on rather lightly. so he
chose the whipping. Jimmy supposed
| that he would be released to 60 to his
| father TO get the administration OF JUS
| tIcc, but the mayor had another Idea:
| hc sent for the father. had him don his
I coat and lay on the birch vigorously
TIL his honor announced that Justice
had been satisfied.
II was not long before Jimmy was
again before the tribunal for carrying
/ OF a bushcl Of peaches. The peaches
could not be returned. rs the lad, with
what help he invited TO assist. had de-
vourcd the entire bushci. The mayor
concluded that since peaches We're so
good more would bc better. He bought
n bushcl and sat Jimmy down before
them with orders to eat every one OF
them within two days or stay In Jail
I'LL he did. Jimmy became sick bcforo
he had the bushci disposed of. but the
punishment proved cfIcctual. and JIM
my has not had any craving for
peaches since.
Another pcrpicxinE problem which
rnckcd the brain OF the mayor was
whnt to do with u man who was
brought before him every week or two
on the charge of drunkenness. He
] MN lu'u sHN-
pended the same that the wife would
not have to pay II. Finally he scn-
fenced him to n years total abstinence.
agreeing to fine himself $50 providing
the offender did not violate the condi-
tons OF the sentence. He gave the
mans wife n check for $50 payable In
one year. provided the husband re-
mained sober that long. and II tho
man pcrscvcres he will compel the Of
acinl TO pay the fine. He has been So
Der 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 go to the
city building and work for an hour
carrying ton OF coal from one side
Of the basement to the other. Tie coal
has been worn smooth by frequent
landings. but II still answers the pur.
pose. As result of one Of his latest
cccentricities he settled n hotel bill Of
$50. He owns n farm I'm the southern
end of the county and while the farm.
crs in that neighborhood posted mo
hunting allowed signs. he put up no.
tices requesting everybody TO hunt on
his place and then get their dinner at
n hotel in North Baltimore. charging
| the same to him.