Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-01-21
The Campbell Crawford Affair
Before the Legislative
Com mittee.

AOIu UulLtCCs
;. The development in the Camp
:, bell-Crawford case has extende,
;, over many months, and its variou
steps have attracted widespread
attention. In the early part o
:. the year Judge c. j. Campbell
sitting in the County Court o
3 Amherst, where local option Law
: had lately been adopted, passe'
? judgment in case permitting thu
+ sale of ''medicated" whiskey. The
D decision provoked the ire of thu
} Anti-Saloon League of Virginia
which held it to be notorious
fact that this so-called 'medicated'
whiskey, sold at certain drug
store in Amherst Courthouse, was
ruse for evading the local option
law. Shortly after the announce
ment of the proceedings in court
and the decision of Judge Camp
bell, the Rev. c. H. Crawford,
superintendent of the league and
editor of the Christian Federation,
printed editorially in the columns
of that paper brief article recit-
ing the details of the case and
concluding with the assertion that
in view of all things the people of
Amhert were disposed to doubt
(Which had been doctored the
most, the Judge or the whiskey."
Around this phrase the subsequent
events turn.
Judge Campbell saw this criti-
cism and summoned DR.. Crawford
before him to show cause why he
should not be fined for contempt
of court. The editor paid no at
tentiOn to the summons. Judge
Campbell then issued an attach
ment requiring his attendance.
The trial was held in June at
Amherst Courthouse, Judge Camp
bell himself presiding. During
the course of the trial he offered
to DR.. Crawford an oppor-
tunity to withdraw the offensive
language and apologize to the
court, but this opportunity the
editor did not see fit to seize. DR..
Crawford was acquitted.
Within a few minutes after the
trial when DR.. Crawford approached
Judge Campbell in friendly greet
ing, the judge dashed the preacher
over the head with a horsewhip,
which he carried in his hand.
Great excitement prevailed, and
the action of Judge Campbell was
censured throughout the State.
Judge Campbell was tried for
assault on DR.. Crawford, and was
acquitted, Judge Z. N. Wood of
Nuvanna county, presiding. The
verdict was considered such II
miscarriage of justice that public
sentiment demanded the Legisla-
ture to investigate the affair and
depose Judge Campbell. The
State press, with few exceptions,
also urged an investigation. In
compliance with these demands
the investigation was begun in
Richmond last Wednesday before
the House Committee for Courts
of Justice. DIR. Crawford is repre-
sented before the committee. by |
Judge Loving of Nelson county,
and Mr.. Strobe Of Amherst Court
house, and Judge Campbell by
Major Holmes Conrad of Win
chester.
After four days sittings the
committee adjourned Saturday
till Thursday, the 22nd. The
developments in the case have
been highly sensational. About
ten important witnesses have been
examined for the prosecution, and
the other side has had an oppor-
tunity to open its case with three
witnesses. Next Thursday the
will continue with its
other fifteen witnesses, then the
remainder of Judge Campbell's
witnesses will be examined.
In detail, the prosecution has
shown up some serious situations
in Amherst county with reference
to the local option law. Mr.. j. S.
Sandidge testified that he had
borrowed of Judge Campbell
prescription bottle, had it filled at
Days drugstore, and they all
drank together, Judge Campbell
included.
Mr.. Thomas Whitehead said /
hat Day never lost an oppor-
unity to violate the law, and that I
70 his certain knowledge had sold |
liquor for four years in violation
If the law. ,
K. B. McGinniss, the clerk of {
he Amherst County Court, testi-
led that it was q matter of COM {
non nOtOriety that whiskey was l
'Old in Amherst. The witness had {
heard Judge Campbell tell Mr.. $
Winston, the foreman of the grand s
ury, that he could not indict for /
selling medicated whiskey upon
prescription. |
DR.. Crawford was mercilessly |
;ross examined by Major Conrad.
He denied charging that Judge i
Campbell had been bribed with ,
What he did cay was {
hat some people were wondering
which was doctored most, the ,
Judge or the whiskey.
The greatest sensation of the ]
Investigation was created Satur- [
NV N, m, I,,Ioa Il NJ Mood +noI- ,