The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-16
CHILD KILLED BY
FALLING IN CELLAR
Plunges Headlong Through a
Trap Door and Fractures
Its Skull.
PLAYED AROUND SEVERAL
HOURS AFTER ACCIDENT
Pathetic Scene at Funeral
When Convict Father Meets
Wife and Children.

One of the most pathetic scenes ever
witnessed ut funeral in Salt Lake was
one which occurred at the undertaking
parlors OF Eber w. Hall Saturday after
noon, when convict father took last
view of his dead baby girl and greeted his
wife and other living children. Strong men
used TO scenes OF sorrow wept like chill
dren The dead child was Bessie Florence
Campbell. tho father James Campbell,
who Is serving a threc-year sentence In
The Utah penitentiary for polyGamy. haV-
ing married his wifes sister in Colorado,
and then came here "to live his religion"
whom he was arrested His plural wife is
now in Ogden.
Falls Through Trap Door.
Bessie Florence Campbell, aged AZ
years, fell through a trap door into the
cellar at the residence of Charles Bridge
lord. 45l South Main. where her home has
been for the past few months, and re;
Ceived an injury TO her skull that resulted
In death about six hours later.
Accident Occurred Friday.
The accident occurred about s o'clock
Friday evening. Mrs. Bridgford mad lelt
The child playing on the floor in The ktch-
IN and raised the trap door over the stair
way that leads to the cellar. She went
down the stairs and secured glass or
Jelly and returned 10 the kitchen again.
iO"b
With the Jelly In one hand she was
about 10 let down the trap door with the
other when the child brushed by her, and
not seeing the opening In the moor
plunged hcadlong 10 the floor OF the Gel
stairs and picked the child UP. and was
surprised TO find that the child seemed
more scared than hurt.
Tho child soon forgot all about the oc-
Currence and played about the house Tor
about two hours, until she was put to
bed. After she had gone 70 sleep, Mrs.
Bridgeford noticed that the child was
breathing very hand. and as she had been
subject 10 the Group, went downstairs and
returned with some medicine 70 give her.
She tried to awaken the child, but was
unable TO do So and becoming alarmed,
sent for Dr. J. L. Giesey.
Child's Skull Fractured.
Ii was some time after the Doctors ar
rival before he was able to tell what was
the trouble. although a careful examina-
had passed a dark mark began TO appear
on the childs head. closer examination
Of the head showed slight fracture OF
the skull had been sustained. Ut. WHO
was then called In consultation. but pc,
fore ANYTHING could be done the child
passed away.
Daughter of James Campbell.
Bessie Florence Campbell was the
laughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Camp |
bell II will be remembered by Tribune
readers that Campbell was from Colorado
md came to Utah as convert TO the |
Mormon religion and had gone into polyg-
amy, having taken his wifes sister as his !
second wife Shortly after his arrival In |
Salt Lake he was arrested on a chargt |
nf poygomy found guilty and sentence |
10 two years In the State penitentiary. |
He began the serving of the sentence last |
October
Intended Adopting Child.
Mr.. and Mrs Bridgford had taken a
fancy to the little girl Bessie, and after |
lha great trouble into which the family |
war thrown had made 4 homo for the lit |
lie girl and had intended adopting her. |
Father Brought From Pen.
Owing TO the child's condition. ii was |
found necessary to hold the funeral yes
terday afternoon. The services were held |
from the undertaking parlors OF Eber w |
Hall II was undoubtedly one of the most |
messed In this city. Warden Pratt OF the |
penitentiary had been notified and he sent |
guard with Campbell to the undertaking |
parlors TO allow him 10 attend the service !
and have last view OF his child
Scene a Pathetic One.
The meeting between the husband aDd |
Uife and children was pathetic in the OK |
;remc, and when II came time TO part and |
for the father 10 leave the form OF his |
child and be led back TO his prison cell |
even the eyes OF the men in charge ac- |
customed as they are scenes Of sorrow. |
cried like children.