Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-23
CHUMMED WITH F|REBUG
DETECTIVE GETS CONFESSION
FROM BARN-BURNER. j.
Campbell Sent to Prison for Four
Years for Setting Fire to Barn
of Edwin Carlin.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star. =
| FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, Va, Jan
uary pa jury in the circuit court here
late this afternoon returned a verdict o.
guilty against Samuel J. Campbell, a
painter. accused of having set fire to the
| barn of Edwin Carlin of Washington In
May last year. Penalty was fixed at four
years Imprisonment in the penitentiary
at Richmond.
The prisoner. who claimed he was from
Philadelphia, was arrested in washington
by Detectives Baur and Cornwell. The
case was investigated by the Morgan
Bradford. jr.. detective agency.
a. Wade Wells, an employee of the de-
tective agency, was one Of the chief wit
nesses for the state. His story of how
] he became a chum of Campbell and final
ly obtained from him a confession proved
| interesting testimony.
| Campbell had been employed by Mr.
| Carlin to do some painting. There was
| a disagreement between employer and
painter Shortly afterward Carlin's barn
was destroyed by fire.
Wells learned that Campbell. Spanish
War Veteran. was stopping at the Tenn.
porary Soldiers Home in Washington and
called there to see him. He pretended to
have known a Samuel J. Campbell some
years ago. The suspected man convinced
him that 1t was another Of the same
name.
But Wells could see no reason wy his
mistake should interfere with friendship
| Campbell, he said, was perfectly willing
more especially when he realized there
was money in sight for a few drinks
| One vart of the Sherlock Holmes stunt
| included the pawning of a watch by
Wells and the giving Of 81 to Campbell
enough to cement the friendship SO fal
| as Campbell was concerned.
| Wells made a confidant of his quarry
and told Campbell 1t would be necessary
for him to keep out of sight of the
I police. as he was wanted In Ohio for as
! sault with intent to kill and other Of
! lenses. This confidence was met by an
admission of guilt from Campbell of the
/ burning Of Mr.. Carlin's barn.
| The detective had to devise some means
/ to get him to repeat enough of his story
to qualify second witness. He told
Campbell he had a wealthy uncle in
Washington who was a crook. He thought
he could get stake" from him if he
could locate him.
| Campbell accompanied the detective ia
the house Of Detective Bradford, whom
Wells introduced as the wealthy uncle y
Campbell offered to return here and burn
the Carlin house for $500. the pretended
uncle having induced him to believe he
had had unpleasant dealings with Carlln
and was anxious to get even with him.
| The plans were all laid and the time
set for Campbell and Wells to call upon
the "rich uncle for cash with which
| to buy revolvers and ammunition. 1t was
at Bradford's house. after a discussion
of the proposed incendiary trip in an
automobile. that detectives made the ar
rest.
Witnesses were brought from Washing
ton and Philadelphia. the state contend
ing that Campbell had a prison record.
The prisoner denied the accusation, as
he did that alleged against him in the
| indictment.
deavored to set up alibi. trying to
prove he was in bed In a house in Wash
ington the night the barn was destroyed
The court gave the prisoner every OPP
Jurors concluded that he was guilty.