Arizona republican., 1914-03-26
TRIAL OF JAMES STEWART

lans of that country. altnoush 1 murder was the charge-was that or ' ames stewart, of the Glen. It was he continuation of a feud that had ' .xisted between the SteWarts ana he Campbells for many years ana wen to this day the bitterness has lot subsided that was started by the murder of Colin Cambell N' Glenure- Whether or not James Stewart was guilty has always remained mys- tery, but at any rate he was compelled to pay the penalty on the scaftold. The 'gibbet was erected near the present Scottish town of Ballachulish Ferry. and Stewart died on NoVem- Der s, 1752. Colin Campbell had been murdered on the afternoon of May | If of the same year.
 As before noted the clans Stewart | and Campbell were at enmlty, al- though the two clans had frequently In fact James Stewart and the murdered man were blood relatives. They had been friends Tn past days in spite of clan rivalrles- Campbell was a wealthy land owner, and James was one of his tenants and looked after the paying Of the rent of other tenants
 Finally, however, their relations De- came strained, because Campbell lh- sisted on securing his delinquent rents and reproached Stewart as be- ing too lenient with the tenants Allan Breck, another relative of Stewart. and a sort of stormy petrel, was also held on suspicion as being implicated in the murder
 On May :, Campbell set out from Edinburgh for Fort William on busl- ness. and one week later he began | the return journey with party or three intending to pass the night at the inn at Kintalline, near the scene of an intended eviction. Bal Ilachulish Ferry had just disappeared from, view to the four riders, ana the hills of Morven were becoming
 prominent, when suddenly at a polnt
 in the road at the wood of Letter
 more. shot rang out and Mungt
 Campbell heard Colin explain, "Oh 1 am dead!"
 The nephew turned to seek the as sailant. but he had disappeared oVe hill in the distance. He started in pursuit but lost track Of him Another of the party was quick. sent on ahead to secure assistance while one of them guarded the Dod! About twelve persons were arreste on suspicion, including Campbell an Allan Breck. James Stewart and Ill son. Allan, were taken to Fort VII liam on the 18th of May Mir Stewart made every effort to Secur
 an interview with her husband. bu / she only succeeded toward the en \ of June.
 At last. on the 9th of July, abo, seven weeks after his arrest IT ! monotony of the prisoners loneiine' was broken by the receipt, for u \ first time. of warrant dated Ma 17th. authorizing his incarceratio ' Thereupon he secured an Edinbul lawyer MT. Stewart, of Edinglassl N to prepare his defense. The trial WI 4 fixed to take place at 1nveraray \ the 21st of September, 1152. " H bench was occupied by three judges \ the Duke of Argyll, Lord Elchi H and Lord Kilkerran.' The counsel i 4 the prosecution were the Lord A - vocate. William Grant, who had be 4 chief law officer of the Crown du 0 ing the strenuous days that follow 4 Cullodon; James Erskine, sheriff 1 of Perth: Robert Campbell, of A 4 mich; John Campbell, and Sim A Fraser.
 Many witnesses were eXainln N An attempt was made to lead ~ rect evidence that James had pl 'A viously endeavored to arrange " murder of Campbell by deputy. N this attempt utterly failed Tn " was no absolute evidence that Jan ~ Stewart was the murderer, nor " any way an accessory to it. w A the evidence regarding Allan Br'
 it must be admitted that there - a strong presumption that if he
 not the actual murderer, he was
 from being blameless.
 At length all the speeches w
 ! finished All that the skill of
 $ prisoner's counsel could do
 been accomplished. No record of
 $ summing up is in existence,
 probably none took place. Ihe
 brought in a written verdict
 James Stewart was sent for to Il
 his doom pronounced. The yer
 condemned the prisoner to be Ia
 to Ballachulish, and there to
 hanged. his body thereafter 10
 suspended by chains.
 {I In few manly words the pris'
 < protested his innocence, hls re
 ness to die. and his grief that - name should afterwards be ass
 ated with deed so foul. So er
 the trial of this unhappy man.
 litical scheming and private ha
 - had done their worst.
 ..e. The prisoner was carried paci 1F Inveraray prison and was afterw - transferred to the scene of ms NS mer confinement at Fort VIII O6s Following his execution the
 body was hung in chains as
 rected. and the Kings soldiers