Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-14
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF MAJ. CAMPBELL.

Dueling has Ie-u-,eu in many dis
 ~ressing tras sedies, and in not a few instances the parties en- aged on
 the field of honor have been seri-
 ously dealt with. The most depiCr- Aole duel in the United S>a,es was
 that in which Aaron Burr deprive, this country of one of it's most dis tinguished men, Alexander Hamilton, and a duel which was Sumnlariiy dealt with by the English government, was that fought between Maj. Henry Al eXander Campbell and Capt. AleXan- der Boyd. Capt. Boyd, like Hamil
 >on, was killed, and a result of his death Maj. Campbell was tried, con demned and executed.
 The trial was begun on Aug. 10, 1898, at the Armagh Assizes. At the time Of the tragedy Campbell was
 JreVet major in the English army and a captain of the Twenty Regi- ment. In June of the previous veal both officers were quartered in the barracks in the county of Armagh.
 On the 23d Of that month q quarrel took place between the two officers as
 to the way Campbell had given an order. Campbell had been corrected
 by his superior officer, Gen. Ker, and
 Boyd sided with him and sneeringly referred to Canpbclls. intelligence as an officer, so much so that the major could not consistently with his feel ings pass it oyer.
 The duel was fought iu a room of the barracks and was not witnessed by anyone. The first the other officers knew that q tragedy had happened was when they heard the shot and rushed to the room, where they found Boyd lyin" on the floor. V hen the officers arrived Campbell said to the Injured Oncer: "boyu, before these or f3cers, was everything fair?H To this Boyd replied: "Oh, no Campbell, you know ] wanted you to wait and have friends
 Campbell then said: Good God, did you not say you were ready?" To this Boyd answered ''yes," after which the dying man was helped into the next room where he died.
 Campbell continued with his regi- ment for some time when ne fled in disguise, but finally gave himself up for trial Many witnesses told of what had transDired after the shooting and up to the time of Boyds death. The GGt anSe set up was merely and eX- ClusiVely as to the character of the prisoner for humanity. peaceable con duct. and proper behavior. and many officers testified as to this.
 The judge cnal eu the jury in 9 most able manner, recapitulating the evidence and explained the law on the subject. The jury retired and was only out half an hour when they brought in Q verdict of guilty of mur- der with a recommendation to mercy 1 on the score of the Majors good char aCter. He was sentenced 10 be exc cuted on the following Monday, but was respited until W ednesday.
 After the trial the Major wrote 1 his wife a long letter which began
 as follows: My trial is at length over. WetVe impartial men. anu my 1 own Countrymen, have on their oatha l 0eClRTH6 t-i3ilfNr 0f world has now no charms for me. ! When the honor of soldier is tar 1 nlshed, the mantle of death canno, envelope nim too quickly, but the l separation from you and my children i embitter the last moments Ot existence 1 Death, but for this. would be q pleas ing emancipation from Woe.'
 The faithful wife sent a. most ap- peaIng letter to His Majesty, George 1 III. to spare his life, in which she de-
 fenoed the actions Of her husband ln
 the following paragraph: Reflect 1 most ausU-l I>Aua. ..- the .A,. es
 which produced this melancholy ca
 tastrophe. My unhappy husband, on 1 tile esentfuI Zod oL o-ue, Was uulcn.s .s
 reprimanded in the presence or the 1 whole regiment by his commanding of hcer, for pronOuncing a military or 1 der which was sanctioned as correct 1 by the highest authority. How could the public rebuke fail of irritating his feelings? And in this state of irrita- Gon did his departed friend Capt 1 Boyd, sting his heart anew with l language which no gentleman could submit to hear with impunity'
 Maj. Campbell was executed at noor
 on Wednesday, Aug. S1, 1908. amidst
 q vast multitude Of spectators. He | met his death with pious and becoIn- ing fortitude, having spent his last moments with Dr. Bowie. the father of his amiable and distressed widow He was buried at Ayr in Scotland 1T the family vault
 Maj Campbell was a first cous.r
 to the Earl Of Breadalband and a,
 his death left four small children. IT to the evening Of the duel he had beer on the most friendly terms with Capt Boyd. and his unfortunate end was 1 brought about by an uEgoyernabls
 temper and due to the high sense ol h1uor of the CampneIls of Scotland
 when they are accused of lying. |
 Wa an unfortunate incident IUr pot.
 men concerned, and went far toward curbing the dueiing spirit so prevalcn at the time in Ireland.