The Washington herald., 1920-08-08
MURDER TRIAL
FOR CAMPBELL
Confessed Slayer and Thief
To Be Arraigned Next
Wednesday.

William Henry Campbell, colored,
confessed murderer of Mrs. Ger
trude Harrison Mann, Washington
music teacher, who has also con-
fessed to attacking Mrs. Bessie
Gleason, Miss Louise Simmons and
Miss Mary Saunders. and numerous
pocketbook snatchings and house
breakings. will this week face a
Federal warrant charging him with
nrst degree murder.
He will be arraigned before Judge
Hardison in Police Court Wednes-
day.
In the meantime authorities are
postponing action toward the re-
lease of Louis Randall. colored,
serving forty-five years in Atlanta
for the Gleason and Simmons as
ssults, and Forrest Eaglan, colored,
serving twenty years in the Mary
land State penitentiary for the
Saunders case
VIII Probe Confessions.
Montgomery County officials, who
handled Eaglan's prosecution, like
wise will make no move toward
the latter's release until they have
fessions and established its truth.
The charge of first degree muir
der against Campbell will be pre-
sented to the grand jury this week
for action-and I believe quick ac-
tion will be had" said United States
Attorney John Z. Lsskey yesterday,
Campbell was brought from tho
Jail yesterday for arraignment, but
because of the absence of certain
witnesses Assistant District Attor-
ney Ralph Given asked that he be
committed without bail on a house
breaking charge.
Lsskey to Go slow.
The government authorities. 1t
was announced, are not going to
look upon the trials Of Eaglan and
Randall as miscsrriages of justice
until they are absolutely sure that
Campbell is really guilty. Both the
District Attorneys office and the
police department are busy trying
to prove or disprove Campbelrs
thirty-five-page confession.
There is no occasion for the Dis
trict Attorneys office to take the
initiative in securing the release of
Louis Randall and Forrest Eaglan,
even II Campbell actually commit
ted the crimes for which these men
are now serving sentences" said
Laskey.
The parties interested in Ran
dali will first have to get together
and present a petition to the De-
partment of Justice for his release
on the ground of innocence. Then
the Department of Justice will refer
the matter to US. Until that time
we can do nothing in the matter.
AS for Eaglan, this office has
nothing whatever to do with that
case. That is up to the Maryland
authorities.
So Up to Police Now.
II san1.not prepared to comment
on the genuineness of Campbelrs
conf sssis Il relating to the attacks
on Mrs. Gleason, or Miss Simmons,
or Miss Saunders. That is a matter
for the police. just now.
All that we are prepared to do
now in any case is to see that the
grand jury gets the evidence
against Campbell for the alleged
murder of Mrs. Mann as soon as
possible"
Assistant District Attorney Paul
Is. CFOnellns WHO prosecuted LOUIS
Randall for the alleged attacks up
on Mrs. Gleason and Miss Simmons.
expressed the opinion yesterday that
from the evidence in possession of
the government at the time of the
trial. he believed Randall to be
guilty.
RandaIrs Attorney to Wait.
Samuel Gusack. counsel for Louis
Randall. will not apply to the De-
partment of Justice for a pardon
for his client until the Federal and
local authorities are fully satisfied
that Campbell is really guilty.
The attorney intimated that he
may take some action in the case
tomorrow and interview both Las
key and CrOm-lin.
Notwithstanding Campbell's con-
fession that it was he who attacked
and attempted to Criminally as
sauIt Miss Mary Saunders, for which
crime Eaglan was convicted in the
Circuit Court at Rockville, Nd.
former ami present Montgomery
County officials conversant with the
case insist that Eaglan's guilt wa;
established beyond the slightest
doubt. They declare that Camp
bells statement is a pure fabrica-
ton.
Confident of Guilt.
Both States Attorney Albert NJ
Bouic, and former Sheriff William
L. Aud, who took a leading part in
the Eaglan case, stated yesterday
that Eaglan's trial showed him to
be guilty. The case, it was pointed
out, was tried by Judges Urner, Pc
ter and WorthingtOn. who, by unan-
imous agreement, decided Eaglan
guilty.
Attorney Thomas L. Dawson, who
with former States Attorney BOuic
conducted the prosecution of EaG-
Ian. said any action toward Eag-
lan's release must originate with
Gov. RitChie. II the governor should
refer the case TO Montgomery Coun-
ty for recommendation, he said
nothing would be done until after
Campbells statement had been care
fully Investigated.