Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-07
NEGRO CONFESSES
TO THREE MORE
HE|N0US CRIMES
Campbell Admits Attacking
Women, 0ffenses Other Men
Are in Prison For.

trude Harrison Mann, has added three
more heinous crimes against Washing
ton and Maryland women to his record,
in his statement to the police. Accord
ing to Campbell he attacked:
Mrs. Bessie Gleason, June 80, 1919,
near a patch of woods on Rays hill.
Miss Louise Simmons, colored school
teacher, June %. 1919. on Fessenden
street, between Wisconsin avenue and
Connecticut avenue.
Miss Mary Saunders, July 5. 1919,
west of Connecticut avenue near Som
erset Heights.
Others Serving Terms
Two other men, Louis Randall and
Forest Eaglan, both colOred, are serv-
ing long sentences in the penitentiary
after being convicted of these crimes
Randall was convicted of the assaults
upon Mrs. Gleason and Miss Louise
Simmons. and last week began forty
five-year term in the Atlanta peniten-
uary. Eaglan is serving a twenty-year
term in the Baltimore penitentiary for
assault upon Miss Mary Saunders.
If Campbelrs confessions are sub
Stimulated. these men will be released.
Early steps to bring about their re-
lease are expected.
today. He was later committed to Jail
to await hearing in court Wednesday.
Confer ON COnfessions.
Inspector Grant conferred this
morning with United States Attorney
Laskey in reference to the Campbell
confessions. Both declined to. give
out any information as to the con-
ference
"Campbell's confession is important,
if true" said Mr.. Laskey today, when
asked what action he would take
looking to the release of Randall,
but l shall do nothing until an
application for pardon, if one be made,
shall be referred to me by the De-
partment of Justice for recommenda-
ton
Randall Trial Recalled.
Mr.. Laskey recalled the testimony at
both trials of Randall, where both VIC
Tins were positive in their identification
of their assailant Unless Campbells
confession is corroborated, he intimated
that too much credence should not be
placed in il.
who prosecuted both cases
against Randall, declared the identi-
fcation by the victims was most pos
tive. The colored school teacher was
shown a number of prisoners. he said.
and declared none was her assailant,
but when Randall, with others. was
paraded before her she exclaimed.
was said to have partially identified
another man. denied this on the wit
ness stand, Mr.. Cromelin recalled,
and stated positively that Randall as
saulted her after she had struggled
with him for twenty minutes. The
vicinity near the time of the assault,
Mr.. Cromelin said.
To Ask Pardon for Randall.
vr1
for Louis Randall, colored, at his trial
for an assault on Mrs. Gleason, stated
today that he would make application
to President Wilson for an immediate
pardon for Randall. The lawyer will
present to the pardon clerk Of the De-
Campbell and will ask for the release
of Randall, who ten days ago began
serving his sentence
Randall was sentenced to death for
the assault on Mrs Gleason. but Presi-
dent Wilson commuted the sentence to
tence of fifteen years imposed by Justice
Stafford, for an attempted assault on
Louise Simmons, colored. school
teacher.
Tells of Other Crimes.
Whether Campbell was Influenced or
not by the old adage that he might
as well be hanged for a sheep as a
lamb he appears to have made a
clean breast of it when he was ques-
toned further by the police last night.
Besides these major crimes, Campbell
confessed to having attacked and rob-
bed several other women Of their
pocket books, among them being Mrs.
Bertha Toms. 734 5th street. assaulted
and robbed of her pocket book con-
tanning $40. June 6. 1919. on Grant
road. and Miss Mabel Stiles, 1905
Webster street, assaulted on Allison
street between Georgia avenue and
l4th street, June %. 1919.
Gave Details of Crimes.
Campbell, according to Inspector
Grant, has a remarkable memory. and
statements he made as to the crimes
he committed, he said, were such as
to make certain he was telling the
truth. The inspector said the pris-
oner was able to recall how his several
victims were dressed and what they
said 10 him in their pleadings- He
also was able to accompany detec-
tives to the scenes of the several
crimes and point to the exact spots
where he felled his victims.
Inspector Grant and Detectives
Kelly, Scrivener and Sweeney. who ar
rested Louis Randall, were doubtful
as to the prisoners guilt. although he
was identified as the assailant of Mrs.
Gleason and Miss Simmons and was
convicted by jury. Not only did the
detectives doubt his guilt, but they
made known their doubt in court and
later signed the petition which saved
Randall from the gallows for the as
sault on Mrs. Gleason.
Yesterday afternoon Inspector Grant
had Campbell brought to his office.
where he was questioned in the pres.
ence of Detectives CornweIl, O'Brien,
Mullen and Embrey. 1t was not un-
til after the case of Mrs. Mann had
been further discussed that Inspector
Grant turned to Campbell and told
him of the two men serving terms in
prison for crimes it was suspected he
had committed.
Campbell was told that several
crimes had been committed in June
and July of last year and was asked
if he knew anything about them He
hung his head and made no reply.
IF you committed any of them"
suggested the inspector. you should
not permit innocent men to suffer for
them.