Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-08
CRIME ADMISSIONS
OF CAMPBELL WILL
Be FULLY PR0BED
Negroes Alleged Woman VIC
tins Likely to Be Sum-
moned Soon.


United States Attorney Laskey IN
tends there shall be no delay In thor-
ouzhIy sitting the confessions OF nuT-
der. heinous assaults and less serious
ofrenses against women made by Will
liam Henry Campbell. colored. wy
lie court. who was arrested by Detec-
tive Darnall OF the tenth precinct
Following a conference with lnspec-
tor Grant, chief of detectives. yes
terday afternoon, 1t is stated. the
prosecuting officer gave directions to
members of his force TO begin an in
tomorrow.
Gleason, 5 Nicholson street, and Miss
Louise Simmons. coiored teacher in
the Reno School. prosecuting witnesses
in the case in which Randall was con-
victed, will be summoned TO the
district attorneys office tomorrow. The
Mann also will claim early attention.
Inquiry Probable Wednesday.
Grand jury investigation of Camp
bells confession may begin when that
body meets Wednesday. The meeting
of the grand jury will not be special
session. but the present body may
continue the investigation.
When Campbell appeared in Police
Court yesterday he was greeted by
warrant alleging that he murdered
Mrs. Gertrude Harrison Mann. whose
body was found near Porter and Rod
man streets, just west of Connecticut
avenue. the afternoon of March IL,
1919, the day following her murder.
There was no formal arraignment, but
hea yad
Additional charges of robbery and as
sault will be preferred Wednesday.
1t is believed that the prisoner will
be given no Police Court hearing on
the murder charge. but that that case
will go direct to the grand jury.
Similar action probably will be taken
in the other cases. Attorneys Samuel
V. Gusack and Thomas Beckett.
counsel for Louis Randall. whose life
was spared by executive clemency,
confession which may mean his liberia
tion.
As to Pardon Application.
Mr.. Gusack says no application for
a full pardon will be made until the
district attorney is convinced of the
truthfulness of Campbell'S confession.
1t then will not be necessary to await
the result of CampbelFs trial before
filing application.
"At no time during the trials of
Randall did I doubt his innocence"
said Mr.. Gusack. He was placed on
the stand when he was on trial for
attempted criminal assault upon Miss
Simmons, and with conviction against
him il was useless to put him on the
stand in the case in which Mrs. Glea-
son was the prosecuting witness
In the Simmons case. he added.
the jury remained out about two
hours"
Impressed by Campbell.
Both Maj. Gessford and Inspector
of Campbell iii his confessions. Both
assert that the prisoner gave minor
details connected with the assaults
for which Randall and Eaglan are
serving time which could not have
been told by any person other than
one implicated. =
TT seems incredible that the prison
er could have retained in his mind all
the information" said Mai Gessford
even if he had read it in the news
led the men to the exact spots where
the crimes were committed unless he
had been there"
Details in Confession.
Detectives, discussing the confess
sions with Star reporter last night
said they supposed no person would
or could doubt the truthfulness of
Campbelrs statement regarding the
of Mrs. Mann. His statement
not only included one of making the
attack with the piece of charred stick,
but told of the whereabouts of the
ring he took from the murdered wom-
ans finger and of the whereabouts
of her watch.
Recovery of these articles, it was
urged. certainly fixes guilty knowl-
edge OF the murder upon the prisoner.
campbell, according to the detectives
went over the murder case in every
detail. his statements corroborating
shortly after the finding of Mrs.
Mann's body.
In connection with the assault upon
Mrs Gleason. the detectives point to
the fact that Campbell was able to
go into Rays woods, off the beaten
attack was made. His statement of
the yellow dog following him and
onapping at him, the police believe,
il far more than a trifling incident.
Detective Il Convinced.
Detective Darnall says he was fully
convinced Campbell made the attack
upon Miss Mary Saunders near a
bridge over a small stream between
Chevy Chase and Wisconsin avenue,
u esime for which Forest Eaglan is
uRder sentence of twenty years in
tue Maryland penitentiary.
IL was in the case of Miss Saunders
that the victims shoe was dragged
from her foot and used in beating
her over her head until she was help
less. Campbell was able to tell every
detail of the struggle he said he had
with Miss Saunders. and Detective
Darnall pointed to his description of
tho young lady'S dress as evidence of
the truthfulness of his confession.
inspector Grant refused to COM
ynent upon the confession made by
lnr prisoner. He had previously
seated that he believed Campbell had
told the truth
In Hands of District Attorney.
'The whole affair is now in the
hands of the district attorney" he
said, and it is for him to determine
what shall be done with the pris-
one"
Mrs. Gleason and Miss Simmons
ws,a, doubtless. be-taken separatelyto
be viewed by the prisoner. it is
stated.
Both Mrs. Gleason and Miss Sim
mons were positive in their identifi-
cation of Louis Randall. according
to United States Attorney Laskey,
and the police feel that it was merely
. case of mistaken identity.
Randall and EagIan.
1t could not be learned last night
whether Louis Randall or Forest
Eaglan had been advised of Camp
bells confession. Randalrs counsel
already have taken an active interest
in behalf of their client.
The assault on Miss Saunders, COM
mitted in Maryland, will not claim
the attention of the local grand jury.
Maryland authorities and Teniey-
town policemen who figured in Eag-
lan's arrest are not satisfied that a
mistake has been made in Eaglan's
case.