Alexander Campbell (c. 1833 – June 21, 1877)[1] was a tavern owner, who, with three other convicted Molly Maguires, was hanged for the murders of two mine operatives.
Campbell proclaimed his innocence to the end, and in doing so, slapped a muddy handprint on the wall of his prison cell, declaring the mark would remain forever as a sign of his innocence.[2] Legend has it that despite many attempts to remove it, including building a new wall, the mark still remains today.[3]
The Molly Maguires were generally seen, outside their circle of supporters, as murderers, terrorists, and foreign agitators.[6] In 1877, along with three other men (Michael Doyle, John Donahue and Edward Kelly), Campbell was convicted of the murders of John P. Jones and Morgan Powell,[1] but he admitted to only being an accessory.[7] Evidence collected was presented by a single detective from the Pinkerton Agency.[6]
The convicts were taken to Carbon County Jail, and Campbell was assigned to cell #17.[3] For days they were forced to listen to the noise made whilst the gallows were being built, outside in the courtyard. On the morning of execution, the courtyard was packed with people. The convicts kept their dignity, but when the guards went to fetch Campbell, he tried one last time to proclaim his innocence.[6] When they refused to let him go, he put his hand in the dirt, and marked the wall with it, stating the mark would remain forever as a sign of his innocence. All four men were then hanged.[2]
The handprint
The handprint Campbell left is still there today, although the wall has been washed, painted over, and, according to some versions, even knocked down and replaced. A forensic scientist who examined the handprint with infrared photography in the 1990s concluded that it had never been painted over, and stated that the history of Campbell's execution suggests a right hand print on the wall, rather than the left hand print that is currently visible.[3] The prison is listed on the National Register of Historic labor conflicts.[8]
Pennsylvania legislature
Both branches of the Pennsylvania legislature have passed resolutions (House Resolution No. 527, Session of 2005,[9] and Senate Resolution No. 235 Session of 2006)[10] asserting that the trial of Campbell and the three other accused Molly Maguires was "inherently unconstitutional."
alexander, campbell, suspected, molly, maguire, alexander, campbell, 1833, june, 1877, tavern, owner, with, three, other, convicted, molly, maguires, hanged, murders, mine, operatives, alexander, campbellalexander, campbellbornc, 1833dungloe, county, donegal, . Alexander Campbell c 1833 June 21 1877 1 was a tavern owner who with three other convicted Molly Maguires was hanged for the murders of two mine operatives Alexander CampbellAlexander CampbellBornc 1833Dungloe County Donegal IrelandDied1877 aged 43 44 Mauch Chunk Pennsylvania U S Campbell proclaimed his innocence to the end and in doing so slapped a muddy handprint on the wall of his prison cell declaring the mark would remain forever as a sign of his innocence 2 Legend has it that despite many attempts to remove it including building a new wall the mark still remains today 3 Contents 1 Life 2 Crime and punishment 3 The handprint 4 Pennsylvania legislature 5 ReferencesLife EditCampbell was born in Dungloe County Donegal Ireland around 1833 In 1868 he emigrated to the United States where he began operating a tavern in the eastern Pennsylvania town of Tamaqua Campbell later moved to Storm Hill in Lansford where he served as a recruiter for the Ancient Order of Hibernians 4 He became a hotel owner and liquor distributor 5 and was allegedly a member of the Mollies 2 This was a term used in the Pennsylvanian coal mining counties Carbon and Schuylkill by miners mainly Irish immigrants to describe those who took part in organized labor movements and violently resisted conscription 4 Crime and punishment EditThe Molly Maguires were generally seen outside their circle of supporters as murderers terrorists and foreign agitators 6 In 1877 along with three other men Michael Doyle John Donahue and Edward Kelly Campbell was convicted of the murders of John P Jones and Morgan Powell 1 but he admitted to only being an accessory 7 Evidence collected was presented by a single detective from the Pinkerton Agency 6 The convicts were taken to Carbon County Jail and Campbell was assigned to cell 17 3 For days they were forced to listen to the noise made whilst the gallows were being built outside in the courtyard On the morning of execution the courtyard was packed with people The convicts kept their dignity but when the guards went to fetch Campbell he tried one last time to proclaim his innocence 6 When they refused to let him go he put his hand in the dirt and marked the wall with it stating the mark would remain forever as a sign of his innocence All four men were then hanged 2 The handprint EditThe handprint Campbell left is still there today although the wall has been washed painted over and according to some versions even knocked down and replaced A forensic scientist who examined the handprint with infrared photography in the 1990s concluded that it had never been painted over and stated that the history of Campbell s execution suggests a right hand print on the wall rather than the left hand print that is currently visible 3 The prison is listed on the National Register of Historic labor conflicts 8 Pennsylvania legislature EditBoth branches of the Pennsylvania legislature have passed resolutions House Resolution No 527 Session of 2005 9 and Senate Resolution No 235 Session of 2006 10 asserting that the trial of Campbell and the three other accused Molly Maguires was inherently unconstitutional References Edit a b Molly Maguires Retrieved 2007 07 21 a b c The Handprint Archived from the original on May 17 2007 Retrieved 2007 06 26 a b c O Donnell Matt 2007 06 01 The Ghostly Handprint An Action News Special Report ABC News Archived from the original on 2012 08 12 Retrieved 2007 06 26 a b paw history Archived from the original on 22 June 2007 Retrieved 2007 06 26 Welcome To Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania Archived from the original on June 30 2007 Retrieved 2007 06 26 a b c The myth of the Molly Maguires an Irish rebel group in America The Crime library Archived from the original on 2008 06 05 Retrieved 2007 06 26 Famous haunted crime scenes amp stories about them Crime Library The Crime library Archived from the original on 2008 05 31 Retrieved 2007 06 26 Carbon County Jail National Register of Historic Places Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Travel Itinerary Retrieved 2007 06 27 HR527 SR235 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Campbell suspected Molly Maguire amp oldid 1115130986, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
