Campbell, Chicago Daily Tribune, December 25, 1880

Lynched By A Mob. 

LOUISVILLE, Dec. 24.--A Horse Cave special to the Courier-Journal says: “Yesterday morning about daylight Esquire John A. Gardner, who lives about one mile from Rawlett’s Station, In Hart County, was called to go to his barn by a negro boy, Sam Campbell, who lived with him, telling him that one of his cows was sick at the barn. Gardner went immediately to the place, and on entering the door was knocked down and robbed by the negro boy. John Campbell, who lived in the neighborhood, a brother to Sam, had staid all night at Gardner’s the night before. News was conveyed to Mrs. Gardner that her husband was lying at the barn with his head mashed. An alarm was given, and in a few hours the whole community was gathered in and Gardner had been carried to his house by negroes and medical aid procured. Upon investigation strong suspicion rested upon the two negroes Sam and John Campbell. They were arrested and searched, and found in possession of a pocketbook and money which was identified by Gardner’s wife and others as Gardner’s property. They were taken to Manfordville and committed to jail, where they remained until about 12 o’clock last night, when they were called for by a party of seventy-five or one hundred men. The key to the outer door and cell in which they were was demanded of the jailer. The jailer saw that it would be useless to resist, and surrendered the key, requesting that they would not disturb the other prisoners. He was answered that the rest would not be molested. The jail was then entered and the prisoners taken out, and though [sic] the streets of the town down a hill side between the town and river, where they were suspended between the earth and sky to a limb of a tree. 

It is said that before they were executed the younger one, Sam, confessed his guilt, and said that John had persuaded him into the perpetration of the crime. It is said that John was stubborn, and only said that his people lived in Taylor County, Kentucky. They were about 20 and 22 years of age. Mr. Gardner is in a very critical condition at this time and considered by his physician as dangerously ill. His wounds are upon his face and head, and are several in number. His face is severely mangled and his head swollen.

 The negro had only been in the county a few months.