The Acquittal of Dr. Campbell
After a grueling trial, a jury finds the doctor not guilty in the death of a patient.
The long and costly trial of Dr. W. P. Campbell, the blind physician charged with the death of Charles by the administration of morphine, ended in a verdict of 'not guilty' by the jury at 4:55 yesterday, after having been out 14 hours. Dr. Campbell remained in his cell by the advice of his counsel and was unaware of the verdict when the jury returned. The verdict was read by the foreman, John Yentis. Judge Robinson thanked the jury, and they were then discharged. The jury went out at 2:50 Saturday afternoon, and on the first ballot stood five for conviction and seven for acquittal. They worried along until yesterday at 4:30 when an agreement was finally reached. The doctor was thoroughly worn out and was so weak that he could only express his relief when informed by his counsel. Even at the beginning of the trial, he had the appearance of a corpse, and it was only his iron will that kept him up at all.
“Even at the beginning of the trial, he had the appearance of a corpse, and it was only his iron will that kept him up at all.”
Medical malpractice trials in the 1890s were often high-stakes public spectacles that could ruin a professional reputation overnight. This case highlights the intense scrutiny physicians faced in a growing Olympia, where the line between a tragic medical error and criminal negligence was often blurred by public opinion.
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