The Handprint
Like a cry for justice from beyond the grave, the mysterious handprint of a man wrongly hanged over a 100 years ago remains on the wall of his cell - even though the original wall was replaced!
Alexander Campbell was convicted of being an accessory to murder in 1877, but proclaimed his innocence to the bitter end.
As he was led out of his jail cell for the final time, he slapped a grimy handprint on the wall and declared it would remain there forever as a reminder of the injustice that took his life.
Over the years, superstitious sheriffs in Carbon County, PA have painted over the ominous wall and even knocked it down. But the cursed handprint ALWAYS reappeared.
"There's no logical explanation for it," says James Starrs, a forensic scientist from George Washington University who's investigating the bizarre mark. "It looks like a child's handprint on a white wall."
For more than a century, Campbell's print has baffled sheriff's and prisoners. Eventually, it attracted curiosity seekers from all over the country. They're fascinated by the eerie image, which authorities have been trying to wipe out.
"In 1930, a sheriff named Biegler wanted to put an end to the legend," says Starrs. "He had the county road gang tear down the wall an put in a new one. Biegler had went to sleep, certain that he had forever removed the so called miracle. But when he woke up the next day, he was shocked to see the handprint had reappeared!"
Thirty years later, Sheriff Charles Neast tried to cover over it with green latex paint. "But it soon became clearly visible." says Neast.
Recently Starrs and Jeff Kercheval, a police chemist from Hagerstown, MD analyzed the strange mark using infrared photography and other high-tech equipment.
"We did everything short of painting over the print or literally taking it off the wall." says the current warden Bill Juracka.
"Campbell was a hotel owner and a liquor distributor, so he was viewed as an Irishman who made good." says Starrs. "Prosecutors felt he was the backbone of the murder plot."
The businessman vehemently maintained his innocence throughout his trial. And before being led from his jail cell to his horrible fate, he left his lasting impression. Says Starrs: "When the sheriff came to get him, Campbell declared 'I am innocent, I was nowhere near the scene of the crime.'
"Then he reached up and rubbed the wall with his hand and said: 'There is proof of my words. That mark of mine will NEVER be wiped out. It will remain forever to shame the county for hanging an innocent man.' "
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