Convicting the Innocent.

The article reports on the New York case of Campbell v. State, claimant, who had been erroneously convicted of the crime of forgery in the second degree, was awarded 115,000 dollar as damages for suffering, humiliation, deprivation of liberty and civil rights, and loss of earnings. The award covered the seven and one-half year period from his arrest until his pardon by the Governor of the State of New York. Three and one-half years of this time were spent in prison and the remainder on parole. Campbell, a securities salesman, was arrested in 1938 due to his supposed similarity in appearance to the person guilty of passing numerous forged checks in the New York City area. He was convicted and sentenced to a five to ten year term in prison largely on the basis of positive identification by officers and employees of the banks upon whom the forgeries were perpetrated. The State of New York responded generously in attempting to rectify the wrong done to Campbell, although unfortunately be lived only a short while after the claim was adjudicated. Thus far, however, only three states, California, Wisconsin and North Dakota have provided by statute for the arbitration of such claims against the state by administrative boards.