The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-16

.
LAMssrAaAA OccuaaaHos AnD DsArH.-Ths
eonmas'ty vac clarified. yesterday, at the intelh-
gsnce that Mr.. Robert A. Hs v Re, 4 msssenRer in
the Poet Once Department. (resfding on N be-
tween Seventh and Eighth strects.) had taken the
life of his wife, BY iuac.ing wounds upon her
throat with razor. t-r Tr..r-, p sar ~.
The particulars Of this ira gsdy are hrea these:
For some montbs past Mr.. Hawke has been in q
msancholy state Of mind. On Saturday night the
family retired to bed ussa about nine o'clock;
he and HIS vito occupying the front, and their
child q GIRL probably thirteen years of age) the
| back chamber on the Same floor fee minutes
after ten O'Clock the last named was aroused from
| slumber by the screams of her mother. who bad
leaped from bed and rapidly descending the
stairs, while her father, who had raised the win
dow, was crying in loud tone, as If addressing
persons in the street. that he had cut his wife's
throat and his own, and that he intended to cut
| that of bis child,
Mrs. Hawke having reached the street door, en-
dcavorsd TO make a communication to lad who at
that time was passing to his home, which adioined
her own; but she unable to artculate, and
meantime convu lsively clasped her throat with
her hand. In her agony she retreated into the
house, and shortly afterwards resppeared. but was
again unsuccessful in her attempt TO speak. The
neishbors, however, we're soon alarmed, and on
entering the premises they discovered the unfortu-
nate woman lying on the floor in the agonics of
death. her night clothes saturated with blood. the
arteries and windpipe having been completely
severed while her wretched husband was stand
| ing near to her, Tin his drawers,) with bic arms
extended, painfully exclaiming. sob, / have
| killed my wife 1 have cut my wiie's throat %
The child occupied a position the stairs, ming
| hing her cries with the declaration of her guilty
| father.
| He had made two cuts at his throat, causing a
large flow of blood but which not considered
| dan gerous. From his own statement, his WIFE
after she wounded, seized the razor, thereby
cutting her hand, and by this Interference prevent
ed him from communicating his design upon him
self. ''If my wife," he said chad not knockc it
out Of my hand, would not now be here"
| Mr.. Hawke was arrested on the same night, and
| taken to the central watch. house, where he ac-
know ged that he had cut his wife's throat but
was not aware that she died in Consequence A
razor similar to that he had made use Of was pro-
| duced from his pocket, on being asked if he had
one in his possession. He was finally committed
| to Jail.
| Yesterday morning an inquest was held the
| body of Mrs. Hawke, and verdict rendered, that
| from the evidence upon which We mainly rely in
|
death by having her throat cut with razor in the
| hands of her husband while he was in a state of
/ mental deran cement.
| MIR. Hawke has heretofore sustained good
character, and had the reputation of being kind
husband and father. While the community is
horror struck at the tragedy, there 10 much sym-
| pathy excited in his behalf.
The following ia copy Of what be had written
on the same day that he committed the dreadful
deed, which explains somewhat the feelings by
which at the time he was sctuated;
| WAsHIsGroN CRY, ID. C May IA. 1853.
| Citizens you who have deprived me of the many
| privileges which every other mortal enjoys; you
| who have treated me very unkind and unchris-
/ tianliks; you who have been very inhuman and
/ severe to an extent have not meritsd; you who
| have disregardsd my sacred rights, which every
| good, peaceable. and honest man, 10 the relation
| of husband, father, and citizen of civilized,
! christian community, has right to claim, and
| circumscribed all my actions conversation, privi-
leges and conduct; you who have threatened to
take the life, the property, and the dear wife of a
feeble and emaciated fellow creature, for mere
tribes, for small offences for which be was sorry
| for-I say to you all, who have conspred and con-
tinued to couspire, against the lawful rights of him
that had done you no harm, after being often
convinced of your error: 1t ia to all such that |
| would say, Come, behold the deed which you have
caused. On. most horrible. Oh, my God, have
mercy, and forgive me. Oh, my God, how can /?
/ v,
from a world . cold and unreasonable. On my
dear beloved vile, oh, my dear beloved child,
| love you both AS love my life, but the world
| would not permit me to live here in happiness
! with you. Add to you, Julia, my dear mother
| would say, Be not troubled, but strive 10 meet
me in that blest abode where happiness peace,
! and Justice reigns; and to all my relations and
i friends farewell; and all have offended
| / ask for giveness; and of my friends and the
| community ask favor that thew will dispose of
my poor emaciated remains in a decent, respecta-
| bIe and becoming manner; and, farther, that they
will do no further violence to these poor bones,
and that they will not expose them the idle gaze
of the public. eoujure you by all that ia sacred
to comply with this my reQusaf; yes, grant this,
one of my last requests. And 1 beg that Miss
Mary Marion will accept my watch as memento
from unfortunate friend; and AJAX the favor of
/ my friend, Mr.. Marion, that be will see all my
| requests complied with, and that my effects and
the amount of my claim gainst the Government
may be disposed of as shall desire, to wit: After
my debts are paid, and the funeral expenses are
also paid, that the balance may be disposed of as
follows: half to Julia, my mother; balance TO
Eliza Hart, my uncle Thomas A. Hawke, my Bro
ther.in law Patrick Sweeney, and M sister in. la W
Mrs. Cecilia Evans; and con jure you, by all that
10 good and sacred, that my dear, sweet, pure,
holy, good, and amiable, and devoted wife, and my
dear beloved daughter may be laid by m side, die
when they will; and let priest bury me-
Grant these requests of the poor, unfortunate,
afflicted, and unhappy