Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-06-19
I'm Rodents I'm the Life of n Fevon.

The career of the youthful Ed Hawkins
who has recently been sentenced to death
In Estill county, Ky, for the murder of
Land and Irwin would furnish an exciting
annal wherewith to embellish the Lives of
the Felons. lie is only about twenty-five
years of age, is robust and prepossessing in
appearance, possessing an air and feature
we'll calculated to deceive ladies of suscep-
tihility and yerdancy. He has been married
no less than half dozen times to Young and
interesting females, and they are all yet
living. At the time of his arrest he was pro-
menading with lady to whom he was en-
gagged to be married, who was to have been
the seventh victim of his arts. Young
notorious hrigano .~9n of Tom Hopper, the
bloody scenes of early Kentucky history
About the 18th of March last the subject
of this sketch stole horse in Madison
county, Kentucky He had disposed of his
small estate at Proctor, 0@lsiey county,
near which place he was apprehended By his
unfortunate victims, Land and Irwin on the
22d of the same month. The prisoner having
been conveyed some fifteen miles toward
Estill county, Irwin had dismounted and
given his horse to Hawkins who rode BY
the side of Land. In an uugarded moment
Hawkins caught Lands right hand, and,
reaching forward, drew his pistol (which
was self-coeking revolverl from his bosom.
He Immediately fred upon Irwin who was
walking BY bis side, the ball taking effect
in his left temple and passing out through
the under jaw. Land and Hawkins then
jumped or fell from their horses sirnulta-
neously; Land running some distance on his
hands and feet. Hawkins ran up to his
second victim with his pistol presented, when
Land raised his hands imploringly, invoking
Hawkins not to shoot. Hawkins fired, how
ever, and the shot took effect in Mr.. Lands
eye, killing him instantly. Irwin was still
struggling in death when found q few
minutes after the shooting. The murderer
wandered about for several days after he
had committed the double crime, and con-
fesses that he rambled back to the scene OF
the encounter the following Tuesday, his
path crossing the blood which had flowed
from the wounds of his innocent young
victims. He was finally traced to cavern
in the neighborhood, and was SO closely
pursued in his hiding place. that he heard
the conversation of his pursuers, and repeat
ed proposition made at the time to smoke
him from his concealment. Discovering an
opening into the cavern, he made his escape
into Ohio, whittier he was pursued by some
citizens of Estil county. They we're close
upon him at one time, when he eluded thell
vigilance by affecting to be a laborer. and
proceeded to place some rails on neigh
boring fence. His identity was SO nearly
recognised By one Of the party, that the re-
mark was made BY one Of the pursuers to a
companion that when they did find Hawkins
they would find man that almost exactly
resembled the individual laying the fence
before them. They passed on, however,
UNCONSCIOUS of the presence of the very in
dividual they we're SO eagerly pursuipg,-
He was subsequently identified ana arrested
near his fathers residence in Ohio, and con.
veyed to tie Estill county Jail. A popular
meeting was then held, which appealed tc
Judge Pearl for an immediate trial of the
prisoner. In accordance with the genera
wish the Judge convened his special tern
on the 9th ultimo. In the meantime
many citizens who were impatient at the
tardy administration Of instice, informed