Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-02-17
Tho Hawesville Tragedy.
IFrom the Lomsville Democrat
u,wssvtliRL XIV. Eel


Gentlemen: The excitement has somewhat sub
sided here. The coroner has been holding an 10
oueSt over the body of DIR. II. A. Dawson since
Yesterday evening. The following has been eci.
! ted William Dawson. IN son Of the deceaseI.
stated that he knew nothing IL his fathers inten'
| lions but said he acted quite strange Tor some
| time ra.t. lie produced two letters. ono to l'a
wife and one to his sons. fr''m DIR. II. A. Dawson.
| The letter to his wife is rs fellows:
UAwEsvfLLE, KY. Feb. 4.
w Dear JP,f and. Chiid,en This day ]
leave unknown u You and every person on enrth
FIR tho spiritual rcgions-it il MT the fear II tron
Bio here tn At causes me to select this mode Of c
! partnre For months past | have
weighed well the circumstances that control this
county. and zee no chance for justice. liza poor
man Ln. the Sterretts nnd McAdams with him. he
j. sure of and more than hi just rights; II against
him hc stands mere chance than feather IN
u furnace. If this does NOT cause noe. 'coe. Doe,
t,oe roc, unto all that is good and vrtuous in
this county am willing-as no peaceable means
can ever snljue vicious and unprincpled wealth,
such as VIC have here--I have tried for over
lhrly year---to lay down my life that IA
ro,ton If the blightiug curse that has east its
Miilcting influence over tho land Of my birth
In over quarter Of n century, may be removed,
nn1 n chance given 10 the good and vrtuous to
I've in f,end-bip--that fair fame may be once
established in this county beioresho goes out OF ex-
i.tence
Ma. do not suppose my love Of family has
grown c,s NJ, love Of all that is good aud vr-
t1pus has only increased. but cannot stand the
idea Of having the bare lies sworn by influential
men ssary ,oimprison me, and tiena md
a,sas.inniion such ~ meli,ned- / choose rath-
to de- and. in doing ~, - relieve all can of
tfuubie.
Grrtc not for me- however IN ust the world may
bo to my memory, leave with n clear conscience
Of having done She best in my. power under the
circumstances.
ue,er was before 50 fully convinced of the in.
1ucnre Of weal h-if prayer could avail anything
he desire should be sent forth that wealth seek
ilcygults Of homes, anl inst men only.
Nm ha,r five SON md know the material they
are mlde u, therefore know they viii. never for
slke volt
Farewell to you all, aud give my love /, ali
- II people wherever found.
II. A. Dawson.
y Il have been tho prosecutors of these
de,i- until my paIlrnec is exhausted.
II. A. DAWSON.
iIr signci h4 name in bold, iuil hand
Aneher letter was also handed in by his son. 1t.
was rs uliows:
H,wE,uiLE. KY. Jan. 90.
IL bur Jane ths wilej: - That have left you
n, nntyrcc,ei to You is nat because | have lowed
va l,ss, but that have irred you mare. Yours,
III eternity. III ,RDIN a. Dawson.
cl,r,afr, WAS the iallwin.:
W Ca&iren: If should disappear in any
way. want y"u Immediately to open this letter,
lnt under no other circumstances must it be
oncnci
III. A. Dawson.
II i. evident from the above letters that he in
ten lei to destroy HIMSELF and that he has had the
th,nG in conemI aiirn for several weeks 1t is now
evident thnt he he'll the basket containing the
"hoom on his arm. All the persons in the house
trs'ii i that when he entered the store he bad
s,nrthing under his cloak Che ALWAYS wore
,'uaiO when he approached the fire Mt the back
lart Of tho store they were all sitting by
the tie Csc. When lie came close TO-, or among
IN. le stopped little, and they heard click
tla,. Instantly tho report Of the bomb followed,
anl the h,usc was in ruins. How my escaped
WIKI lncir lives is miracle lie entered, it APP
Pears. 10 gct the Mrssrs. McAdams too. They
ara 18th gentlemen OF high.tone1 principles and
greatly esteemed by the whole county. They are
r,Dt,tmrn OF the highest rrlcr. 1t is u fortunate
tnir. obey did not fall victims.
They we're some fifty or sixty persons examined
bat nothing clicrcl that implicated person as
LeiuS connected with tho sad affair. Mr.. Hath
hor., timer OF Cannelton. Ind, testified to hay
inI u8de the box it was Ia hold five quarts
b4,il-ln is 10 lie buried this evening. Excite
mcut has entirely cca~cd.
iI1n. VIM Stcrrrt is vet very low; it is quitr
doubtful as to his recovery. Should he die, this
county Will BE- robbed OF one uf its best citizens.
j g.. paAcan is quite low hu' improving.
|; !, thought by some that Davidson was insane.
Ia that he ns i, may, he had his plans laid deep
AMI well connected.
14rre is NOT n man in this place that ind rscs
the at. but ii is rcinliatol by all aud should il
h.. found ont that ANY person else was implicated
ia ,ia -ad affair. he woud lr hung without iuig"
" jury. II is To be hoped that our county will
$ 1ou be ut peace.