The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-28
EXECUTION OF THE NEGRO HAWKINS.

Conduct OF the Cuiprit at the GaIIows--
extraordinary Nerve and Resignation
OF the CONFERENCE.-The Speech and
Prayer for the Union, &C., Sc.
william Henry Hawkins. tho negro cook, who was
convicted OF the murder OF Captain William H.
Adams, Of the ship Llmergier suffered the extreme
penalty OF the law tho yard or tie City
Prison yesterday afternoon. The oulprit manifested
extraordinary fortitudo and resignation and when ~
the scanoid made very neat speech. in which he
sought TO justify himself Subsequently he INDUCED in
prayer in the Of which no took occasion to auds
In terms Of praise 70 President Lincoln and tho army
aow engaged in putting down the rebslon He was
extremely soctous that the Union should DO restored
again. and prayed that the hearts Of the slave masters
might be softsned that in due course OF time the
bondsmsn might be FREQ.
The particulars attending ths murder Of Captain
Adams are so esh in tho memory OF our readers that
scarcely necessary to rocapitulats the facts this
lsts hour Suffice 1t to say that tho deed was committed
In the English Channel, while tho Lamsrgsr her
way TO ths port. Captain Adams. it appears, became
dissatisfied with the manner in which the cooking
performed and spoke harshly to HSwkns about IT, Tho
latter became irrtated At the scoldng sand moment
II passion vowed vengeance upon the head ofhs superior
officer Accordingly, on the night Of the Goth Of Sep
sembor last he stole into the Captains ROOM where
~
with an adze. II is true the cook not to ad
minister the fatal blows, but circumstances pointed
closely to him that there room left for doubt.
He was convicted Of the crime before Judge Shpman
the month Of March last, and the I'd OF April he was
sentenced to be executed Strenuous efforts made
10 obtain communication Of sentence the hands the
President, but without success
SKETCH or THE CULPRrT HrMsELF.
The night before the execution was spent IN writing
and prayer The Rev. Mr. Garnet with the cuprit
during the ontre evening" and continued 10 converse
with him upon religious topics until after midnight
Hawkins then sat down, devoted All hour writing
go his friends and relatives alter which he drew up
short sketch Of hs lie, with tho request that it might
DO published in the newspapers. The autob Biography,
such rs IT was, ran as follows
Twas born in South Kingston, R. H. in 1928; left my
mother MOI a. inc age Of six yss and spent thirteen and
haii years with one man. then commenced going to
sea- and cooking part Of the time in hotels cook-shops
every port OF the American coast, and in number Vi
foreign ports and in vessels from seventy up
swo Thousand tons. have occasion 10 speak Of my
fare during this time, but may say that have had
better than some and than othss shared an
s nsS e Nv with aoorihg men would say word in be-
speak principally Of American ships. 1t is positive
sact that many captains are very tyrannous with their
men. They commence the ill treatment they
leave our ports and treat them that thoy are Obliged
70 leave II foreign ports for lear Of their lives many
are killed and hove into the Kmsa in many cases
make complaints to the consul in foreign port the
saptan brides the consul and he puts the ON board
the ship again. and if men, in many cases mako de.
mand for rscompenss the captain has preference on
the ground that the sailor is nothing less than
dog and the officers make their boast Of brbDs tho
lawyer 70 Keep the man waiting till the ship sails the
man 70 Obliged TO 60 himself would be well to look
into this important matter: speak Of this, for people
nving on shore don't soc this awful treatment. But
have met with good treatment until the last ship in
which sailed. The captain, Adams has the OF
sailed ss Of New YORK xs
COOK and steward shipped from the keeper Of the
C0lored Sailors Home" and he killed the and
cove him overheard At sea, and killed one Of the
Calao on the same voyage The Ill treatment Of this
captain has been the means or bringing this con-
eion, and Tor rebuking which am now condemned
Tho prisoner thon babe good night to his keepers
cnss uUon nis S.y' s FINLEY anu
esmarkabiy vol during the Aight, never waking up
until about half-past four o'clock
THE MORNING BEyoRE rHE ExECrnoN.
hswkns appeared quite refreshed after his nights
rest, and soon aer washing and dressing himself com
sosased occupation whsn one sos sn,ossd
with his breakfast which consisted OF cup coffee and
= roll He soon dispatched thsfrugal meal however,
Ahsn resumed his writing About O'Clock Mr.. sutton,
the Warden OF the prison. entered the cell Of the
.dsmned. and wished him good morning. Hawkins said
y joking way, compared himself TO President Lincoln
whose time occupied In writing. He then handed
the request that Il should be forwarded 10 his
sistsr with as little delay - possible About eight
sS0cs ne Rev Mr. Camp by one or two
with him In prayer Hawkins appeared truly psnitsnt
and during the brief interview for himself the
O'Clock the prisoner removed TO the reception room
whore he remained engaged in writing and convsrsng
INDUCED smoking and times he was quite cheer
f discussing various subjects with unusual intelligence
and knowledge When the Rev. DR.. Jacob intro
ducsd TO him. 10 shook the gentleman by the hand and
appeared quite delighted NJ the visit To The
expressed himself freely saying be fully prepared
undergo tho fearful change that TO take
place He spoke In very manner of tho future
and left favorable impression upon all those who |
within reach Of his Indeed, pleased were
che sergymsn with his eonduct that they afterwards
were heard 10 say that the prisoner was more fitted
pray for them than they were for him,
THE PREPARATIONS
Scr the execution wore commenced at an early hour
About nine O'Clock file OF hfty-wo marines, under
charge OF the building. About the time |
Captain Bowling, Of the Sixth precinct police, appeared
on franklin and Centre streets clear of all obstructons
The detective police, under Sergeant Young, also
on hand in forcc; but as there were no thieves or
pickpockes to be watched, their duties were CON-
parativsy easy. The maj n3s formed hollow square
around the scafFold, AMI TO their efficiency the
United States Marshal was much indebted. The
. Goa itself-ths ono upon which Gordon the
dealer, suffered the extreme penalty Of the law
was erected upon grass pa, IN the centre Of the yard
she place In front Of the gallows seated the jury
on the loft the PHYSICIANS and in the rear and within
few feet OF the fatal beam the representatives OF the
press. Everything was arranged with great Judgment
and the details. which entrusted TO Deputy Mar
bscted considerable credit upon all concerned.
SCENE AT NE scArFoID.
About noon the officers informed Hawkins that the
fatal hour had arrived and that IL would be necessary
10 pinon him before going TO the scaffold. The
euprit took the matter quite calmly, and submitted
the operation without any apparent emotion
whatever. Tho prisoner dressed q neat suit Of
blue navy flannel resembling that board
of-war and looked tho sailor throughout On tlie left
collar OF his jacket anchor, embroidered In white,
the work Of his hand during the lonely hours Of his
Incarceration All being IN readiness procession was
vVli 10 fhp In fhQ
hg order
United States Marshal Murray.
Deputy United States Marshal Thompson
The cuprit
Cergymen.
Deputy Marshals.
Physicians
Police.
Arriving at the foot Of the scafrod tho pri.
uouer WA placed in q chair aud INFORM
81 that the United States Marshal would