Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-22
A DOUBLE
Robert Hawthorne Fakes the Life OF
Himself and Wife.

b Hawthorne Takes the Life o.
Himself and Wife.
From the Yankee Fork Herald of Aug. llth.
On Thursday night Of last week, Robert
Hawthorne and Mrs. Lizzie King were
married at the Yankee Fork Dance Hall in
this place. On the Wednesday following q
tragedy was enacted there that sent a thrill
of horror through q usually quiet camp.
About ii o'clock A. NJ, the alarm was
given by o colored woman living next door
to, the hall, that some one was firing q pis-
toll in the room under the hall. Several
parties on the street went up to learn the
cause and were Mortified on entering the
room occupied by Hawthorne and his wife
to find them both lying on the floor side
by side with blood streaming from wounds
in the face and neck.
Mrs. Hawthorne was yet breathing and
lived about twenty minutes Hawthorne
had made quick work Of himself and was
already dead. He had apparently placed
the pistol to his head but the ball only
marked his forehead and went through his
hat. He then placed the pistol close to his
neck and fred twice in quick succession,
one ball severing the jugular and the other
breaking his neck.
Mrs. Hawthorne had three wounds one
through her right wrist, another through
her right cheek, and q third in her head
near the right temple.
circumstance go to show that she was
standing at the mirror arranging her bon
net preparatory to going out upon the
street, and hat the first shot went into her
cheek. A scream was heard after the first
shot, and it is supposed as she turned
u Hawthorne fred again, this time
with deadly effect, the ball passing through
her wrist and into her head. Seeing his
victim was finished, he then took her place
in front of the glass and fred the remain
ing three shot at himself. The pistol was
a five chamber self-cocker of the british
Bulldog +" pattern, and was purchased by
Hawthorne only a few days before the fatal
ARRAY.
There are probably some circumstances
connected with the affair that may never
be known, but the above seems to be the
accepted theory of the shooting.
Lizzie King, as she was better known,
came here a year ago last June from Bodie,
California. She had previously lived in
San Jose, where, we understand, she mar
ried Dick King. The latter was here when
she came, but in July was killed in a diff
Guilty that originated in a dispute about a
town lot. Early last winter Mrs. King
went to Butte, Montana, where she met
Hawthorne. An intimacy sprang up be-
tween them. He was one Of the fortunate
Wood River prospectors, and made a sale
Of some mining property.
Early this summer Mrs. King returned
to Bonanza, and soon after opened ont the
Yankee Fork Dance Hall and Saloon. In
the meantime, Hawthorne had gone from
Butte to Wood River on a prospect, and
from there came to Bonanza about four
weeks go. 1t was the general impression
that Hawthorne had considerable money,
and as Mrs. King had incurred some debts,
and had furniture and goods coming, she
married Hawthorne with the understand
ing that he was to furnish the money to
settle her liabilities and pay the freight
charges on her goods. 1t is said, also, that
he promised to take her home to London
on a visit, and similar promises that only
could be fulfilled through the agency of
large sums of money. The freight was
funds we're expected to be forthcoming.
indebted to present their bills on that dav
and they would be honored.
The freight came, and it is said that at
his wife's request Hawthorne went out to
get a 81 900 check cashed that be claimed
to have. On his return without the money
it is presumed that she dressed herself
with the intention of trying to raise money
on the check. The crisis had now come.
He could deceive her no longer; and while
she was arranging her toilet it doubtless
occurred to him that the quickest way to
settle their troubles was to introduce the
self-cocker as a mediator, and acted ac-
cordingly.
There was no money, outside of a little
change, and no checks found on the prem
ises. Hawthorne was evidently out of
money, and a fit of desperation came over
him. 1t seems that he had also been drink
ing Of late. He had the day previous to
the shooting taken his rifle and cartridges
to his bedroom, and his strange actions be-
tokened trouble.
Mrs. King was about 81 years of age;
was born in London, and it is said came
Of good family. She had a fine education,
and conversed fiuently in several different
languages. Her superior conversations
powers. and her prepossessing appearance,
brought her many admirers in the circle in
which she moved. She leaves two daugh-
ters, IA and 16 years Of age, who reside
with their grandparents in London.
OF Hawthorne's life, previous to his res
dence in Idaho, we can gain no informa-
ton. He was about 80 years Of age, and
had the appearance of a quiet, i~noffensive
man.