Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-08
HAWKINS, THE
A Little Matter of Fees TO be
forgotten"

"A LIttle matter Oh FeeS 10 De
Forgotten"
ARGENT issue of the Ripley (Tenn.)
News contains an interview with Maj.
james s. Machin, a solid and, before
the war, a wealthy planter. He says:
in the year 1865, A. S. Hawkins
was District Attorney for West Ten.
nessee. Everything was in a state of
dread and uncertainty. We did not
know whether the Yankees would try
us for treason, hang, draw, quarter
and confscate or not. While in this
state of dread and uncertainty, there
appeared in a Memphis paper, headed
Information, a certain legal process
libeling my lands and some fifty others
in this county, and citing us to appear
in Memphis, and show cause why our
lands should not be condemned and
taken because Of our supposed p%artici-
patton in the rebellion. 1t emanated
from Hawkins. Everything we had had
been swept away by the war, except our
lands; our sympathies had been
Southern, and, of course, our condition
was anything but assuring. In our
extremity we agreed to meet in
Brownsville, take legal advice and see
what was best to be done. We did SO,
some fifty Of us. | can't now remem-
Der all their names, but among the
number l now %recollect were MI.
Hamilton Golfer, Charles p. Italia
ferro. Henry johnson, Captain Maclin
and Charles f. Read. After council
ing together, we agreed to consult
the legal firm of Bond & Strother-
Judge William P. Bond and j. w.
Strother. The latter remarked he
was not in an attitude to help us any,
but probably his partner, Bond, could,
as he was then considered on that
side Of the question. Wethen applied
to Judge Bond and Mr.. D. A.
Num-, another attorney and Union
man. They agreed to undertake
our extrication for $4,000. We con-
sidered this rather steeps but after ne
g~otiating for some time about the fec,
they agreed to attend to is for us for
5000. The proposition was accepted
and | raised the money and paid it 10
them. Bond then went to Memphis,
and it may be Num- also. and opened
up negotiations with Hawkins, the
District Attorney, for the release Of
our property, which had been libeled,
as | said before. What took place
between them, Of course, | didn't
know, but when Bond came back, the
necessary money having been raised
and sent to him to pay off the amount
assessed against us, he brought with
him a receipt from Hawkins 10 each
of us.
Reporter-Have you that receipt,
and will you allow its publication
Major MI have. Here is the
original receipt, and you are at liberty
to make any use OF it you may SEE
proper.
1t is as follows:
District Court ofthe United. states,
district Of West Tennessee. The
United States ys. the estate and prop
erty of X +. Maclin. Received of 4
+. Maclin 1900, in full of costs al
agreed upon in the above cause, to wit
Fee of District Attorney, $220; O
Marshal, $40, Of Clerk, $25; of prin
ter, $40. ALVIN HAWKINS.
august q, 1865"
Major Maclin testifes that he saw
various other receipts TO his neigh
bors for different amounts, al
signed by Hawkins. Never
since the days Of John A. Murrell
was more unblushing robbery perpe
trated. 1t was a meaner and NOR
cowardly species Of robbery, indeed
since Murrell was brave enough /,
defy civilization and meet face TO fac
the consequences Of his acts, Will,
Hawkins came clothed in oficia
robes and robbed his neighbors unde
the guise aud protection OF law. |
need not be added that he had n
t more warrant or authority for thes
Iobberies than the highwayman ha
now TO present his pistol and demanr
/. your money or your life. None what
everl See, too, what a nice little pc
cent he retained for Hawkinsl Gu
of $3.50 he gets 1920 "ior the Distrie
! Attorney" Out of 100000 his pr
D rota was $4,000 only for fees"
Major Macklin says they all paid
! because they were frightened an
didn't know what would come next.
/, He adds that he was never serve
4 with process by aDy marshal or othe
/ person"-was only shown the publica
ton (which Hawkins had made {
Q brighten the people into submitting /
q the robbery. Ho says, mOreoser, tina
he has investigated to asoertai
3 whether, in reality, any such suit
!. had ever been instituted; that he ca
+ find no trace of any, and doesn't thin
I, there is any record Of such proceed
I inRs.
No wonder Senator jackson pr,
fers Bate to Hawkins" State debt Q
no State debt. The only wonder
: that he does not at once decline ful
0 ther to aid Hawkins, indirectly, B
supporting a candidate who has Z
h sort Of chance, and who can not carl
a county in the State. O. II. NJ.