The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-27
Behold Wisat Manner Of "a an
AIsiss s. Hawkins Is.

James S. Maclin, a solid and before the
war wealthy planter. He says:
g In the year 1865, A. 5. Hawkins
vas District Attorney for West Tennes-
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
confiscate, or not. While in this state
of dread and uncertainty, there appear
in Memphis paper, headed '4Informa
ton, a certain legal process libeling my
lands and some fifty others in this coun-
ty, and citing us
TO APPEAR AZ MEMPHIS
and show cause why our lands should
not be condemned and taken because of
onr supposed participation in the rebel
lien. 1t emanated from Hawkins. Ev-
Ierything we had had been swept away
by the war; except our lands our SYM
pathies had been Southern. and, of
course, our condition was anything but
assuring. In our extremity we agreed
to meet in Brownsville, take legal ad-
vice and see what was best to be done.
We did so, some fifty of as ] can't now
remember all their names, but among
the number | now recollect we're Mr..
Hamilton Golfer, Chas. 2 Taliaferro,
Henry johnson, Capt. Maclin and
Chas. T. Read. After counciling to-
gether, We agreed to consult the legal
firm of Bond q Judge VIM
P. Bond and j. w. Strother. The lat
ter remarked be was not in an attitude
to help US any, but probably his part
ner, Bond, could, as he was then con-
sidered on that side of the question
We then applied to Judge Bond and
Mr.. d. A. Mum, another attorney and
Union man. They agreed to undertake
our extrication for SIC, 900. We con-
sidered this rather steep, but after snego-
tiating for some time about the fee, they
agreed to attend to it for us for S., 900
The proposition was accepted, and
raised the money and paid it to them.
Bond then went to Memphis, and it may
be Num- also, and opened up negotia-
tiations with Hawkins, the District At
torney, 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 Haw-
kins to each of US.
Reporter you that receipt,
and will you allow its publication
Maj. NJ Il have. Here is the orig
inal receipt, and you are at liberty to
make any use of it you may see proper.
1t is as follows:
District Court of the United States,
district of West Tennessee The Uni
ted States VS.. the estate and property of
e. f. Maclin.-Received of Il +. Mac
lin $500, in full of costs as agreed upon
in the above cause, to-wit: Fees of Dis
trict Attorney, 1920; of Marshal, $40;
of Clerk, $25 and of printer SO.
ALVIN HAWKINS.
August %, 1865"
Maj. Maclin testifes that he saw va
rious other receipts to his neigh5ors for
different amounts, all signed by Haw-
kins Never, since the days of John a.
Murrell, was more unblushing robbery
perpetrated. 1t was meaner and
more cowardly species of robbery, in
deed, since Murrell was brave enough to
defy civilization and meet face to face
the consequences of his acts, while Haw-
lins came clothed in official robes and
robbed his neighbors under the guise
and protection Of law. It need not be
added that he had no more warrant or
authority for these robherles than the
highwayman has now to present his pis-
tol and demand your money or your
life, None, whateverl See, too, what
q nice little per cent. he retained for
Hawkins! Out Of $500 he gets 1920
''for the District Attorney" Out of
$50, 900 his pro rata was S44 600 only,
s'for fees"
Maj. Maclin says they all paid, be-
cause they were frightened and didn't
know what would come next" He adds
that he ''was never served with process
by any Marshal or other person'-was
only shown the publication (Which Haw-
kins had made to frighten people into
submitting to the robbery He says,
moreover, that he has investigated to
ascertain whether, in reality, any such
suits had ever been instituted that he
can find no trace of any, and doesn't
think there is any record Of such pro-
ceedings.
No wonder Senator jackson ssprefers
Bate to Hawkins" State debt or no
State debt. The only wonder is that he
does not at once decline further to aid
Hawkins, indirectly, by supporting
candidate who has no sort of chance,
and who cannot carry a county in the
State.-IC. E. NJ, in Louisville Cour-
ier-J ournal.
It was noticeable fact that the on
ly applause which MIR. Russell received
in Knoxville was from the Republicans,
and the same individuals who applaud
ed Hawkins. 1t seems to be thorough
" understood, even by the Republican
masses, that a trade has been made and
that RUSSELL is only running with the
hope of taking few votes from Bate,
for the purpose of helping Hawkins. A
trade is one thing, but delivering the
goods is another Knoxville Tribune.
. Co.
t. E,,.-oII - L.