The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-08


ANDERSON, Ind, Dec -Johnson's Switch,
a little station on. tie IL, T. g. St L. rail.
road, six miles west Of this city, was the
scene of the most horrible affair that has
ever taken place, in this county Coleman
Hawkihs,s aged 81 years, and John j, John
son, aged GO years. are wealthy farmers, oc-
cupying adjoining farms. A feud has
existed between them for several years
past over ditch matter in which
Hawkins claimed that be was being
worsted Several times he has made the as
scrtion that unless johnson righted the mat
ter there would lie .two men less in Madison
county. a few days ago johnson posted
some bills ordering an outlet to be made by
Hawkins on his part of the ditch. This ap-
peared to anger him, aud he stated to his
wife: Tam going to see dohnson, and if he
don't settle the matter,I will settle it, and
there will be two men less in this world.
Hawkins went to Anderson, and purchased
q revolver 32-ealibre. Next evening about
six O'Clock he was at the-ststiOn, where John
son'is agent and postmaster. After the train
pulled out, johnson walked to the west end of
the Platform, where Hawkins met him and
asked HIM Are you going to settle that
matter@ johnson answered, Il don't want
o,talk 10 You Atthis Hawkins pulled
pistol from his pocket, and, with the remark,
Il will settle it, fired, the ball striking
johnson, who had turned to leave him, in
the back near the spinal column, and ranging
upward entered the left lung. johnson
walked rapidly toward the depot, when
Hawkins fired again; but missed the man, the
bullet passing through the door of the depot.
BY this tiue johnson had reached the in
side of The building and had fastened the
bolt. Hawkins. walked Up TO the window,
broke ana Of glass, and, lovefing his pistol
through1h e sash, fired two more shots;s one
bail striking johnson in the cheek aud rang
ing around to the left ear; the other entered
his left wrist. The wounded man rushed
FROM tile !.liiiding toward his house. some dis
lance away, HAWKINS in pursuit and firing
three Shots at him. johnson turned and
grappled his assaiIant, holding. him to the
earth powerless TO use the cooked pistol he
still held in his hand, till Johnson's daughter
and John Hawkins mo relative Of the assas-
SIM reached the spot, and, separating them,
led johnson, who was becoming very faint,
TO his house, where he was placed on a
stretcher. JohnSon's wounds were found to
be OF a serious nature, but not fatal unless
inflammation sets iii.
After johnson was taken away Hawkins
walked down the railroad in the direction of
his house and started across a field toward
the stable. His wife and sons, hearing the
shots, feared there was trouble at the station
and started to intercept him at the stable,
but before they could reach him he passed out
of sight tIouLd a building, and nlomcn
after d sl-,t was heard Running to the spot
from nissHce came the report, they found the
husband and father sitting against the end OF
the buggy-shed, a smoking pistol grasped in
his left hand, and thefhlood pouring from a
ghaStly wound under his left eye. He
moancd once or twice, gasped, and in five
minutes was dead. His wife placed pillow
under his head, and he was stretched out on
the ground.
The awful affair has created the greatest
excitement, but the sympathy is all with
Johnson, who is one of the most peaceably
disposed men in the county and in the ditch
matter he acted fair and honest.
Hawkins was a mau of an ungovcrnable
temper and when angered was almost
a maniac. He had suffered with a
cancer on his face and it had af-
fected his mind to such an extent that when
enraged he was not responsible for his ac-
tions. He leaves wife and eleven children.
His friends were very few, and by his eccen-
trio habits he has compelled them to live an
almost secluded life That he undoubtedly
intended to do just what he did is evident
from the threats he made and the fact that
two revolvers were found upon him.