Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-18
CHIEF HAWKINS CASE.
THE hTATFMENTE OFTHE PIfIL
ADELPHIA OFFICERs-TEE
CASE DISMISSED.

A representative of the REPuBLlCA
wishing 10 ascertain the facts in II
case of Chief of Police James l.. Hav
kins, and to be present AT the hearln
yesterday afternoon, visited PhiIade
phia and interviewed several of til
parties interested.
House Sergeant Joseph Wilde, VIII
was on duty at the Fifth District sta
ton house last Thursday morning wheI
Chief Hawkins was brought in, Wa
seen first, and said that he did not thinl
he was very much under the influence
OF liquor at the time, as he seemed IL
daZed semi-uncOnsciOus condition
The officers not knowing who he wal
placed him in a cell, and did not know
the circumstances of the case until the
next morning.
He said that he considered the Chief
badly used man, and haI all the facts
of the case been known at the time, he
would have been placed III bed in
stead of cell, and had his injuries
attended to.
Officers Hefernam and Blizzard, who
made the arrest, were then seen, and
the irst named said that while he was
patroling his beat about 80 o'clock
last Thursday morning he heard two
repors of pistol, and with officer
Blizzard hurried toward where the
sound came from, and found the Chief,
whom they did not know at the time,
with a revolver in his hand very much
excited.
| He said that he had been knocked
down and an attempt made to rob him,
and that the man who had struck him
had run into laundry in the vicinity
kept by Chinese named Hop Sing.
The Chief stated that when the man ran
in the laundry, he had attempted to fol-
low him, but finding his way barred by
the Chinese had fired his pistol twice
toward the ceiling, with the intention
of frightening him, and for the purpose
of calling assistance. The truth of his
firing toward the ceiling was attested
by the fact that the bullets were found
imbeddsd in one of the joists.
The officer stated that before they
reached the station the Chief became
semi-uncOnsciOus, and talked in an in
coherent manner. They both concurred !
in the above statement, and said the
Chiefs clothing showed that he had
been used pretty roughly. Their I'M.
preston at the time, was that he had
been drinking and became engaged in
a street brawl, but the next morning
when he showed them the lump on his
head, and explained how he came to be
in that locality, they had come to the
conclusion that there had been an at |
tempt made to rob him.
Lieutenant Weir Of the Fifth District |
when questioned about the matter said |
that he did not think there was any
cause for action against the Chief, and
that he did not believe he was drunk at
the time although he admitted that he
thought it probable he had taken drink
or SO. When he was brought in he SEEM
ed in semi-unconscious or dazed con-
ditiOl, and he ordered him locked up
until morning
AT o'clock yesterday afternoon
Mag strate Thorpe took his seat, and as
the witnesses in the Chiefs case had not
arrived, disposed of suit against a
woman charged with keeping a vicious
dog. In the meantime an officer was
dispatched to Twentieth and Kater
streets, in search of the Celestial who
had preferred the charge last Thursday
morning, and whom The Chief seemed
very anxious should appear.
The officer came back, and after be-
ing sworn stated that the man who
made the charge was not there, and
that the others declared they knew
nothing about it and had "too muchee
workee" to come. Magistrate Thorpe
then dismissed the case, as he said
there was no charge against the
Chief.
He afterwards said TO the represen-
tative of the REPUBLICAN that he con.
sidered the Chief rs much sinned {
against as SHINING, and was under the
that deliberate attempt
had been made to rob him. Chief
Hawkins says that he had some busi-
ness in Philadelphia last Wednesday,
and after he had transacted it he met
4 friend with whom he had couple
)f drinks, but strenuously denied that
he was drunk. Late in the evening he ;
got in hack and told the driver to ,
AXE him to the Broad Street station.
After he had been driven around for
some time he opened the window, and
lsked the fellow where be was taking
lin, and he said to the station" but
he Chief fearing some trickery ordered
i'm to stop, and got out.
Upon looking around he found that
10 was in a strange neighborhood, and In
made up his mind to pay the fellow and
walk TO the station He handed him
i've dollar gold piece and asked for his
hange, when the hackman replied that
here was no change coming to him,
nd undertook to climb up to his seat.
he Chief then took hold of him and G
vas struck with a club or blackjack by T
ONE one behind him, and knocked
own. He Immediately jumped to his
eet, and saw the hack being driven off
0 one direction and a man running In
he other.
Supposing that he was the one that 81
ad dealt him the blow he started after h
i'm, and he ran into the laundry.
V hen the Chief undertook to follow, he q
yas confronted by the Chinese proprie. q
1r and he fired the shots which lead to a
is arrest.
One OF the officers said that It was 81
Dumou practice with hackmen, after n
citing a person in q vehicle when they a.
oppose tits u stranger to drive around
,wn up one street and down another. O
,r the purpose of extorting large
lre. He also said that while some OfI
10 Chinese are models of industry and
onesty, the greater number of the So
.lled laundries are nothing more than
plum joints and the resorts of the
lest characters.
A Flrst.Class Investment.