Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-03-20
THE COURTHOUSE
1T Is HELD "RY THE FORCE OF
ARNS'' BY MR., HAWKINS.

AsAo - NAV - W 1AAANSs
Why that Gentleman Pursues this
COurse-he Claims \ One.Third Inter.
est In the Contract Up to Date, but
Only Asks $1,000.
For some days it has been bruited
that armed men were in possession of
the new courthouse, in behalf of Mr..
Hawkins, who was the foreman of II.
6. Knapp, the original contractor.
This morning it was stated that four
armed men were in possession, and
refused to permit anyone to come
near or go in the courthouse.
About II o'clock this morning a
ZINES man fastened to the court
house. AS he walked, he remem-
bered how, on the grand old Com
stock lode, in Nevada, mines used
sometimes to be held by the force Of
arms; how regular forts were built
with gunny sacks filled with earth and
rock, with embankment several feet
high to defend the approaches; how
every drift and crosscut was block
AIDED with sheets of boiler iron resting
against churn drills, both ends of
which were fitted in holes drilled for
the purpose on each side of the drift;
and how men armed with long knives,
shotguns, self-cocking revolvers, Chi
nese stink-pots, ETC., were stationed
behind these bulkheads, ready to
shoot at all intruders through the
portfolios; how several men were
sometimes killed in the struggle to
obtain possession; and how the
Miners Union would finally be CON-
PEELED to interfere, and, with banners
flying and not a gun in sight, but
plenty of arms out of sight, would
march to the mines and forcibly re-
move the "shotgun men," and thus
compel both parties to settle their diff
6culties in legal way. All this
passed through the reporters mind,
as he walked, and he really hoped
that something similar was about to
occur here.
But he was doomed to disappoint-
ment. AS he approached the court
house it was quiet as a graveyard.
The TINES man walked up the gang
way to the main entrance, and gave
few sharp knocks on the door. Some
one inside walked toward the door,
and demanded:
"Who's there?"
"a TINES man."
The Voice.-"What do you want?"
The Reporter -"To get in.'
The Voice.-"I am sorry to inform
you that l can't let you in"
Rep.-"But you must. This is a
public building, and | want to see
how the work is going on, and how
everything is"
After a brief conversation, during
which he said he was acting uuder legal
advice, Mr. Hawkins-for it was he
finally opened the door, and admitted
the reporter. He then replaced a
plank against the door, to prevent
anybody from gaining admission, and
led the way over the building. Pres.
emily the Treasurer's office was
reached, in tie extreme southwest
corner of the building, on the first
floor.
There is an opening for window
in this room, but it was boarded up
and only admitted sufficient light to
permit Of the few objects therein be.
ing seen indistinctly. Near the win
dow were some shavings and other
carpenters debris. Immediately in
front was a board resting on two
wooden horses, and thus forming q
table upon which rested a long navy
44-calibre six-shooter. In front o.
this, the head against the east parti
ticn wall, was a bnnk made of rough
boards, and covered with couple o.
pairs Of blankets and thin mattress
At the foot of the bed, on a shelf, lay
horse pistol, also six-shooter. Nea
the head Of the bed, resting on the
floor, was double barreled shotgun
All these arms were loaded and ev
: identity ready for use.
! In reply to interrogatories, Nh
Hawkins said that he was hodin,
possession against the new contractor
l w. 7. Riley, to secure claim whicI
he had against Mr.. Knapp, the orig
: inal contractor. When Mr.. KNAPP,
l employed Mr. Hawkins, he gave hin