Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-06
PERHAPS MURDER.

Mrs. Hattie HaVvley, of This City, Att ! tackled by a RuhRan i'm West Haven Who Attempts Rape And Being Rolled Stabs His Would be Vic- tina. Mrs. Hattie Hawley, of 3s Lafayette street, is colored woman about 40 years of age and who it is said has had eight husbands. Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Hawley left this city to visit some friends of hers by the name of David, who live in West Haven, in small house near the Consolidated railroad track and near what is know as Wagner's crossing. It was about ten minutes after o'clock and growing dark when Mrs. Hawley left the horse cars at Wards corner and proceeded down Elm street toward the house occupied by the David family. After Mrs. Hawley had passed the houses on the street and was' passing some lots, she thought she heard footsteps behind her. and, turning her head, saw walking few feet in the rear a white man of m sdium height, of short build and roughly dressed in dark coat and brown pants and felt hat which was pulled well down over his face As it was then nearly dark, and as Mrs. Hawley was rather tinnid woman, she looked around to see if anyone was in sight, but not seeing anyone
 
 behind her also quickened his. Mrs. Hawley now became thoroughly frightened and was just about to start on g run when the man stepped up and catching her by the shoulder, made improper proposals to her, saying that if she did not consent he would kill her with q small pocket knife which he held in his hand. Mrs. Hawley indignantly refused his proposals and began to cry murder, where upon the rufian caught her by the throat and tried to throw her to the ground that he might accomplish his purpose. Mrs. Hawley, however, is very powerful woman, and she began a strug- gle with the ruffian, during which nearly all the clothes were torn from her body before she finally freed herself from the rufian's grasp and began to shout for help. The ruff fan again caught the terrified woman and holding her with one hand he stabbed her once in the abdomen with the knife he held in his hand and then fled in the direc- tion of the railroad track. Mrs. Hawley, recovering somewhat from the shock, staggered to. the house occupied by the David family and opening the door staggered into the hall and fell on the floor covered with blood and in fainting condi- tion. In this state she was found by mem- bers of the David family, who immediately sent for Dr. Barnett and while waiting for his arrival did all in their power to ease Mrs. Hawley's pain. The doctor soon arrived and found that Mrs. Hawley had received cut in the abdomen about half an inch long and an inch and half deep, besides
 seVere s Nervous As snock. ps.sss lre after making the woman as comfortable as possible, gleaned from her the facts given above, Mrs. Hawley also saying that the man was evidently Irish, and the knife was one with a white handle. The news of the stab ping affray was soon the talk of the West Haven people, and parties were formed who went in search for the ruf6an, but up to 8 late hour last night he had not been found, and it was thought he had gone towards Bridgeport. Mrs. Hawley's wound is dan gerous one, and the chances are that it will result in her death