Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-12
HAWKINS HANGED.
The Long Island Matricide Dies on
the GaIlows.
he DIDN'T. DREAD DEATH.
His Last Moments Were Apparently Cheer
fnI. and lie Said NE Had Become a
MISUNDERSTANDING Interviews with
Ills Sweetheart and His Sister.

IN the hlEefncad JAZZ yard ne was eool "
the last and did not finch.
Hawkins was awakened at o'clock in the
morning at his own request. One OF the
death watch touched him on the shoulder.
The condemned man responded at once with
''All right" He got up promptly and COM
menced 10 dress in his new black suit OF
broadcloth
AT $50 he was dressed and ready for the
priest, who wes TO be In the cell at that hour
70 administer the last consolation OF bis
church.
Hawkins was asked TO order his breakfast,
but he said he would not eat anything He
was told by the sheriff, who had been up all
night, that no could have anything he
wanted, but he declined the order.
His cell was opened and the young man
walked up and down the corridor, stopping
here and there 10 speak to prisoners who hap
Dened to be awake. He stood for some time
in front of the cell occupied by Slowey, the
Sag Hnrbor murderer. and talked with him
in low voice lie was cheerful and appar
entity cool and resigned.
He had taken n bath before dressing and in
his new suit looked anything but murderer.
Sheriff Petty waikel through the corridor
and said, cheerfully:
who's got a cigar for met"
Hawkins responded promptly with:
Heres one for you, sheriff; but look out
for it, it may kin you, for Il is one of
Slowey'sn
lie clasped hands with the sheriff and
talked with him few minutes, reminding
him of his promise TO send one of his pictures
to his aflianced, and thanking him for the at
tention he had bestowed upon him.
At 6 o'clock Father McGlinchy celebrated
mass at st. Johns church, and at AS he APP
peared at the Jail and administered commu-
MON TO Hawkins and had prayers in the cell.
The sheriff admitted only the statutory
number TO witness the hanging. Among
those present was Dr. Preston, of Patchogue,
who was on the medical staff at the hanging
of Benjamin johnson, who shot his wife in
Sayville fifty years ago. He was also at the
hanging of Nicholas Behan, the last execu-
ton in Suffolk county before the present one.
This was thirty-three years ago.
Hawkins last night on earth was quiet and
peaceful The day had been an exciting one.
The few friends and relatives who had not
deserted him paid their farewell visit Miss
Hattie Shreck of Brooklyn the girl to whom
he was aifianced, arrived in Riverhead in the
morning and was permitted to spend a few
minutes with the prisoner.
The interview was very affecting The
conversation related to the spiritual welfare
comfort her with the assurance that he had
experienced ON entire change of heart and
would meet her in heaven. The girl was
taken from the cell weeping Historically.
Shortly after Miss Shrek had left, Haw-
kins' sister with a Miss Ketcham, his cousin
and his uncle, j. Clarence Hawkins, visited
him. Hawkins eyes filed with tears as he
embraced his sister, and the prisoner was
heard to murmur the words: my poor
mother while the young woman bowed her
head ON the young mans shoulder and wept
quietly for several minutes, and then, raising
her heard, she throw her arms around his
neck and kissed him. For some time they
were allowed TO talk together, the watchers
and Others withdrawing
Later Hawkins assured his friends that he
had really undergone change Of heart. He
expressed the hope that his friends would not
be too severe on him. and added:
mo matter what / have been / trust it
win be remembered that died a CHRISTIAN,
having fully repented the terrible crime
which brings me where am
After the visitors had all gone the prisoner
sat for long time with his face bowed in his
hands. He was going over the whole story
of his life. His frame shook at times with
emotion, but there was nothing about him
10 suggest that he dreaded the death in store
for him. He said he was not afraid TO die,
and was indifferent as to the hour he should
be called upon TO leave his close cell in the
northwest corner of the second tier of cells
in the granite pile.
The gallows was the same upon which
Danny Lyons and Dan Driscoll were hanged
in the ToInbs IN New York city. 1t was
erected near the end Of the Jail yard, under a
canvas tent at the south OF the Jail.
Hawkins passed a very quiet evening. The
sheriff, under a peculiar Interpretation of
his duty, prevented him from leaving his
cell and kept every one away from him ex-
cept the night watch. Even the little mouse,
which the condemned man had taught not
to fear him. and which had been his constant
companion, was removed from the cell, and
the doomed man was left entirely alone with
his thoughts.
Early IN the evening he threw himself upon
his rude prison couch and lay there for long
time on his back, staring iixedly at the wall
OF his cell The priest came in to see him for
q short conversation and tried to cheer him,
but the young man had become intent and
broodlng His face was cloude1 as though
his thoughts were prompted by the old spirit
which had pervaded his life-a desire for re
venge.
1t was after 10 o'clock when the watchers
booking into his cell reused the young man
from ms reveries and he prepared himself
for bed. His sleep was disturbed. He rolled
from side to side, and several times raised
hinas IL upon his elbow and stared fixedly on,
through the grated doorway at the death
watcE who dozed in their chairs 1t was g
quiet night for the last one on earth.
Joe Atkinson, the hangman, had done his
preliminary work and the gallows stood be
low in the night air, and from the cross
beam moving to and fro in the breeze hung
the rope from the end of which the con
demned man would bangle in the morning.
Once or twice during the night a crowJ
collected on the street near the jail, and
stared vita morbid curiosity at the grant.
building.
1t was long after midnight before Hawkins
appeared to sleep soundly. Hs was awak.