The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-01
CLAIMEOBY THE GALLONS
Dick Hawes. of Alabama, Who MUIR
dered His Wife and Child,
Hanged
Story of a Crimo Which Caused
the Sacrifice of a Num-
ber OF Lives.
I.ynchers- Tho Condemned Makes
% Confession.

BRNnNoH,m, Feb. 2S.-Dick Hawes, the
wife murderer, was hanged AZ 1890. His
neck was broken.
The crime OF which Hawes was convicted
was the murder Of his little daughter MAY.
lie was also under indictment for the murder
of his wife and youngest daughter, Irene.
Tuesday morning, December 4, 1883, soma
boys rowing boat across the lake at East
Lake discovered the body OF a little girl
floating in the water. They notified some
men at work near the lake, and the body was
brought TO the shore. The coroner was sum-
moned and Jury Of inquest impEneled. No
ono at East Lake could identify tho
body, aud II WAS removed 10 the city. EN-
balmed by Lockwood a Miller, and placed
In their undertaking rooms for identifca-
tion. On Wednesday, the day after tho
body was found. thousands of people visited
the undertakers' 10 look at the pale face of
the dead girl. Late Wednesday afternoon
the body was identified as that of Mary
Hawes, the nine-year-old daughter Of Dick
iawos, an engineer on the Georgia Pacific
railroad. Thursday the inquest continued.
aud IL developed the fact that the dead girl
WAS last seen in company with her father.
They were seen on dummy going toward
East Lake Monday night, and then Hawes
was seen returning alone few hours later.
The evidence naturally brought up the
question, where was Hawesr His cottage
near Lakeview WAS visited and found 10 bs
vacant. Then il was learned that Hawes
bad left the city on Tuesday morning for
Mississippi. By O'Clock Thursday after
noon enough evidence had been secured to
warrant the officers in arrcsting Hawes on
suspicion, If they could find him. That
night II was learned that he was married
that day 10 Miss Mays Storey, Of Columbus,
Miss The couple arrived at birmingham
al $50 that night en- route 10 Augusta. Ga,
on bridal tour. Hawes was arrested as he
stepped from the train In the Union depot,
charged with the murder of his daughter,
May.
The next day friday the inquest was
continued and damaging circumstantial
evidence against the prisoner came out rap.
IDLY. That day the cottage was searched
aud blood stains found on the floor.
Enough was learned 10 convince the officers
that Mrs. Hawes and probably the other
child had also been murdered. Saturday,
Je,ember 3. about noon, the body of Mrs.
Hawes was dragged from the lake at Lake.
view.
|
spread like wild fire and created intense ex-
citement in the city. The feeling against
Hnwes WAS outspoken, and in u little while
| lynching was freely talked Of. The body Of
Mrs. IIRwes was not brought into the city
for fear of increasing the excitement. IL
was taken by roundabout way TO the GEM
ctery, where IL WIS placed in a vault.
The crowds on the streets kept increasing
md the excitement and indignation grew
apace as night approached. Sheriff Smith.
| fearing an attempt to lynch Hawes, placed
"A guard Of forty wcll-nrmed men in and
around the Jail. Between II and II o'clock
TINT night the crowd, which had been col
lecting On ihe streets, approached the Jail
and were fired upon by the guards. The
volley resulted in the death Of eleven mon
and the wounding of many others. Tho
shooting created the most intense excite
ment, and threats of blowing up the
Jail and killing the sheriff were freely
InRdc.
Gov. Seay sent Col. Jones hero with the
Second regiment OF state troops and ono
company from the First and two from tho
Third regiments. The presence OF the
troops prevented any further demonstration
against the prisoner or the sheriff, and in
four or five days the excitement had sub
sided and the troops were Withdrawn.
The ~ nd iury. in January indicted
Hawcs for the murder Of his wife and two
children. Two strong efforts woro made 10
secure change Of venue for him, but with
ont avail, and at the April term Of the
criminal court his trial commenced. A
Jury WIS obtained without great difficulty.
and The trial lasted only two weeks. The
jury, after being out only II few hours. re-
turned verdict Of guilty and fixed the pun
ishInent at death.
The case was appealed 10 the supreme
court, and the transcript was the largest
"A
bama.
Before the execution to-day Hawes sent
for his brother, and the latter asked the
condemned man 10 tell him all he knew
about the terrible affair for which lie was
about 10 suffer death.
81 know nothing about it; nothing more
than you do" said Dick.
"Oh, Dick" answered tho brother. ~
have always believed you did not kill them,
but believe sou know who did"
dick appeared cast down." said Jim, as
ho told The story later in the day. ''und be-
threw his arms nbout nay neck and criod
/ like baby. Don't leave me; don't leave
me- he said. Whom ngnin asked him TO
tell what ho knew, he Gaidi
"'Why, you know him az well rs | do
"Wh0 was il, Dickp
"Why, John Wylie. He did il. You
asked mc what did with my money.
There's whore 500 went. paid him that
] On cOuultlOll lHbl nc boI Lncm out oil inc
way. Tho last time that ] saw them he
added. was on Saturday night. When 1
went out there TO the house they were all in
bed in their uight-cl0thcs When they were
found they had their clothes on. On the
next Tuesday | was 10 be married. had
seen Wyle and he agreed 10 put them out
Of the way for 500. On Monday he came
10 me and said. It's all right, Dick
"'Mhnt's all righti' | asked.
""fhey won't bother you again; they'll
never trouble you he said.
"'l asked him. said Dick, and he re-
peatcd that they would not bother me
again. Then he started TO tell me about it.
but | wouldn't let him. ] paid him the
500, then got on the next train and went
to Columbus, Miss, where was married on
Tuesday, the next day."
Wylie was held at Birmingham for long
time 10 answer 10 a charge Of being acccs-
sory 20 the crime. John Wylie and his
brother julie were believed 10 be mixed up
in tue affair but after awhile the indict-
ments against tbeiu were nolle pressed.
Since then the Wylies have been at their
homes here.
Wylie denies bitterly any knowledge of
the crime. Wylie says that Hawes got mad
with him while the two were together in the
| Birmingham Jail, and that this is one re-
suit. Wyle was in Birmingham at the time
the crime was committed and could not es-
tablish clear alibi, though the evidence
against him heretofore has been only cir
cumstantial He and julie Wylie are rail-
road men, and John has always been re-
Rarded as an honest, hard-working man.
Hnwes repeated on the gallows, Just before
the drop fell, his confession duplicating
] Wylie.