Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-26
HAWKINS READY TO DIE.
He Takes Part in Religious Meeting
and Says He IN Not Afraid.

| THE MAN WHO IS TO BE BANGED FOR WIFE MURDER
| THURsDAY-HIs LAST SUNDAY IN HIS CELL
TAXING COUNSEL WITH RELIGIOUS ADVISERS
| STORY OF HIS CRIME
| Unless President Harrison changes his mind
| during the next four days there will be an exc
euton at the District Jail between 10 and IL
| o'clock Thursday. The condemned man,
whose case has been finally settled at the place
OF last resort, as published in Saturdays STAR.
is Benjamin Hawkins, coloreu, who murdered
his wife in South Washington many months
ago. Hawkins is nearly thirty years old, and
has lived in this city since he was three or four
years of age. Ben" as everybody knew him
| in South Washington. never had bad reputa-
ton. He always worked for his living and
several years ago he married woman in his
part of the city. Ben and Cora lived happily
together for some time until they began to
accuse each other of faithlesSness and then
they separated.
HAWKINS CRIME.
On the fatal night Ben called to see Cora, but
was told at the house that she had gone with
the man whom he believed to be the cause of
all his domestic nfelicity. He continued along
through South Washington until he reached
the house on Virginia avenue where the social
was in progress. There was music and dane
ing inside and he saw his wife when he looked
through the shutters. He asked for her and
she came out, but was careful not to let the
other man see her with Ben. They left the
house together and in probably fifteen minutes
Cora Hawkins was dead. The jealous husband
had inflicted the fatal wound with knife and
LETT her to die on the cobbiestones in the aliey
near where the ''parlor social was held. Ben
threw the knife over the fence along the Balti-
more and Potomac tracks and went to the house
4 n hnr he xral tod lao Al
night.
HIS TRIAL AND SENTENCE.
After spending several months in Jail he was
tried. convicted and sentenced to be executed
in January last, but owing to Judge Bradleys
illness the case could not get to the Court in
General Term. In order to give the con-
demned man a fair show for his life a respite
was granted. The Court in General Term
finally passed upon the case, affirming the de-
clsion OF the lower court. That decision was
reached only few days before the time set for
the execution. and to give him time to prepare
for the hereafter the President granted a fur
Their respite until Thursday of this week.
EFFORTS TO SECURE A COMPUTATION.
Rev. John Roberts of the colored Young
Mems Christian Association, who has visited
the condemned man since his conviction. and
Mr.. Atchisou of Maryland, at whose house Ben
once lived. appealed to the President for a
communication of sentence and the President
requested the papers in the case, which he ex-
amined carefully.
When Mr.. Roberts had his last interview
with the President Saturday he tried to show
to the latters satisfaction that the case was not
one OF murder. but was manslaughter. if any
thing, as he did not intend to take his wife's
life.
What was DONE" explained Mr. Roberts.
must have been done in ten minutes. and
that shows that he did not intend to kill her"
But" interrupted President Harrison, The
told her that she would either have to 60 in
the front way or she would not go in at ALL"
The President had read the testimony in the
case and he had not forgotten it,
As published in Saturdays STAR, the decision
Of the President did not have a depressing
effect on the condemned man. as Mr. Roberts
had told him all along that he would surely be
executed.
HOW HE SPENT SUNDAY.
The condemned mans last Sunday was an
uneventful one. He received a number Of
callers during the day and took part IN the re-
hgious services conducted by Mr. Roberts.
Hawkins has few relatives, but has many
friends, and has had more visitors than most
men under similar circumstances He can
neither read nor write and has time and time
again requested the officials to admit all per-
sons who called to see him. He is one of the
best behaved condemned men confined
in the jail aud the officials think there is little
necessity to put on 1.-The death watch"
although it will be put on tomorrow. Yester-
day Hawkins arose early and ate hearty
breakfast. During the morning Mr.. Roberts
called and found the prisoner lying on his cot
evidently thinking of his future. He seemed
cheerful and assured his spiritual adviser that
he was ready to die.
TAKING PART IN RELIGIOUS MEETING.
There were about fifty persons present at the
religious meeting. which was opened by Mr.
Roberts. Hawkins sat upon the steps behind
the wire screen and took part in the services
The services were opened by singing "A HYMN.
After Mr.. Roberts had read the twenty third
chapter or the Acts of the Apostles Hawkins
made a short address. He spoke with firm ness
and assured those present that he was not
afraid to die. Several other prisoners followed
him.
sang The Home of the Soul" and at the close
friends goodbye forever, as he will not See
them again.
TO SPEND MUCH TIME AT JAIL.
Rev. Messrs Roberts and Howard will spend
considerable time with Hawkins until the exc
cution and Wednesday night prayer meeting
VIII be held III the Jail under the auspices of
the Young Mems Christian Association
1t is the intention of Hawkins to spend about
ten minutes on the scaffold proclaiming his i'll
nUcence OF any intention TO take his wife s liee
He will also refer to the court which convicted
and sentenced him.