Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-08-29
HEMP FOR HAWKINS.

Marshal Bruce, of shelbyville-A Mon
Takes Him from jail, and After Hang
Ing Him Fills His Body with Bullets
His Victim Still Alive.
SHELBYvILLE, Ind, Aug. 24.--Dan
Bruce, city marshal, was shot and
fatally wounded Saturday evening by
Charley Hawkins, desperate, who was
lynched by mob a few hours later.
Hawkins was in a quarrel when
Bruce came upon the scene and
requested him to cease his dis
turbance. Hawkins then reached
for his revolver, and with an
oath fired three shots in sue
cession at Bruce, each bullet taking
effect Hawkins fred twice more. but
missed, and started to run, with Bruce
following. When about $50 feet from
the place of the shooting Bruce caught
Hawkins, placed him under arrest and
immediately fell. He was removed to
his residence. His case was considered
hopeless.
AT midnight mob of 500 collected in
the courthouse yard and proceeded to
the jail without word The sheriff
demanded to know who was there.
One of the mob impersonated deputy
marshal and said he had prisoner.
The sheriff then opened the door, when
twelve men entered the parlor and
seized him by the throat He
was then tied hand and foot
and handkerchief was stuffed into his
mouth. One of the mob secured the
keys of the Jail and the barred doors
were swung open and guards placed at
the entrance to keep back the other
prisoners. Hawkins was in a
rear cell, and when the mob
reached that portion of the
Jail fell upon his face, placed
his hands over his, eyes and said:
PLEASE let me pray" The committee
did not wait, but proceeded to tie his
hands and feet and to adjust the rope
about his neck. In moment six men
came rushing out of the jail pulling
their victim by the neck, drag
ging him on the ground. Twenty
feet from the jail door tree was
found and the rope was thrown over a
limb, and a second later Hawkins was
suspended in midair. Eight shots were
then fired into his body and the dread
full work was over. The mob imme-
diately dispersed and in five minutes
everything on the streets was as quiet
as graveyard.
1t is said that Hawkins deed was
| premeditated. A week ago the Mar
shall arrested Hawkins 1s-year-old son,
who had thrown stones through some
plate glass windows, and Hawkins
boasted that he had come to the city
prepared to get even with Bruce He
had sought trouble with several per.
sons, but all We're afraid of him
and avoided him. His father
and son were left in jail unmolested by
the mob, although each participated in
the cowardly shooting of the city mar.
shall After Hawkins had emptied his
revolver, which he had borrowed for
the occasion, his son stepped up and
handed him another well loaded, bu,
of this he was disarmed by othe,
officers. The father of the
assassin, a very old man, came up Just
as the marshal started to fall, and go.
ing up to the dying man drew clut
and was about to strike him when q
bystander caught him. The mob, how
ever, let him go on account of his age
and his boy on account of his youth
The lynching was all completed ano
the mob dispersed inside of three min
utes from the time, it entered the yard
and people living in the immediate
vicinity knew nothing of the affair un
til all the participants had disappeared
1t is said that many of the most promi.
nent citizens of the city and county
participated in the hanging. DIR. 7. C.
Kennedy says that Bruce has ever
chances. Three balls passed through
his right breast, but only one pierced
the lung.
Hawkins father and son were per
mitted to go from jail Sunday, anC
with his wife and mother fingered al
the undertaker's all day and at ;
o'clock We're permitted to view the body
of their son and father. HIS mother
who is aged ~, bent over his form
and kissed him and sobbed pit
eously. His wife also wept anC
created Il scene when permitted to Sc,
him. She was in a buggy 80 pace.
away and witnessed her husband.
crime. She YVES cool at the time ant
never moved during the shooting
though twoof the shots came near strik
ing her.
Babe Hawkins, brother of tn,
lyncbed man, is said to be in the cit,
now on the hunt for Constable johnson
and others whom he believes to hav,
been in the mob. A post-morten
was held on the body of Charlie
Hawkins DR.. Il. C. Kennedy
who dressed the wounds O
Bruce, found that three of tn,
balls fred into Hawkins after he wa
strung up had passed through his lief
lung and two through his left arm ant
shoulder. He also found that the skull
had been fractured where one of tn