The Dickinson press., 1891-08-29
Killed dhxanesnera.ln


Bruce, city marshal, was shot and fa
tally wounded last night by Charley
Hawkins, desperate. who was lynched
by mob few hours later. Hawkins
was in quarrel when Bruce came upon
the scene and requested him to cease
his disturbance. Hawkins then reached
for his revolver, and with an oath fired
three shots in succession at Bruce, each
bullet taking effect. Hawkins fired
twice more, but missed and started to
run, with Bruce following. When about
$50 feet from the place OF the shooting
Bruce caught Hawkins and placed him
under arrest and Immediately fell. He
was removed to his residence.
At II o'clock Bruce was vomiting blood
and his case was considered hopeless
At o'clock last night mob of 500 col
lected in the courthouse yakd and pro.
ceeded to the Jail. The sheriff de-
manded to know who was there. One
of the mob impersonated the deputy
marsh Il and said he had prisoner. The
sheriff then opened the door when the
twelve men entered the parlor and
seized him by the throat. He was then
tied hands and feet and gagged. One
of the mob secured the keys of the jail
and the barred doors were thrown open
and guards placed at the entrance to
keep back the other prisoners Hawkins
was in the rear cell, and when the mob
reached that portion of the jail he fell
upon his face, placed his hands over his
eyes and said: "Please let me pray"
The committee did not wait, but pro.
ceeded 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, dragging him on the ground.
Twenty feet away tree was found and
the rope thrown over limb, and sec.
ond later Hawkins was suspended in
mid air. Eight shots were then fred
into his body, and the dreadful work
was over. The mob Immediately dis
persed, and in five minutes the streets
were as quiet as grave.
At the hour of the hanging Bruce
was reported dying. 1t is said the
Hawkins deed was premeditated A
week ago the marshal arrested his 10
year old son who had thrown stones
through some plate glass windows, and
Hawkins boasted he had come to the
city prepared to get even with Bruce.
He had sought trouble with several
persons but all were afraid of
him him and avoided him. His father
and son were left in Jail unmolested
by the mob though each participated
in the cowardly shooting of Bruce. At
ter Hawkins had emptied his revolver.
which he had borrowed for the occa-
sion, his son stepped up and handed
him another we'll loaded, but of this he
was disarmed by other officers. The
father of the assassin, who is very old
man came up just as the ma,shal
stlrted to fall, and going up
to the dying man and drew his
club and was about to strike him when
bystander caught The mob, however,
let him go on account of his age. Cor
oner Clarence Bruce, brother of the
marshal. was called to the south part of
the county to hold an inquest and to-
morrow will hold an inquest on the
body of his brothers. assassin, and most
likely be called upon to investigate the
cause of his brothers death. The as.
sas lin leaves wife and family who are
in almo st destitute circumstances. The
body was left hanging in the courthouse
ward.