Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-07
The HAWKINS CASE.
How the COlOred Row 0rigi-
mated.
BOTH HAWKINS And WILSON CARRIED
WEPONS.
Both Will Have to be Indicted
or the Case Dropped.

THE HAwKINs-wILsoN CoLoREp
IMBROGLIo.
Feb. >, Hawkins was charged be-
fore the city recorder with carrying
a dangerous weapon and assaulting
one Wilson Herewith. Hawkins
waived examination. Wilson, who
was the only prosecuting witness,
gave out that Hawkins had been be.
fore tried for criminal attack and
had served term in the Spokane
penitentiary. But there is abso-
lutely no evidence of this character,
and the reports are undoubtedly put
in circulation to prejudice his
chances.
THE POLICE.
The police were interviewed and
said that they had no trouble with
Hawkins. lie was quiet, sober, or
derly, industrious, aud bore a good
character among his fellows, who
had implicit confidence in him as
laborer and a gentleman. They are
all Of opinion that he has been pro-
voked into his criminal conduct and
that his provocation was great, and
that he is not criminal in any way.
HAwKINs's STATEMENT.
On the evening of 29th Wilson
was sent by the landlord to tell
Hawkins that he was not wanted
in the house. On Jan. 13 Hawkins
had quit work voluntarily. Wilson
ordered Hawkins out in an abus-
i've manner. Then Wilson stepped
into his bedroom and came cut with
something in his pocket and his
hand upon it. After coming out of
the room he said Mr.. Wagner order.
ed him to 60. Wilson had told other
help that he would make Hawkins |
jump out of the EOuse like rabbit.
In going down stairs Wilson follow
ed Hawkins closely, threatening to
use force, and on the way down he
kept his hand in his pocket. Haw-
kins then asked Mr.. Wagner If he
had forbidden him the house, and
was told that he had. Hawkins
then avoided the house, and Wilson
kept on his abusive talk ''about
mashing him in the mouth" etc., If
he, Hawkins, ever approached him
again on the subject. A few nights
before the trouble, Hawkins asked
Wilson what he meant by such abus-
i've talk. He said he only discharg
ed his duty in obeying orders, and
again talked very boisterous, and re-
peated that he had made him jump
out of the house like a rabbit. Ill
feeling continued between the men.
This was known to all the colored
men and Wilson continued to boast
of making Hawkins take TO his
heels repeatedly,
The Saturday night of the row,
Hawkins happened TO be on the
walk near the hotel and as the feel
ing between the two was red-hot by
this time, as Wilson left bus he saw
Hawkins and, as the latter believes,
Immediately reached for his weapon.
Hawkins would not run and claims
he only put himself on the defen-
sive, as he was certain Wilson had
razor ready and would have cut him
as Hawkins friends knew Wilson
had razor for that purpose.
Hawkins came to Portland from
Spokane and refers to officials at
either place as to his standing. His
mistake was in going into the hotel
to settle a grudge entirely personal
to himself, and if he has committed
a crime it was in creating a disturb
auce in The Willamette. If anyone
has a case against him it is Mr.
Wagner and not Wilson. 1T will
appear that Hawkins only defended
himself against Wilson, and never
wanted to shoot him, as he had
plenty of opportunities to do so, but
did want TO meet him in a fistic en-
if a fair chance had been
given him.
The JOURNAL has no interest in
the matter but does not want to see
the city and county and state put to
great expense over personal feud
between two colOred men, whose
conduct shows beth were excited to
fury over almost nothing. The
expense of trial and conviction
should not be incurred, if it appears
that this was only a personal feud
for which both were equally TO
blame, and when for similar quarrels,
other classes of citizens would not be
even arrested.
The grand jury should not make
A state case out Of a petty jealousy =
md strife between two halfcrazed
'coons," who are otherwise peacea- u
,le hard working men.
No HENS FEATHERs.-Feathers
re something no one knows too
much about. Buren, has tihe line,
n1 n.nff hnu Ffor in