The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-02
1T is HARLEY HAWKINS
The Man Drowned in the Pawtuxet
River at Arctic.
THE PROOFS CONCLUSIVE.
Full Details Of the Clues srd Reasons
for Believing that the Body is that Of
ariey Hawkins and Not "Red Dave.w
ESPECIAL TO THE xxws.I

ARCTIC, Aug. 2-The excitcment over
the Pawtuxet Valley mystery and the dis-
appearance of Harley Hawkins still re-
mains unabated, and the people are in
vestigatine the matter as rapidly a. pos-
sible. Ever since the finding Of the body
Of an unknown man in the Pawtuxet
river near the Arctic mill the citizens
have been puzzled to tell whether the
man was Dave Mercuro or Harley Haw-
kins. 1t was at first Thought that tho
person who was drowned was "Red
Dave" as he was commonly known, but
brought to light indicate that the BODY
found was that Of Hawley Hawkins.
Hawkins was tall slim man, ~ years
OF age, with red hair. his head being partly
bald, and answers the description Of the
man found In the pond In every respect,
especially as the man found In the water
had sores on his leg. A rumor was cur
rent throughout the various villages Of
the Valley this morning that Mrs. Mur-
ray, who keeps boarding house In CLYDE.
had seen Hawkins alive last night.
The NEWS Reporter visited Mrs. Muir
ray this morning at n O'Clock at her resi-.
dence near the Clyde depot. Mrs. Murray
formed him that she had not seen Haw-
kins but twice in five months. Continu-
ing Mrs. Murray said that Hawkins
boarded with her for nearly eleven vearu
and was man Of very quiet habits Some
times he would go on spree but would
return in about Two weeks. When drink
ing he was inoffensive and very quiet;
only he had one peculiar habit, that was
to purchase new pair Of shoes aud stock
iings every time he took to drink. It will
be remembered that the body found In
the water here had new shoes and stock
ngs on when found.
Hawkins had half brother, q sister
and a brother in Woonsocket who were
in we'll to do circumstances. the brother
owning n lumber yard. Mrs. Murray
said that she was positive that the BODY
found in the river was Hawkins instead
of 'Red Dave" Hawkins had ulcers on
his legs, she said, and had slept with
John Donley, her uncle Owen Hand,
Phillip Matthewson and Phillip Olney,
who had often noticed the sores while be
was boarding at her house.
Another instance which strengthens
tie belief that It was Hawkins is that the
clothes are believed to be the same Haw-
kins wore, and the shirt, his stepmother
says, is his.
aRed Dave" David Mercure, Is said to
have been seen In PROVIDENCE on We'd
nesday last, which, IL true, would prove
conclusively that the body was Hawkins
The local physicians stare that It geper-
ally taxes nine days Tor body TO rise and
float on the water, but many think as
Hawkins has not been absent so Iona, that
the body might have arisen on account OF
the conclusion caused by thunder during
the heavy showers.
Hawkins was employed at the Pike
lumber yards at River Point for many
years. entering the employ of the Pike
Company when he was but small boy.
When not intoxicated he was hard
working man and had probably drawn
more lumber TO various points Of the State
on his team than any mau at present hv-
lug In the town OF Warwick.
l2 o'clock-The relatives and friends Of
Hawkins have been examining the
clothes taken from the man in the river
before burial, and IL Is thought there can
be no mistake regarding the proofs thus
far given that Hawkins was the man.
LATER-2.l5 p. MA coat has been
found of Harley Hawkins where he
boarded and the cloth perfectly matches
the vest which was on the person tsksn
from the stream.
The body will probably be dug up for
another inspection this afternoon.
The last seen of the unfortunate man
was a week ago Monday. he drew - from
the Office and left Moses Clark's barn.
Lippitt at noon starting oR ON foot In the
direction Of Arctic.