The Dickinson press., 1895-08-31
.PERKINSHELD
ALTHOUGH THE CORONER,s JURY
DOES NOT IMPLlCATE HER.
A Verdict 10 Rendered That Mrs.
Hawklns' Death Was Accidental,
but Mrs. Perkins Will BE
Held Until the Grand
Jury Acts.
WAS MRS. HAWKINS DRUGGEDs
The Theory That She Was IL Being
strengthened Daily BY Various
Circumstances.

Minneapolis, Aug. 29.-The coroner's
jury returned a verdict that Mrs.
Hawkins came to her death by the
accidental explosion of lamp. No
one was charged with criminal con-
necti0n with the death. The verdict
is consequently neither a conviction
or exoneration-the jury simply keeps
it's hands OFF. Mrs. Perkins will be
held and the grand jury will make an
investigation.
The theory that Mrs. Hawkins had
been drugged is being strengthened
daily. The state assumes that a pow
erful Opiate was used on the fatal
night, and that the only slip the guilty
parties made was In not figuring that
the shock Of the burning would re-
store consciousness. 1t is assumed
that the dead woman didn't know
anything that took place during the
entire night, and that the plan was
that she should burn to death with
out knowing 1t. That she had been
made accustomed to heavy drugs is
certain from the experiences of the
doctors Immediately after the first fire.
DIR. Kistler spent several hours on
one occasion trying to put the woman
under the influence Of opiates. in order
to relieve the pain, but was in the
end unsuccessful. There was q con-
slant twitching of the muscles, show
ing to the experienced eye that the
Woman's system was charged. The
question arises, this being true: Did
the drugs come as a result of Mrs.
Perkins machtnatiOns, or was Mrs.
Hawkins addicted to the use of NOR
phine? The state assumes the first
to be the case, and a physician has
been at work for days on this one
branch of the testimony. There Is no
question but the report that Mrs.
Hawkins was not conscious in the full
sense Of the word, after the second
burning, Is true. Her occasional words
the next morning. shortly before
death, have no value, and it will not
be difficult for the state to demon
strate that they were the words Of
one who was in Il daZed condition and
did not know what she was saying.
Another theory is forcing itself
home upon the men who are investi-
eating the case. and that is that the
first fire was the result of a scheme
OH the part of the women, and only
missed connection in going farther
than had been intended. Both women
We're insured. and, as has already
been said in these columns, were over
insured. Mrs. Hawkins having weekly
indemnities to the amount Of $3.50
that have been located. The idea is
that the first fire was intended by
both to he small affair, only suf-
f1cient to keep Mrs. Hawkins in bed
for time, and not to permanently in
jure her. After seeing how serious
the fire had been, the thought occur
red to Mrs. Perkins that there was
now an opportunity to do something
better than to secure a weekly in
demnity. BY putting Mrs. Hawkins
out of the way for good. she would
get the full amount Of the policy, and
have it all to herself. Under this view
Of the case the second-the fatal-fire
followed naturally. In order that the
murder might be committed with as
little noise rs possible. the idea of
the drugs suggested itself, and the
unfortunate woman was placed under
their influence on the last night, the
plan only failing when the great shock
partially restored consciousness.