The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-09-05

and IL may become as famous as the
Gins murder, for which Harry Hay
ward is now under sentence of death.
The past history of Mrs. Perkins and
the late Mrs. Hawkins is gradually
unfolding itself. The more il is
nrobed the more mysterious it be-
comes. The latest development is that
tbe two women were in no manner re-
lated. although they always insisted
that they were twin sisters. Mrs.
Perkins has admitted that no tie of
blood kin existed between them.
A story is in. circulation in police
circles that Mrs. Hawkins was drug
ged Immediately before or after the
alleged accident. A prominent citi-
zen's name is mixed up with this fea-
ture Of the case. 1t will not be sur-
prising if another arrest is made with
in a few hours. The stomach of the
dead woman will be submitted to a
chemical analysis. 1t is confidently
nredicted that the result will be sensa-
tional in the extreme.
W. NJ. Todd, representing the claim
department of the Fidelity and Cas-
ualty company, in an interview, said:
we were convinced more than a
week ago that Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs.
Perkins were not sisters, even if they
were related at all. Now she has con
tossed that fact. and it is thus no
hnger a secret. Regarding the acct
dent insurance, Mrs. Perkins procured
a policy of $1,000, making Mrs. Haw-
kins the beneficiary. She also ar
ranged with the agent to do some So
letting for the company, and a certain
percentage Of the premium. was agreed
mon as a commission. In the capacity
of solicitor she locured the appliCa-
tion, of Mrs. Hawkins, and Il policy OF
5000 was issued TO her. with Mrs.
Perkins as Beneficiary. Mrs. Perkins
paid the premium on the Hawkins
policy on July -, but no portion Of
the premium on her own policy has
ever been paid. except the sum OF
$3.50 which was credited up TO her as
commission for procuring the Haw-
kins application. In the case OF the
life insurance, Mrs. Hawkins never
had any at all. Mrs. Perkins went TO
the office of the life insurance COM
pany and introduced herself as Mrs.
Hawkins. and said she wished to pro-
cure a policy of life insurance II
IA make her sister, Mrs. Perkins, the ben
E8 efciary. She was careful to arrange
that no notice of premiums or litera-
- Nult VI any hilii Silobi '''s ''HN
TO the house. as she desired To keep
the matter from the knowelge Of her
sister for fear that the latter would
5# ScOld her for making such a sacrifce
6N# as the insurance would involve, while
they were so pressed for money. The
"a amount of insurance was agreed upon
at 5000, and Mrs. Perkins was eN-
amlned as Mrs. Hawkins, excepted as
Mrs. Hawkins, and she then forged
Mrs. Hawkins name to the applica-
ton blank and examination blank.
She went TO the office herself and paid
the premium. The last premium was
paid in July, and, although the day
was hot, she wore a heavy green ven
which completely hid her features ana
made her unrecOgniZable. 1t was AFTER
this discovery that | had my confer
ence with Chief of Police Smith. ana
| was surprised to find that while he
knew nothing about the insurance IN
the case, he had had two detectives at
work for some time.
Sensational evidence was given at
the inquest by Frank Perkins, the IL,
year-Old son of the prisoner. lie saiu
that on the night of the accident ne
did not go to bed. but slept on the
lounge in his clothes. Asked II he
ever did that before, he replied that
only once, and that IA on the nlSht
pr the previous fire, when Mrs. law
kins was injured.
MuIvehilrs story.
Kansas City. Aug. 21.-Wm. Mulvi-
hill, a conductor on a street railway
line here. was formerly the husband or
Mrs. Louise Hawkins, who was re-
Gently burned to death at Minneapolis,
and with whose murder Mrs. Nora
Perkins. an alleged sister, is now ac-
cuSed. Mr.. Mulvihill, when seen by q
local reporter, was very u mus
posed to talk abort the matter. lie
was not aware of the tragic afalr un-
til told of it by the reporter. He Sc
rlously objected to the association OF
his name with h case. F1nally he
stated that he had been divorced from
Mrs. Hawkins in Des Moines, Iowa, in
1871. The divorce, he stated. was the
result Of a mutual understanding De-
tween his wife and himself. Con
Corning the grounds for divorce, he
would say nothing except that Mrs.
Nora Perkins, a widow, ~alienated his
wife's affections and had obtained
complete control of her. Mrs. Perkins
was not a sister of Mrs. Hawkins, al
though the two women claimed to be
sisters. He understood that after he
got his divorce and left Des Moines,
Where his family live. the two women
went to Minneapolis. He heard that
MS former wife married a horsemah
named Hawkins. OF the particulars OF
TINS and what had become Of Haw-
kihs, he knew nothing. He did not
even know that the two were married.
His former wife seemed to be COM
Pletely infatuated with Mrs. Perkins.
alrs. Perkins was the widow of a
printer. Perkins died Of consumption.
when asked IL he had heard the story
,nat Mrs. Perkins was suspected OF
kliilng her husband for $1,000 life In
surance, Mr.. Mulvihill said that he be-