Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-12
DIED ON SCAFFOLD.
EXECUTION OF EDWARD HAWKINS
At CHATHAM YESTERDAY
For the Murder Of DR.. John Roy
CabeII-The Last Moments iof the
Condemned-Death Was Instanta-
neous-Hfs Confession.

DANvILLE, VA, November n.-(spe-
cial.)-Edward Hawkins this afternoon
expiated the crime OF killing Of DR.. John
Roy Cabell In Northern Pittsylvania
county on August 18th last. The exc
cution of the murderer took place In
Chatham fail at 2:26 o'clock, in the pre-
sence OF about eighteen witnesses,
though hundreds OF eager men stood
about the Jail enclosure. despite rain
and raw atmosphere, anxious TO see
and hear anything bearing on the enact
ment of the solemn scene within the
prison walls. Not the slightest hitch
in the Arrangements for the execution
occurred, and the fatal plunge OF the
condemned through the trap door of the
scaffold marked the instant passage OF
Edward Hawkins from life to death. His
neck was broken, and he died without a
struggle.
HE SLEPT WELL.
Hankins slept we'll last night, and at 3
o'clock this morning ate moderately OF
the breakfast supplied from Sheriff W.
I. Overbeys family table. During the
morning Miss Jennie Nelson, principal,
and several of the young ladies OF the
Episcopal Female College. OF Chatham,
sang to the prisoner in his cell. and he
was visited also by Rev. c.. o. Pruden.
rector Of the Episcopal church. and by
Rev. T. A. Hall, Of the Baptist churcn,
the latter spending hours with him, ana
administering final spiritual consolation
fo11 ba erect
ed in an improvised death chamber con-
structed about small rear porch or
the JAIL the whole being about by IA
feet square. In the centre Of the hoor
the death trap, about 2 IL feet square,
opened into a 10-foot deep pit TWO up
rights of heavy timber, one at either
side OF the trap, supported the cross
beam from which was suspended the
moose Into this small boxlike arrange
ment were crowded the witnesses, when,
at 2:2O o'clock p. NJ, Sheriff Overbey
directed his deputies to bring the pri-
soner from his cell.
WALKED STEADILY.
Hankins walked steadily from the jail
corridor into the scaffod-room, accom-
panied by the officers and the Rev. L.
A. Hall. The condemned man was calm
and cool. Not a muscle of his face
his ankles and the moose around MS
neck. The black cap was quickly slip
ped over his head, and then followed
brief prayer There was moment OF
suspense, and then the floor gave way,
and Hankins disappeared below 1t into
the dark cellar. the body remaining per-
fectly motionless. In twelve minutes
after the drop the last faint futter or
the heart died away though Dr. X. w.
Martin, Jr., the physician in attendance,
declared the man dead the instant the
first shock came, 1t breaking his neck.
half-hour later the body was cut
down and turned over to representa-
tive of the State Anatomical Board, and
will be expressed tonight to the Uni
versity College of Medicine, OF Rich
mond.
Hankins made a rambling written
statement some days ago, which was
delivered to Rev. T. A. Hall, to be made
public after the execution. The sub
stance of this statement is that DR.. Ca
bell first assaulted Hankins, VINO
eventually kicked the Doctor to death.
1t is rot given entire credence by the
people OF this section.
Hankins was a tenant on one OF DR..
Cabelrs places. and the Doctor gave
him notice TO leave. He demanded pay
| for certain work he claimed to have
done for the Doctor, and quarrel en-
sued. resulting in the murder. Hankins
was a powerful man in the prime OF
life. and his victim was Of delicate ply
sioue and advanced In years.