Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-26
TRIAL OF BALDWIN,
The Fourth Days Proceedings
in the Case'
THE CHARACTER TESTIMONY,
The Accused Gives His Version 0
the Killing.
INTEREST IN HIS STATEMENT.
Never shoots, Except to Save Life
Feltz Was In Danger-In Rebuttal-
The Defence Confident Of Verdict
of AcquittnI.

Especially )-The trial or Detective w. u
Baldwin was resumed before Judge Epes,
in the County Court of Dinwiddie, this
morning, and the examination of wit
nesses for the defence was continued.
G. w. Perkins testified that when he
went into Hawkes. store Henry Hawkes.
was lying on his face on the floor, and
Baldwin directed that the body be turn
ed over. This was done. and a pistol was
found in HAWKES. hands. w. III. Hawkes.
came in. His brother, II. W. Hawkes. told
him their father had been killed. Baldwin
at the. depot said to them: 1--WE regret
this more than YOU" II. w. Hawkes. re-
marked II do not blame Mr.. Baldwin.
Pa didn't know who you were. and you
all were right in what you did"
Lewis Thornton corroborated the testi-
mony of Mr. Perkins, as did also L. w.
Andrews and II +. Schegher.
b. +. Cobbs said that a month after the
killing he had a conversation with w. IL.
Hawkes. and the latter said that Bald
win first snapped his pistol in his fathers
face, and as the deceased turned, shot
him in the back of the head. This state
ment was corroborated by other wit
nesses.
Further evidence as to the character
of Baldwin was here introduced.
The defendant, w. g. Baldwin, was
next put on the stand. His statement was
heard with interest. He said: 81 reside
in Roanoke, and am special agent of the
Norfolk and Western, and have been for
eight years. On the night of September
18th / went TO Judge Mann's residence.
in Nottoway county, by appointment, and
met Judge Mann, Mr.. Bernard and
Charles Fowlkes, justice of the peace.
After consulting warrant for the arrest
of II. W. Hawkes. was handed me for
execution. The same night | left for Will
sons Depot"
The Commonwealth here objected, and
asked that the warrant for HAWKES. ar
rest be produced in court, and for the
first time the Court decided that the
warrant upon which II. w. Hawkes. was
arrested was a legal and proper war
rant, and that the magistrate who issued
the paper acted rightly and justly. The
charge against Hawkes. was that OF con
spiracy in Nansemond county 70 defraud
the Norfolk and Western railroad. The
paper was issued in Nottoway county
and executed in Dinwiddie.
BALDWIN RESUMES.
Mr.. Baldwin. resuming, said that on
September 10th he went to HAWKES.
store at Wilson'S; saw "A colored man
leaning against Il tree near the door,
and said 10 Fetz that looked suspicious
I'VE entered the store and told Ill. W.
Hawkes. we wanted to see him. As we
could not see him then, | left the store
went TO the depot, and then came back
and said, Hawkes.. lot me see YOU 1
showed him paper containing the names
of parties who had been defrauded as
workmen on the Norfolk and W estern
While / was talking, the negro whom l
had before seen came up. i told FeltZ
to execute the warrant. and he told W.
II. Hawkes. that he had a warrant for
his arrest. Hawkes. put his hand in his
hip-pochet and Feltz drew his pistol and
covered him. About this time the negro
above alluded to jumped at Feltz, with
a pistol i'm his hand. Thinking FeltZ was
in danger, l snapped my pistol. and as
the negro whirled / fired and killed him.
| would not shoot anybody unless TO pro
tect myself or agents from death"
Witness denied most positively the
statement of w. II. Hawkes. as regards
his treatment after arrest. He said that
Hawkes. was treated kindly. both in Pc
tersburg and in Dnwiddie. He denied
using any threatening language to MIN.
He shot Henry Hawkes.. he said, because
he believed it was 20 save FELIX'S life,
and he deemed It necessary 10 kill him
in order TO do so.
HAD SHOT AT OTHERS.
In response TO question by a juryman,
witness said that in the discharge of his
duties as agent of the Norfolk and West
ern he had shot at thirteen men, but had
only injured one fatally. He never had
and never would shoot man in the
back.
The defence here rested their case, and
the commonwealth put on several Wit
nesses In rebuttal. At the conclusion OF
the evidence instructions were asked
for bv both the Commonwealth and the
defence. These were argued at length
and with great ability.
The Court will give its instructions to
the Jury tomorrow, when the argument
will begin.
Three hours for argument will be al
lowed each side. The decision OF the
Court to-day as 90 the legality of the
warrant on which Hawkes. was arrested
will have, it is believed, very important
bearing on the case. The defence are
very hopeful, almost certain, indeed, OF
an acquittal, and Mr.. Baldwin tonight
seems I'm excellent spirits.
HOBsON ARRIVES AT NORFOLK.