The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-24

Dramatic Revelation Brought Out I'm q
Police Court Trial-Further Sensa-
tiona Developments Expected

Police Court Trial-Further Sensa-
tionaI Developments Expected
Never was the old saw, Truth Is
stranger than fiction" more dramasi-
cally exemplifed than in the rapid
unfolding OF family secrets since Ho-
mer Hawkins, a youth of %, was
arrested in the Melrose station last
Monday or the charge Of attempting
&c slackmail Louis r. Fuller. his
mothers brother by adoption, OH. OF
$500.
When the Y young men stood fac
ing each other in the railroad tracks
at Malrose only one OF them (Haw-
kins) knew of their relationship.
The next morning, in the Tombs po-
lice court, as young Fuller stood be-
fore the magistrate m accused Haw-
kins. he learned for the first .iu,e
that he was an adopted child.
AT the second examination Thurs
day still greater shock came 10 the
wealthy young man when he was
told By Hawkins lawyer that his u
doption was not legal and that he had
no right TO the name he had signed
70 the complaint.
And now behind all this there is
still another surprise coming, and one,
il is asserted, hat will De a greater
shock not alone TO those directly con-
cerned, but TO many persons rronln-
ent IN society. That revelation Will
be the naming Of the parents Of the
adopted child who today is known as
Louis f. Fuller.
DR.. Frank Fuller, president of a
health food company with Offices at
No, 81 Fifth avenue, is a man of
wealth and well known in New York.
He has a splendid country place at
Madison, n. j.. and is an Intimate
friend Of Mark Twain and many 9th
er distinguished literary men and
scientists. During Lincoln'S admin
istratio1 he was territorial secretary
Of Utah.
About thirty years ago, after the
death Of his first wife. DR.. Fuller mar
ried Miss Anna Thompson. OF Ports
mouth, n. H, a sister of Jacob H.
L lpS Ii "oS LA ~
St. James Hotel last September. A
sol vas born to them, and during
their residence the child dad when
an infant. A child Of about the
same age was adopted and reared as
their WI child. That child was
Louis R. Fuller. He vas educated
at Harvard and is a prospective heir
to his fathers wealth.
Or. Fuller had a daughter by his
first wife, Allie Fuller, and she is Mrs.
Faxon, mother of Homer Hawkins,
the Young mar arrested on the charge
of blackmail. Young Hawkins, know
ing of his grandfather's wealth, for
many years had cherished an envl-
GUS feeling toward Louis Fuller, and
particularly has he resented the fact
that his own mother the lawful child
Of his gr~andfa-he~, should be Obliged
to work as a seamstress while an a.
dopted child should enjoy the luxur-
les Of wealth.
Mry times has young Hawkins tried
to reach his grandfather to persuade
him that his course in ignoring his
mother and himself was unjust, but
the elder Fuller has paid no heed to
his appeals and Louis Fuller is said
never to have known the true relation
ship CT young Hawkins and himself.
Hawkins father died when the son
was small. Mrs. Hawkins then mar
ried Faxon, and he is now an inVa-
lid in. California, where the 1amlly
lived until about q year ago. Young
Hawkins was employed on a steam
ship line plying between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu for many years.
and has always worked for the sup
mort of his mother Little o than
= year ago they came to New YORK,
where. Hawkins obtained employment
as timekeeper in the Mott Haver
wards at the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad. He brooded
over his poverty and the hard lie or
his mother untiT the plot developer
in his mind t obtain an interview
with Young Fuller and get money
from him.
When Hawkins was arranged IN the
Tombs Police court young Fuller was
therp. to press he charge The prfs-
oner's mother was there also, n II
was during her plea to Magistrate
Whitman for clemency for her Dos
that the secret of Fullers birth Was
first made known to him. AT once
a new light was shed over the case
Again Mrs. Faxon appeared in court,
this. time accompanied by Edmund Z.
Price, a lawyer, who asked Mr.. Fuller
if he knew that youn Hawkins was
his fathers grandson. Mr.. Fuller al
ser much apparent embarrassment
said he did not know it, but heard 50
recently. H.
After much questioning as 10 mas
his name and other points ouch
ing upon his relationship to Hawk
ms. Mr.. Price asked that the cnarge
of blackmail could not stand. SUD
denly the examination was agaln
postponed, and the bail Wnicn -
been SET at $4,000 was reduced to sow
From several friends who nave
known DR.. Fuller's family for several
years It was stated hat Louis R. sui
ler's own mother is a woman OF IRE
highest rank in society and n VINO
;s VOL known for her good deeds and
kindly disposition. 1t was stated that