The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-21


fused to talk. and If they would talk,
lit is possible some OF the mystery
surrounding the death of their daugh-
ter might be lifted.
An Expert Swimmer.
But here are the facts: Miss Haw-
&ins was an expert swimmer; she was
almost an athlete. Had she fallen
from the rock, where she was seen
alive last. into the shallow and rock
free waters beneath, il would have
| been no task for her to have regain
ed the shore. The water in the lake
| is not over four feet deep.
Her death was not accidental and
she did not commit suicide, for the
| body was in the water not twenty
four hours, and she disappeared from
her home Thursday morning, accord
ing to her family's statement.
There is absolutely no doubt what
ever that the girl was murdered
shortly after her disappearance and
the body later thrown into Lake
Osceola. On this point the evidence
is positive. II had long been a habit
with the dead girl to walk from her
home through the beautiful woods
and quiet paths to the lake and TO
the home near there of a lifelong girl
friend, Mrs. Beatrice McCoH. She Wis
tied her friend on Wednesday last
and returned TO her home that even
l.
O'Clock Thursday morning left her
home for the last time. She was
seen no more until dragged from the
waters of the lake while the church
bells were summoning the worship
ers to the House of God Sunday
morning.
Screams Heard Wednesday.
If the family of Miss Hawkins are
correct, If they have no Interior mo-
tive in stating that Miss Myrtle did
raf home
again Thursday, the mystery deepens,
for Wednesday evening shortly after
dusk the screams of a woman in dire
distress were heard proceeding from
a thickly wooded bluff overlooking
the lake. These cries were heard by
several people of excellent repute, but
their origin was not discovered. If
Miss Hawkins did return home that
Wednesday night and did not leave
again until Thursday morning, the
cries did not proceed from her urgent
need of help, but their cause has not
yet been found.
Not Robbed NOr Assaulted.
Taking the girls familys statement
as correct, therefore, Myrtle left her
home Thursday morning and disap-
| peared absolutely. 1t was her almost
daily habit to visit her friend, Mrs
McCol, near the lake, and she usual
| ~ took some book along with her
She would stop at different faVorite
I IL.
which was secluded and but little
frequented. She was murdered, but
! not robbed nor assaulted, sometime
thursday and the body left until it
was taken TO Lake Osceola, which
was undoubtedly done sometime dur
ing Friday or Saturday night.
Dead When Placed III Water.
me condluon of the body shows
that life was extinct when placed in
} the water and also shows that it could
not nave been there many hours. Also,
II would have been impossible for so
! large an object to have been on the
! surface OF the lake without almost
immediate discovery. Lake Osceola is
| out a mile from town, is daily encir-
| cled by hundreds of motor cars and
carriages and is faced by one of the
largest summer hotels here, whose
| guests favorite walk it is
| Making Close Examination.
| Inc path through the woods and
through the beautiful Norton estate,
| py winch Miss Hawkins always walked
/ 10 the lake, is now being infinitely ex-
amined. 1t is hoped that a still more
definite clew will result from this close
| examination.
| If the girl did disappear from home
on thursday morning, why was not a
| general alarm given at once, is a cues
ton the bereaved family alone can
| answer. A definite and quiet search
was instituted, it is known, but the
police were not notified.
| Opposition to Marriage.
| 1t is said that some opposition ex-
| listed to Myrtle's approaching marriage
| 10 Mr.. hal Cooper, young business
man of johnson City, Tenn, a visitor
| mere last, so far as known, about six
weeks ago. Mr.. and Mrs. Hawkins, it
| is said, had some idea that their
| daughter may have eloped with Mr.
! Cooper and disliking any publicity, in
| stituted a search of their own without
| the aid of the police.
Mother Frustrated.
The dead girls home life was ideal.
| She was devoted to her mother, es-
pecially, who is so completely pros
trated over the tragedy that her re-
! covery is in some doubt. Mr.. Hawkins
| is one Of the most substantial business
men of this section and his home in
Flat Rock is one Of the best there
/ The body was in a most horribly
| decomposed condition. Identification
was possible only by means Of her
wearing apparel ana articles Of jew
elry.
! The funeral held this morning was
/ one Of the most largely attended ever
| held here and was remarkable for
| the number of beautiful floral trib-
utes laid on the child's grave.
| Feeling Intense.
The state of public feeling over the
tragedy is most intense. Should any
arrests be made soon in connection
with the murder, the police are pre-
pared to adopt every precaution
guarding against lynching. But these
precautions must needs be adeouate