The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-22
LETTER FROM HAWLEY.,
TELLS TALE OF HIS LIFE
From Mondays Daily.


p. j. Hawley has made the fol-
lowing written statement to the Free
Press:
"Mankato, Mimi. November Is
To the General Public. Through the
Medium of The Free Press: At the
present time, owing to conditions
which surround me, | am at loss
to know whether it is best for me
to say much or little. | have had
every reason to believe that my
character has been SO thoroughly
gone over as to cause majority to
form an opinion of me which is
bound to be detrimental to myself.
and what is worse they have done
the same with my wife. What I shall
have to say must not be construed
as an effort on my part to make eX-
cuseS for any such wrong as | have
done, for this is not my object; /
say these few things following with
view to making clear my reason
for my error. To those who think
my reason good | shall be grateful:
to those that still maintain that
am common thief, | have only to
say that l regret that they must
think that way.
Married Seven Years AGO.
About seven years ago | was mar
ried to a girl whom | then thought
and still think to be the best one
in the world. At first we did well
and prospered and had everything
that common people could ask for.
Then about three years the baby
came and made things look much
brighter. Passing over the next two
years which were our happieSt,
will commence last spring when We
had our first i'll luck, and which still
pursueS us. We had to sell our
household effects in order that we
might get along and that put us
without a home. | was sick and out
of work. We had a very hard time
pulling through and when | became
able to seek employment, my wife
was taken sick. We struggled along
through the summer. just living and
that was all, for | could not find
employment Of a nature such as
could handle. All through the sum-
mer we lived from the meager loans
| was able to make from friends and
during the entire time | only had
employment for a period covering
little more than five weeks.
Sick Wife and Baby.
With sick wife and baby this
made it very hard for me to get
along and we had trouble all sum
mer ] was railroadiug several years
ago and when 7 was not able to find
other employment decided to re-
sumo this profession. and came to
MankatO with this i'm view. 7 tried
n n Il
railroads entering Mankato but was
unable to find vacancy Then |
tried to find employment at the
garages here in town as | have had
quite thorough experience i'm the
automobile line. At this also I was.
unsuccessful as the season was too
late for that kind Of business.
Wife Taken Sick Here.
My wife became sick again while
we were here and we were without
funds. We had not as yet paid our
room rent but the lady of the place
was gracious enough to let us stay
My wife had a little money when
we got here, but that soon went for
food for ourselves and the baby
Then | took one of my suits of
clothes and went to the Saulpaugh
hotel and tried to get Mr.. Hidden
brand to advance me a loan on
them, but he fatty refused me. |
went to the Elks club rooms and was
so Inundated and embarrassed over
my situation that I was forced to
tell brother lodge member a lie
and he was kind enough to advance
me small loan, but | insisted on
his accepting my suit of clothes as
security. With portion of this |
paid two small bills We owed here
in town and sent to Minneapolis for
medicine for my wife. With what
was left | took care of the baby and
my wife for two days. In the course
of these events l met a young lady
whom | had met here before.
Renewed the Acquaintance.
Il renewed the acquaintance with
her knowing that she was we'll
known and thinking that 1 might
borrow money of her. l soon learn
ed that she was not at all able to
advance me the money and so de-
ferred asking her for any assistance.
Then | evolved the idea that | might
be able to get some money with her
assistance and tried the means of
doing so that you all know, with the
present well known disastrous re.
suits. | did not relish this method
of getting money, but l could not
see the wife and little fellow want
ing and this was my last resort in
an effort to secure the needs OF
these two who were so near and
dear to me. | do not mention my
wife and baby with the view to ex-
acting sufficient sympathy to cover
my own wrongdoing, but mention
them because they are my first
thought. Twas out of work and tried
hard to resist this action, but with
circumstances as they were / was
unable to keep from it; ] had work
to go to Oh the coming Monday and
needed it badly as we are consider
ably in debt, and our debts are such
that if | am unable to take care of
them in the near future will per-
haps cause us more trouble
Aware of the Wrong.
81 am fully aware of the wrong l
have done and am not at all desir-
Gus of denying it, but it is hard for
me to think that / will be denied
the privilege of clearing myself in
your eyes. My total liability to the
people here in this town amounts
to a comparatively small amount in
dollars and cents and ] am anxious