Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
December 6, 1888
The Evening World
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Francis Asbury Hawkins, sentenced to death for murdering his mother in Islip in summer 1887, has a death-watch in Riverhead jail. Unaware, he chatted informally with commissioners sent by Gov. Hill to assess if he is truly insane or feigning for commutation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
DIDN'T KNOW THE COMMISSIONERS.
Murderer Hawkins Met Unawares the Men Who Will Decide His Fate.
[SPECIAL TO THE EVENING WORLD.]
Riverhead, L. I., Dec. 6.-To-day the death-watch was placed on Francis Asbury Hawkins, confined here in jail under sentence of death for murdering his mother in Islip in the summer of 1887. Now his watchers are with him every minute.
Hawkins is utterly reckless and plays checkers most of the time with his watchers. He says he does not care whether he is hanged or not.
He does not yet know that his visitors of last night were commissioners sent by Gov. Hill to ascertain whether he is really insane or not.
The Commissioners came in an informal way and chatted with him just as many other visitors have done. Hawkins thought they were there out of curiosity and was entirely off his guard.
His friends and counsel appealed to the Governor for a commutation of his sentence on the ground that he was insane, but the shrewd Executive sent the Commission there on the quiet to find out whether Hawkins really was insane or only feigning. Whether or not the young matricide will be hanged, or sent to the Lunatic Asylum, depends upon the report of the Commission.
Murderer Hawkins Met Unawares the Men Who Will Decide His Fate.
[SPECIAL TO THE EVENING WORLD.]
Riverhead, L. I., Dec. 6.-To-day the death-watch was placed on Francis Asbury Hawkins, confined here in jail under sentence of death for murdering his mother in Islip in the summer of 1887. Now his watchers are with him every minute.
Hawkins is utterly reckless and plays checkers most of the time with his watchers. He says he does not care whether he is hanged or not.
He does not yet know that his visitors of last night were commissioners sent by Gov. Hill to ascertain whether he is really insane or not.
The Commissioners came in an informal way and chatted with him just as many other visitors have done. Hawkins thought they were there out of curiosity and was entirely off his guard.
His friends and counsel appealed to the Governor for a commutation of his sentence on the ground that he was insane, but the shrewd Executive sent the Commission there on the quiet to find out whether Hawkins really was insane or only feigning. Whether or not the young matricide will be hanged, or sent to the Lunatic Asylum, depends upon the report of the Commission.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Madness
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Matricide
Insanity
Death Sentence
Commissioners
Commutation
Death Watch
What entities or persons were involved?
Francis Asbury Hawkins
Gov. Hill
Where did it happen?
Riverhead, L. I.
Story Details
Key Persons
Francis Asbury Hawkins
Gov. Hill
Location
Riverhead, L. I.
Event Date
Dec. 6
Story Details
Death-watch placed on Hawkins, sentenced for 1887 matricide; unaware visitors were commissioners assessing insanity for commutation appeal to Gov. Hill.