Killing of Jesse Hawkins
Killing of Jesse Hawkins - William P. Carter resided in Pope Valley, and had a daughter, between whom and Hawkins a mutual attachment sprang up. Carter was in Oregon at the time, and they proceeded with the marriage without the father's knowledge or consent. When he heard of it he was very wroth, and shortly afterwards returned home and set about undoing what had been done. At the end of three months he prevailed upon the girl to return home and leave her husband. Hawkins became enraged at this and threatened to take the lives of both if she did not return to him, going so far as to tell one man that Carter had just two more days to live. On the day before the homicide Hawkins left a note at Carter's gate addressed to his wife, asking her to meet him at the gate the next morning. In the morning of May 7, 1878, (the one designated in his note) he rode up to the gate. Carter was secreted behind a bush, and as Hawkins stopped he rose, and drawing a bead upon him said, "defend yourself," and at the same time fired at him, the charge taking effect in Hawkin's head and side. He fell from his horse with the exclamation, "Oh!" breaking his arm in the fall, and died almost instantly. Carter went to St. Helena and gave himself up and was tried before a Justice and acquitted. The Coroner's jury charged him with murder, and he was again arrested and brought to Napa. His case came up again for preliminary hearing before Justice Henning, by whom he was a second time acquitted. It was stated by Carter on this trial that Hawkins had tried to kill him once with a revolver. It was evidently a case of war to the knife, and he who drew first blood was the victor.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), pages 155-156.
This record was transcribed by Regina Gualco and is posted on CAGenWeb with permission.
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Last updated August 5, 2006