In the spring of 1904, a violent incident at a political rally in Lawton, Oklahoma, resulted in the death of Assistant Chief of Police J.W. Hawkins, a 37-year-old male. The altercation, which occurred on April 4, 1904, stemmed from a disagreement between Hawkins and the editor of a local newspaper. When Hawkins appeared at the rally, the editor fatally shot him.
Following the shooting, the newspaper editor was arrested and charged with the death of Hawkins. He claimed self-defense in the matter. Initially, he was convicted of manslaughter and received a sentence of three years in prison. However, the man appealed the conviction and was subsequently released after posting bond.
A new trial was granted, and on March 22, 1907, the suspect was acquitted of the charges related to the death of Assistant Chief Hawkins. The case concluded with the newspaper editor's release, leaving the death of the lawman a subject of historical record in Lawton.
