The herald., 1894-04-21
MURDERED BY STRANGULATION.
John Hawkins Killed and Rob-
bed at Wilmington.
The Perpetrators of the Mysterious
Tragedy Escaped.
The Eobbsrs Bound and Gagged Their
Victim Untl Death Ensued-A
Glue to the Mur-
dererB.

John Hawkins, an aged baker residing
at Wilmington, was found dead in his
home yesterday morning. He had been
foally murdered, the motive being rob-
berry.
Hawkins was accustomed to rising and
going to work in his bakery as early as
O'Clock in the morning. Yesterday
morning as late as O'Clock the windows
remained closed and the door locked.
Deputy Constable Inman, in passing the
bakery, noticed this unusual state of
aifairs, and proceeded to make an inves-
tigation. He tried the doors and win
dows. and found them tightly fssten ed.
The first thing to attract his attention
was q broken pane OF glass in front
window. Upon going to rear windo W
he discovered where an entrance had
bsen effected, and further investigation
showed hawkins lying upon his bed.
The aged man Was lying stiff aud cold
stranRulatiOn. His hands and feet were
securely tisd with cord, while gag"
wac in his mouth.
Everything had besn thrown about
the room b. the murderers, and $50.
were missing. The robbers escaped
with the most valuable articles.
From Indications it did not appeaf
that the robbers meant to murder the
old man. They gagged him too tightly,
and he died simply from strgnguialon.
Fhe deed had evidently been committed
FIVE or six hours.
As soon as the deed became known
Coroner Gates went to Wilmington to
hold an inquest. Sheriff John C.sCline
and Detective George I. Insley aleo
went there TOR the purpose of hunting
down the muIderers. at the inquest it
developed that boy had seen two sus-
plcious persons loungng about the
placs Thursday, and had that morning
dismissed the men from a haystack In
the rear of HAWKING bakery.
This gave Sheriff Cline clue, and he
proceeded to make an investigation. He
found that he had the opinion of the
townspeople to overcome, for they be-
lieved the murdersrs we're residents OF
that place. The officers found that the
tracks near the rear door of Hawkins's
bakery had been made by large shoe,
similar to the one descrl bed by the boy
to Sheriff Cline as having been noticed
the morning the trsmps were driven
from the barn. The boy paid particular
attention to the shoes, as they were |
worn by the larger man of the two. A
good description OF the tramps was given |
Sheriff Cline and Detective Insley |
They followed two men to Redondo who
answered the description closely, but /
VINO proved to be not the men. The /
sheriff at once put two or three other
officers on the trail and hopes to have |
the men within "a hours.
x.9a The of dssa I'D s Hss mess 9ag inhamsP oaso
robbers. who, however, took the preCau
ton to keep him from making an out i
cry. His face and features were horri-
bly, distorted deep cut showed plainly
under the lett eye, and a cut was upon
his head. The robbers had evidently
had a terrific struggle with the old man
be ore they finally oveEpowered him.
Hawkins is an Engishman by birth,
and has a eon who ls well-to-do living IN
Denver and sister residing in England.
1t has been the custom of Hawkins to
send large sums Of money to hie son and
sister alter be had accumulated them.
He was a man OF great affections and
thought great deal OF his relatives.
His son, who is also named John haw-
kins, WAS on visit to his father q few
W66Ab aSO 1O biioh W POI
suade him ii give up his residence and
industrious habits in Wilmington and
70 to Denver with him to live and no
longer do any work and thereafter have
no cares, The old man seemed to have
an attachment for HE surroundings and
the people of Wilmington, and refused
TO acceds to the ardent wishes OF ms
son. The father and son, while the son
was in Wilmington. appeared to think
great deal OF one another and were in
varsbly seen together. Tne only time
that the old man had any surcease from
his unremitting toll WAS when his son
wss in tbs town.
Among the effects OF h-wkina was a
letter asking that should ME body be
found at any time to have it cremated.
This was written in the realization of
the fact that he suffered from serious
attacks of heart disease, and expected
to die suddenly. His wish in this re-
apect will be carried out.
The relatives OF the old gentleman
were notified OF his murder. A reply
was received from his son in Denver,
asking the officers to notify his uncle in
San Diego. but gave no name. 1t was
the first time the residents knew that
he had relatives other than the son,
although Hawkins had resided in Will
mington for years. He was generally
liked and respected by everyone who
knew him.