Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-26
J. D. HAWKINS ARRAIGNED
Kent County Lawyer and Politician
Pleads Not Guilty to Serious Charge.
WANTS HIS HEARING POSTPONED
Action on His Request Has Not
Yet Been Taken. @
He IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SHERIFF

Special correspondence of Gazette and Journal.
Dover, April 25.-John D. Hawkins,
former attorney for the Kent county
Levy Court, and a prominent Demo
cratic politician, was arfaigned in the
Court of General Sessions, yesterday,
on the charge of embezzlement. The
Indictment contains two counts, en-
bezzlement and transportation Of
funds .....
Hawkins pleaded not guilty, and
through his counsel, Henry Ridgely,
Jr., asked that the case be continued
until the next torn Of court, on the
ground of the absence Of William w.
Jarvis, a material witness.
Deputy Attorney General Cooper OBJ
jected to continuance.
When the court adjourned until this
morning. action had not Eeeu taken on
Hawkins request, and the accused
was placed in tho custody of Sheriff
Wharton. A bond had been presented
to the court, but had not beer accepted,
IL being defective.
HAWKINS ALLEGED CRIME.
The following stury Of Hawkins
alleged crime was brought out at his
preliminary hearing before Magistrate
Hutton of Dover, on December 9th,
1897
ION February 18th, 1898, Mr.. aud
Mrs. John W. Hutchinson, residing near
Dover, came to Dover to seek loan
OF $500, with which to pay some bills
and mako purchases. Mr.. Hutchinson
met Mr.. Hawkins, who was his legal
adviser, to whom he stated his cage.
Mr.. Hawkins, he says, advised him to
secure n loan. by mortgage on his
farm. of $500, with WHICH he could
pay mortgage for 50, 900 on the prop
eIty held by Enoch Clark of Dover,
and have $500 left for personal use.
Hawkins obtained the So, 500 from O.
&. Babbitt of Philadelphia, and gave
500 to Hutchinson, representing, so
the latter alleges, that he had paid
Mr.. Clark. As an assurance that overy-
thing was as represented, Hawkins fur
nished Hutchinson with an itemizeci
bill showing the different amounts paid
and TO whom.
about two weeks ago, David l..
Spluance of Smyrna, an uncle of Mrs.
Hutchinson, was advised TO CONS to
Dover with Hutchinson and his wife
and look into the affair. Upon going
/ to the Office of the recorder of deeds it
was learned that two mortgages were
recorded against their farm. one of
$1,000 by Enoch Clark of this town,
and the other by G. 9. Babbitt of
Philadelphia for 81, 500. In the mean
time, Francis Skunk Brown of Phila-
deIphia, attorney for the estate OF 9.
c. Babbitt, deceased, became app ised
OF the circumstances and came to Dover
on Friday of last week to confer with
Hawkins. Lawyer Brown left Dover
with the understanding that he would
return on Monday morning last and he
given settlement. Monday morning
Mr.. Brown. Mr.. and Mrs. Hutchinson
and Mr.. Spruance came to Dover,
/ Hutchinson and his wife having
previously employed Messrs. Hughes
and W0lcott to look after their inter.
esls. An affidavit charging Hawkins
. with mlsappropriating S3, 000, was made
Iefore Magistrate Hutton by Mr.. and
Mrs. Hutchinson and warrant was
issued for Hawkins arrest, tho writ
helng Placed in the hands OF the sheriff.
For several hours Mr.. Hawkins was
cosoted with the attorneys and prinoi-
pals OF the case, and he finally agreed
4 70 raise the money by $50 O'Clock Mon
day night. In the meantime, while
the writ for his arrest was IN the hands
Of the officers, it was not served on
him, but sheriff's official was placed
on his track till the time specified by
him TO make good the amount. An
hour or SO before the time fixed, how
ever Hawkins went before Magistrate
Hutton and gave himself up. His bail
was fixed at $1,000, and he gave as
ssuieties William M. Dixon Of near
Woodside and A, w. Clifton OF this
town.