The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-19
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
MIR. John Hawkins, for Many Years
Citizen of Newberry, Ends His
Life in Columbia.

en- of this town and county. commit
ted suicide at the Columbia hotel IN
Columbia, on Sunday night.
Mr.. Hawkins was a son Of the late
Rev. Jacob Hawkins; D. D., who was
for many years prominent minister
in the Lutheran church, and also a
native of this county. For a number
of years MI. Hawkins had been en-
gagged in school teaching in various
parts of the State, and during this
year was in charge Of a school at
Ridgeland in Beaufort county.
The following account Of the sui
eide appears in the Columbia State Of
Yesterday morning. It seems that
Mr.. Hawkins had been in Columbia
for several days and had not returned
to his school, according to appoint
ment, and the school authorities had
published notice in the State on
Wednesday giving a description of
Mr.. Hawkins and inquiring Of his
whereabouts.
Mr.. Hawkins was about 4S years
old and unmarried. He has three sis
tiers living, his father and mother
both being dead.
The Columbia State says:
IA SO calibre revolver with one
cartridge exploded and the handle
pointing toward Hawkins right hand
was found lying on the bureau. One
foot was under and another propped
against the same bureau. A bullet
wound just behind the right ear show
ed where the bullet had entered. The
range of the bullet was slightly up
ward, passing almost entirely through
the head.
"Mr. Wheeler was greatly worried
and hastily notified the coroner and
police. The body was Immediately
taken to the undertaking establish
ment of Mccormick & Pletscher,
where it was examined by Drs. Will
liams and Griffith.
"Nothing was left to give any rea-
sou for the act. That the suicide
was intended is shown by the words,
"Telegraph J. T. Hunter, Prosperity;
also G.. T.. Graham, Lexington,'
found written on the back Of let
ter. The letter was in the inside
pocket of his vest, and was address
ed to "Prof. John Hawkins, Ridge
land, S. c., Beaufort County, It
bore a poStnark dated December II.
This was practically all that his pock-
cts contained. The only money found
on his person was l5 cents. A num-
Der of letters addressed to the deceas-
ed at Prosperity and Ridgeland we're
found in his suit case and handbag.
These two contained nothing else but
clothing and toilet articles. An empty
quart whiskey bottle stood in one cor
ner. The coroner decided it unneces-
sary to hold an inquest. The J. T.
Hunter at Prosperity referred to is
Hawkins brother-in-law. He Was
not in Prosperity, but his wife, the
dead mans sister, was secured by the
coroner over the telephone, and stat
ed that they would send some one
from Prosperity on the first train to
take charge Of the body. G. 7. Gra-
ham at Lexington could not be COM
municated with last night.
"No one heard the shot fired. Mr..
Wheeler's own room is just across
the hall from the room where the SUI
eide occurred, but he had left the no
tel for a walk about + o'clock. An
other guest whose room was near left
tn! hotel just before / clock, and
Il re was no one ust i'll that part OF
the house.
1.-THE room occupied is not the
same THAT Hawkins had had since
his arrival in the city. The room to
which he was first assigned was en-
gagged by some members of the legls-
lature and he was so Informed on
their arrival in the city Monday, but
was told that he would be assigned
another room. He replied that he
would probably leave that day but he
would move into the other room 50
that his room could be prepared for
the new occupants. This was done,
but he did not leave.
"Hawkins kept close to his room
all the time and has had no visitors
since he has been in the city. Mr..
Wheeler having himself lived at
Prosperity several years ago, knew
Mr.. Hawkins before. The deceased
is a native of Savannah and 4 gra-
duate Of Newberrv college. He has