Evening journal., 1914-01-23
COL. HAWKINS,
VETERAN, DEAD
In Home HERE
Former Police Chief ard State
Detective Victim Of GEN.
eral Breakdown
HAD HONORABLE
CIVIL WAR RECORD

Following an illness caused by a
general breakdown, Colonel James L..
Hawkins, former State detective. fer
mer chief Of police. and a well-known
member of the c. A. r., died at 1230
O'Clock this afternoon, at the home OF
his daughter, Mrs. William J. Lackey.
No 4OS West Twenty third street. Mr..
Hawkins was conscious to the time of
his death. and members of his family
were at the bedside.
Mr.. Hawkins was "a years OF age,
and his last serious illness started a
week before Christmas. Since then
he had been under physicians care.
and for the past few days his condi-
ton had been critical. The funeral
arrangements have not yet been com
pleted, but it thought the funeral will
be held on Monday.
He is survived by four living chill
dren. They are Mrs. Charles h. Reed.
of Fairmount, West Virginia. John
Wesley Hawkins. Levi c. Bird Haw-
kins and Mrs. William J. Lackey, all
Of this city.
Colonel Hawkins was well known
all over Delaware and had hosts of
friends. He was a Republican all his
life and always took a prominent
part in the politics of the city and
State
He held city. Stale and Government
Offices and his services date over a
period Of many years He was a
former Union soldier and served
through the Civil War. In the army
he was a chief gunner of the First
! Delaware Battery under Colonel Ben
iamin Nields After the war he took
an active part in all soldiers or
ganizations and received his military
title as member Of the Union Vet
eran Legion.
Colonel Hawkins served as city de-
tective under Mayor Stansbury ].
/ Wiley and performed his duties with
I such success that when Mayor Wales
took Office he was made chief of po-
lice of Wilmington. He later became
a deputy United States marshal under
( Marshall William X. Finn
/ When Governor Preston Lea took
Office he appointed Colonel Hawkins
as state detective, position which
/ he filled for four years with credit,
and was instrumental in the capture
| Of many criminals wanted outside of
Delaware, as well as other success
/ ful work in connection with cases in
I this State. His first illness dated
] back six years ago and was due to
! his efforts in the Marvin case near
3 Bowers Beach. After the body Of the
/ Marvin boy had been found in a pool
where he had been accidentally
ldrowned Detective Hawkins returned
D fnr n
year and a half He never fully re-
covered his health.
I AZ the end OF the Civil War Colonel
I Hawkins entered the postoflice Depart
lment. and later did construction work
/ for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Following the completion of the work
on the railroad he served as 4 spccia
detective for the company, but gave up
his position TO 90 into the construction
business again. He was suneryi-or ct
sewer construction fot Che city and
also supervised the construction of the
( drv dock at Newport News, Va, and
the construction of the sewers in Nor
folk. Va
Colonel Hawkins took most ctive
interest in all G.. a. r. affairs He was
a member of the Union Veteran Legion.
Phil Sheridan Post. ol the G.. a. r.. OF
tho Fort Delaware Battery Association.
iand was a charter memhcr OF the Old
Soldiers Park Association. st 'he
: time of his death he was the president
of the Delaware Battery Association.
Following the death OF his wife. two
wears ago. Colonel Hawkins began TO
! fail and he never regalned his iull
strength after her loss, which affected
lhim greatly.