Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
JAMES H. IHAWLEY
OF IDAHO EXPIRES
Former Governor of Western
State Led Prosecution of
big Bill" Haywood.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho, August 3.-Former
Gov. James H. Hawley. long prom
inent in the councils of the Democratic
party in this State and leading fig
ure in Idaho's early history, died here
this afternoon after a lingering illness.
He was stricken with heart trouble
several months ago and was confined to
his bed. Later he recovered somewhat
and has been able to ride about the
city. Taken suddenly i'll again today,
he died shortly after pm.
For more than half century James
H. Hawley had been one of the out
standing figures in the commercial.
civic and political. development OF
Idaho.
AS a young man residing in Cali
fornia, he was attracted to Idaho by
the discovery of gold in the latter State
and in the early sixties was present IN
the first rush for holdings in the Boise
Basin.
From that time on he participated
in virtually every feature Of the aiming
DEVELOPMENT, either as a miner, attor-
ney or politician, and then spent the
latter wears Of his life practlclng law,
with his sons as partners.
Early in the century Mr.. Hawley LED
the State prosecuting forces, IN the
memorable legal battle in which me
George Pettibone and Charles Moyer
were tried on a charge of completely
in the assassination of former Gov:
Frank Steunenburg Although none OF
the three was convicted, the trial ADDED
to the prestige of Mr. Hawley, who later
was elected Governor of the State, ana
of William E. Borah, who became
United States Senator.
Elected Governor.
Mr. Hawley served one term as Gov
ernor. 19ll-13, and as the Democratlc
candidate for reelection was defeated
nv John M. Haines. In one ambition,
IN represent his State in Congress, he
was doomed to disappointment. twice
he sought that honor, in 1888 ana again
in 1914, but was defeated both tlmes;
His career, however, was we'll marKea
with political offices, both state anu
Federal. ., ~
Born at Dubuque, Iowa, January -,
1847. Mr.. Hawley was of English, irish
and Dutch ancestry. His mother oleo
when he was an infant and aIter IIle
son had finished his high-school course,
his father. Thomas Hawley, moved W
California. From there the son went
to Idaho when gold was discovered
After two years he returned to Can
fornia to study law and upon complet-
ing his course resumed his mining &C
tivities in Idaho. He served in both
branches of the Legislature and IN 1000
was appointed by President CleVelano
as United States district attorney 1or
Idaho. He also served as mayor Oh
Boise. ,.,..
In 1875 Mr. Hawley married MISS
Mary E. Bullock They had eight chill
dren, of whom six grew to maturity.
Sentenced to Death.
During his law-school course in Cali
fornia Mr.. Hawley Joined a group OF
Young men on filibusterlng expedltlon
that took them to China and nearly
cost them their lives. They were erD duISo
to the Far East by reports OF trouble
incidental to the breaking down OF the
Chinese wall of isolation" by foreign
powers. Arriving at Shanghai, the
group attempted to seize Chinese gun
boat with view to sailing it up the
Yangtze River to join the rebel Chinese.
Captured in the raid, the group was
quickly sentenced to death. AS Amerl-
cans were not highly regarded by the
Chinese at the time, the men brought
about their release by posing as BRUSH
subjects.
The Steunenburg murder trial, I'M
questionably one of the most notable IN
Idahos legal history, lasted for three
months during which the capital city,
Boise virtually was in state OF siege:
On the States side Mr.. Hawley had
Senator Borah as associate counsel,
while opposed to them as leader OF the
defense was Clarence s. DarroW. Only
one man, Harry Orchard, was sent TO
prison. He confessed to a series OF
crimes, of which the planting OF the
bomb that killed Steunenburg was only
an incident.
Attended Conventions.
One of the outstanding achievements
OF Mr.. Hawley's term as governor was
increasing the taxable property in the
State from a value of $127 100000 to
100000. He continued his interest
in politics until after his eightieth
birthday. In 1928 he was delegate to
both the State and national Democratic
conventions.
He was regarded as one of the fore
most trial attorneys of his State and
once was credited by Senator Borah
with having saved the necks Of more
men than any one know"
Ruth Elder Enters Air Race.
CLEVELAND, August (P.-Ruth
Elder. the first woman to attempt to