Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-16
OUTRAGE AT KEY WEST.

y gentleman oiths city has cbligingly put iu,nour
hands letter frUm connrxIon at Key West dated
Goth May, detailing most auda outra ge Commit.
ted in that infant town. Here follows an extract: i
KEY WEsr, May Goth, -.
write YOU at tins time. under fe-iings which
cali DC more easily imagined than described Our
town was yesterday thrown into the greatest state OF
confusion by the wilfri and malicious murder of VII
liam Allison McRea, United States District Attorney
OF this place, by Clatles II. Hawkins formerly -
AlidshlFman III the u. ). Navy, now Licntcnani in
the Mexican Navy, and recently commander of the
Natona! Brig oE War Herman. lie was shot while
peacraby walkiig the street, from the Office OF Mr..
Edgar Macon ct firgnia. lawyer, where il appears
he had concealed hnusell for the purpose with d6u
bic barrel gun loaded with buck SHOT both barrels of
Which were discharged Mt him. wish could here
close tue scene; bnt TINS circumstance has given rise
TO acts OF greater atrOcy if possible by puttnp in
jeopardy the lives OF the friends of MnRe and those
who have dared tn sympatiIize for his untlnely end
Inc friends OF Hawkins and ms brother who is here
all inen oi desperate fortunes like themselves have
declared against all those who are sl,spected IN
be IN the least friendly TO the opposite marty; and
while writing this, compelled for my own secu-
NY TO keep brace o pistols lying by my side. The
Judge Of the District has been Threatened and in
tact we arc almost III state Of civil war The Cut
ter Marion arrived to-day from Il cruise which adds
somewhat 10 our security.
The circumstances that led to this violent deed
are briefly condensed from the letter. as follows: Du-
ring the last year, hawkins in the brig Herman can
tured ana brought into Key West, the Spanish brig
Amelia, laden with sugar, &c. where she was seized
/ ny the collector, for breach Of neutrality Don
Joachim Comes OF Havana, one Of the richest and
most influential men in that city, was owner of the
big andempowcrcd gentleman in Key West a n,er.
chant, toprosecute his claim on the ground that se
had been Illegally captured, and ought to be restored
to Tie original owners. Among Others Mr.. McRea
was employed in behalf OF the owners The trial
excited great heat both sides, and although the
Judge at the date Of McReas murder had not deci
ded yet the considered so sronr and plain
against the captors, that Hawkins considered It lost.
aud immediately meditated r.reDge. The merchant
who acted for the owner, and the Judge himself were
threatened in the desperation feeling occasined 10
Hawkins by the apprehended loss Of his capture.
Hawkins after the murder gave himself NJ to the ci-
vi authority, ana acknowledged his crime had been
long premeditatcd. Nir. Mcflca was native Of A.
cxandria and brother Ok Capt John Mcsea Of Nor.
folk lie was about IS years Of age ind is rcprescn.
ted to have been highly promising, Hc was wounded
in dncl las readers may rcmcmbcr) some weeks
ago, by tho Mr.. Hawkins. and was ono ofthose
office holders prescribed by our mosnanmous Prcsi.
uVhJ LOT opinion saNc.
Coy Of lcttcr from one of tlc first Mcrcanlil,
| Houses in Liverpool, to their correspondent IN
! Richmond.
ldvERPooL, 18th May, 1920.
! 4 very important communication as affecting tho
article OF tobacco, has been received from the Chan.
ccllor ofthc EXchcquer within a few days.
Government have determined, in consequence OF
representations mado TO them by the Irish growers OF
tobacco tu permit the growth this year without duty;
and they have also animated that II may be deemed
expcdicut 70 permit the growth III Great Britain
gcnotay, under regulations as TO duty hereafter N
be determined on. The consequence is, that nearly
1000 hogshcads may be produced in Ireland this sea
son. aud next year, tho cultivation viii probably b,
''cndcd to the three kingdoms, in such mannol
as To- Interfere nost seriously with the future tobacco
trade Of America, as the duty British growth vii
most likely be fixed low enough TO effect that pur-
pose There arc about $4,000 hogshcads now in th.
country, which equal two years consumption, and
ere long, the British tobacco nferlcr certainly but en-.
Icouuged by the high duty on Auencan.) will come
into play II is difficult 20 forcscc what =ay be the
effect upon pticcs IN serious alteration Of long
established trade. hut IL Ia evident that II must be