Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-16
OUTRAGE Ar KEY WEST.

y gentleman OF this city has obiieingy put INTO d,r
hands letter from connexlon at Key West dated
2oth May, detailing most auda cp,s outrage commit
tel III that infant town Here follows an extract:
KEY WEsT, NIay 10th, 1929.
j write you At this time under feelings which.
can be more easily imagined than described. Our
town was yesterday thrown into the greatest state Of
confusion by the wIlfn and maicious murder OF Will
liam Allison NcRca United States District Attorney
OF this place, Of Charles p. HAWKINS, formerly 4
MidshpnIam in the L. $. Navy, now d Lieu,ananJ in
the AiexicaR Navy, and recently commander of the
National Brig OF War Herman. lie was shot while
peaccnby walking the street, from tho office of Nh
Edgar Macon OF Virginia, lawyer, where it appeuts
lie had concealed himself for the purpose with fiou
bic barrel gun loaded with buck shot both barrels of
winch We're discharged ut him. wish could here
close lie scene; but his circumstance has given, y,se
to acts OF greater atrocitY if possible, by putting in
ieopaFdy the ligosof the friends of AcRea and those
who have dared TO sympathize for his untney end
The friends OF Hawkins and ms brother who lie here,
all men of desperate fortunes like themselves have
declared against all those who are suspected tn
be IN the least friendly to the opposite party; and
while writing this, / ain compelled, for my own secu-
ry to keep brace oi pistols ying by my side. The
.iidge oil the District has been threatened, and In
! fact we are almost in 4 state of civil war The Cut
ter Marion arrived to- day from cruise which adds
somewhat TO our security.
The circumstances that led to this violent deed
nre briefly CONDENSED from the letter. as follows Dr
ring the last year, Hawkins in the brig Herman, cap
iared and brought into Key West, the Spanish brio
Amelia. laaeuHiih sugar, &c. where she was seized
Uy the collector, for breach of neutrality Don
Joachim Comics of Havana one of the richest and
most Influential meu in that city, was owner of the
brig, sndempowered a gentiemsnin Key West a mer
chant 10 prosccnc his claim, on the ground that size
mad bsen illegally captured, and ought TO be restored
TO Tue origIlat owners, Among others Mr. HcRea
vas employed in bohaif Of the owners The trial
excited great heat both sides, and althouph the
Judge at the date Of AIcRea's murder had not dec;
ded, yet tee case considered so stror and ,Io;n
against the capters, that Hawkins considered it lbs,
and immediately medItated reuenge. The merchant
who acted for he owner, and the Judre himself ,vr
threatened IN the desperation Of feeling occas0ned to
H9wkinS by the npprehended loss Of his capture.
Hawkins after the murder, gave himself up to the CT
VII authority, and acknowledged bis crime had been
long prerneditated Mr.. McRea was native of A
iexandria and brother Of Capt John Mcfsea of Nor
folk He was about 25 years of age, and is represent
ted to have been hishiy promising. He was wounded
in duel las our readers may reincmbcr) some weeks
ago, by the same Mr. Hawkins, and was one ofthosa
Office holders prescribed by our magnsniinous Prcs
dent for opinion sake.