Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-28
FIRST Officer CT the c. "
TO TIE EDIr0RS or THE ENQUIRER.



April ii, 1919.
Gentlemen: few DAYS since | received letter
from friend, in .maron, Perry county, Alabama, Civ
ing me the unpleasant intelligence contained in lie
companying extract, which desire may be published
at he earliest day practicable ask it only because
my friend, who survived The deadly conflict has corr
sdered ii important for his reputation, that the crcun
stances should be made known to the public, to
protect him against faschood and Misrepresentation
and he has selected the Enquirer the medium through
which it should appear IN Virginia. He was born aud
reared in this county, but emgrated about or year,
ago TO Alabama where he has resided ever since. He
has many friends and kindred in this State, 10 whom he
desires full and accurate statement OF the facts TO De
made known. have, for this purpose copied so much
of The letter as naraes the facts which enclose for
publication in the Enquirer. While here, he was my
friend, personally and politically, and is so still, and
hence feel anxious that he may be suspected by none
as capable Of committing wtul murder know him
70 's 'I Yo u,s,t &c. Co., '' " H. l. HOPKINS.
EXTRACT of Litter from Gcnittmea IN .3a6ama, TO
Gentleman in Virginia
"Some twelve months ago n note was placed in the
hands Of Napoleon Locket, Esq, Attorney at Law,
(residipg in Marion, Perry county, Alabano for col
lection against Martin A. Lea Of the same town.
The note was sned and judgment obtained, and
execution placed in The hands Of The proper officer to
make the money. The officer went 10 Lea for levy
upon property. Len who has been until lately cons
dered wealthy, but who has recently failed, having
secured large property TO his wife, told the oicer he
had no property subject TO execution, but went TO the
plaintiff and told him that if lie would cause the
execution 10 be stopped, lie would pay the money
(Which YVES only small amounD IN few days. Tie
execution accordingly stayed, by order 81 The
plaintiff, and Ind been in that situation nearly twelve
months, when The plaintiff informed Lccket; that The
money had never been paid and requested him 10 have
the execution sued, which accordingly doEe;
and lockett directed the officer 10 levy it horse
when Lea had purchased in his presence, at public
auction IL was for this pr0rorGt0n that afterwards
Henry G.. Lea, brother of Martin Lea came into his
Docket 81 Office, where he was sitting with his little
son and friend in Conversation. As lie came IN,
Lockett politely asked him TO take seattle refused,
saying he had come talk very plainly to him,hat
he U.ocketO had acted The dog in ordering tai exc
cuton TO be levied-that he a scoundsel aud had
robbed long enough and he meant to put stop to IT,
Lockett replied 10 him. that he would not lie abused IN
that manner in his own room, and ordered hIm 10
leave il, at the same time picking up cane IN the
corner. Lea is six feet two or three inches
high, and large and athletic in proporon-he imme'
da.aly drewa large knife, and opened saying he was
ready for him, but shut the knife again, and rushed at
Locket They closed and although the other &c nile
present cndeavored 10 part them, yet he could net
do so until other came into the TO his assistance
When They were parted Locket was pressed up 10 one
of the with his back against the wall com
pietsiy tyhans.ed Lea, though prevented lrom up
preaching him, still continued to throw at h'm Wi.i
every thing he could lay his hands on-he threw a
large and heavy stone slate inksland, which struck
Tie wall his head, and shirered into fragments
he threw also the large knife before mentioned, ana
STICK and was endearorng throw chair, when Mar.
lin Lea, who was much larger man than even his
brother, rushed luriously into The um-pued on his
Goa. and made at Lockett-the crowd seemed Tor The
time be lost in CONSERVATION, and instead OF restrain
ing Martin Leo, they actually let loose Henry, and they
both advanced on him Lockett warned them 10 stand
back, ard called The crowd 10 keep them OH
hut al 10 purpose. Marlin Lea seized him. at which
time he drew pistol Ia six barrel revolver,l and put
ting against the body Of Lea, shot hm-Lea grapPed
the pistol, and in The scuis II fired again. and rounded
bys;ander, named Stevens, in the feshy part ci his
leg above the knee The pistol was taken from The com.
baan's and il then difficult for Locket to
be exricated from the grasp of Lcat was done, how
ever, and Lockctl forced en-, of the room, still
followed up by Henry c. Lea, unit! he was carried,