1829: Charles Hawkins shot William A. McRea, as he walked on Whitehead Street, in the back with both barrels of a shotgun. McRea died two hours later. The two men had fought a duel in February over Hawkins finding McRea leaving his wifeâs bedroom via the window. Both men were wounded in the duel. Hawkins was charged with murder, but an impartial jury could not be found and the case was transferred to St. Augustine where there was no one to testify against him. The court dismissed the case and Hawkins left for Texas, where he became the first Commodore in the new navy of the Country of Texas.