The Daily Advertiser

AUGUSTA, July 26.

On Tuesday last a Coroner's Inquest sat on the body of Benjamin Townsend, of this place, who died the preceding day of the wounds he had received in the morning, by a shot from a gun fired by Abimelech Hawkins, Constable, also of this town, and gave the following verdict: 'That he received his death wound by a gun fired at him by Abimelech Hawkins.'

The circumstances relative to, and which preceded this fatal affair we will endeavor to relate:

Hawkins at his own house, and read: Come cargies with respect to the levying of an execution which he had put into his hands; Hawkins's answer implied he had not levied it, but that he intended to wait a few days with the person against whom it had been issued, and who had promised to make payment in that short time; upon which the said deceased beat and wounded the survivor with a stick, who in his turn seizing a pistol snapped it at the assailant, who then retreated, while the other having gone to the window, snapped at him from thence a second time: The deceased then made known his intentions (in a very positive and wrathful manner) of returning perfectly provided to take revenge, and went off; meanwhile Hawkins arms himself with a musket, took the precaution to fire her off, and charge her anew himself, which he did at Mr. Cotton's. As the other not failing to keep his promise, comes armed with a musket to Hawkins's house, while the neighbors, in order to dissuade him from his purpose, inform him that the other had gone off: Hawkins, after having conducted himself as already mentioned, was returning to his home, when he perceived the deceased; he immediately called to Mr. Charles Simmons to keep him off, alleging a great disparity between their weapons, he supposing his antagonist to have a rifle; the deceased advancing rapidly, was then interrogated by Hawkins if he was for it, the reply was in the affirmative, and Hawkins's rejoinder was from his musket; the deceased fell, having received several buck shot in his groin, was carried home, where he lived a few hours in extreme agony, and expired.