As we look around at the state of the Union today, many people say to each other "how did politics get this way?" However, if you get out your old history books and do a little reading you'll find that "history does in fact repeat itself!" The origin of this story centers around a political election in January 1825 between two candidates running for the territorial delegation to Congress. General Andrew Jackson had accepted the new Florida territory from Spain in 1821 and was still working the bugs out of the new system of government. One candidate, Joseph Miles White (1786-1839) had relocated to Pensacola that year before being appointed as a Florida Legislative Council member by President James Monroe the following year. He was currently the West Florida Land Commissioner and would be going up against a prominent member of the Florida Whig Party, Richard Keith Call (1791-1862). As the election approached both Call and White found themselves on opposite ends of most issues.
A few weeks before White decided to run for office he had discovered fraudulent land titles that had come through his office. The land in question had been set aside by General Jackson to be used for military fortifications plus a few for some of the poorer settlers. However, it appeared that Pensacola Mayor Peter Alba Jr. was at bottom of some corrupt activity and White called him out on it. In retaliation, the mayor tried to force White from running for office against his friend Richard K. Call. To do so, the mayor took the law into his own hands.
It was widely known in Pensacola that Alba saw White as an inferior therefore challenging him to a "honorable" duel would be beneath him given the rules of the day. Therefore, a public and unprovoked assault was justified in Alba's eyes due to the dishonorable insult committed against his name and character. So, on the day in question, he waited for White to come walking homeward down Palafox Street. Alba walked past him without speaking then turned unexpectedly and attacked him from behind with a knife and club. White was thrown to the ground, but rose quickly to block Alba's thrust with his arm. When all else failed Alba used his walking cane to rain blows upon his assailant. By this time, White's cries for help brought assistance as Alba quickly left the area. The mayor was later indicted for assault and battery as well as libel. Of course, Alba played the victim and countersued White for slander. In the end, Alba was never punished for his attack, and White chose not to pursue the matter.
However, in good political form White and his supporters used the attack to paint their candidate as a "champion of the people" who all but gave his life to defend them against the corruption of his opponents who had robbed them of their hard earned land. The politicization of the brutal attack on White by his friend Alba finally forced Call to withdraw whereas White eventually won the contest. So, with White in the seat of power and Call heading off in other directions most of us would consider the matter over. But not quite!
First of all, Alba lost his bid for another mayoral term and left office after 1825. But as such in politics, he returned to the office in 1830 to regain his seat of power. But as it were, a conflict of power occurred between Mayor Alba and a citizen by the name of Robert Breen who ran a "grog" establishment, known today as a bar. Apparently, Breen had not obtained and paid for the appropriate license to run such an establishment In response, the mayor sent an officer around to his place on September 21, 1833 with orders to close it until the license was obtained! The officer carried out his orders at which time Breen left immediately and headed off to the mayors office. It is obvious that he must of had his rifle with him because along the way he encountered Alba taking his noontime walk through the park (most likely Ferdinand Plaza). Upon sight, he shot Alba in broad daylight piercing his body with twenty (20) pellets that he had loaded into his rifle.
Of course, Breen was immediately arrested and bound over to the authorities. At his arraignment his attorney filed a motion for a change of venue, which was immediately granted most likely due to the political atmosphere at the time. The trial was moved to Walton County and there he was found guilty and sentenced to hang. The sentence was carried out as ordered by the court, albeit Breen chose to place the noose around his own neck!
As to the other actors in this macabre scenario, Joseph Miles White came to Florida as the son in law of US Senator and Kentucky Governor John Adair. He would be elected in 1825 to the Nineteenth Congress followed by the five succeeding Congresses. He would lose reelection in 1836. In 1839, he decided to relocate to St. Louis and pick up his law practice however, he died shortly after his arrival. He would pass away in St. Louis, Missouri on October 19, 1839.
Richard Keith Call was born in Virginia on October 24, 1792 and relocated to Pensacola, Florida in 1814 as the personal aide of Andrew Jackson. He returned to Pensacola with Jackson in 1821 to help set up the new territorial government. While here he decided in 1822 to make Florida his home. He would serve as a member of the Legislative Council, a delegate to Congress, and, finally as territorial governor from 1836-1839 and again from 1841 to 1844. In the 1830's, he and his wife built an estate in Tallahassee, called "The Grove," a home that still stands today. He would lead the Florida militia in fighting the Seminoles before passing away at his estate on September 14, 1862.
Mayor Peter Alba's gravesite location drifted into oblivion following his tragic death in 1833. Ironically, articles of his death reached New York and Massachusetts for publication.
Robert Breen, like his victim, would disappear from the annals of history following his execution. His burial site is unknown.
Pensacola News Journal 12-18-1925
Pensacola News Journal 10-2-1833
Pensacola News Journal 12-4-1833
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