Alfred St. Clair-Abrams

Alfred St. Clair-Abrams (September 1865 – May 1915) was an attorney, newspaper editor and politician who served as a member of the Florida legislature and as the State Attorney for Lake County, Florida.

Alfred St. Clair-Abrams
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
Personal details
BornSeptember 1865
Georgia
DiedMay 1915
Tavares, Florida[1]
ChildrenAlfred St. Clair-Abrams II

Early life

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St. Clair-Abrams was born September 1865, in Georgia to Alexander St. Clair-Abrams and his wife Joanna.

Business career

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In addition to being a lawyer, St. Clair-Abrams was also the editor of the Tavares Herald[2]

1896 Florida legislature election and killing of W. Bailey Tucker

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In 1896 St. Clair-Abrams was running for the Florida legislature as an anti railroad candidate. St. Clair-Abrams was defeated in his election, and he believed that W. Bailey Tucker of the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad had brought about his defeat by unfair means.[3]

On July 26, 1896 St. Clair-Abrams went to Tucker's home, confronted him and shot him in the head with a shotgun loaded with buckshot.[3] Initially it was believed that St. Clair-Abrams shot Tucker because of St. Clair-Abrams' anger over the election, however it was later reviled that St. Clair-Abrams shot Tucker because Tucker was having an affair with St. Clair-Abrams' wife.[4]

Death and burial

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After a long illness, St. Clair-Abrams died at his home in Tavares, Florida in May 1915. He was buried in Jacksonville, Florida.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Miami Daily Metropolitan (May 6, 1915), Alfred St. Clair-Abrams Died this Morning at has Home at Tavares Father of Miami Man and Women and Prominent Attorney Passed Away After Years of Illness, Miami, FL: Miami Daily Metropolitan, p. 10
  2. ^ St. Petersburg Times (September 2, 1933), Thirty Years Ago., St. Petersburg, FL: St. Petersburg Times, p. 4, Section 2
  3. ^ a b New York Times (July 27, 1896), "RAILROAD MANAGER SHOT.; Abrams Thought Tucker Caused His Failure of Election.", New York Times, New York, New York
  4. ^ The Atlanta Constitution (July 29, 1896), WOMAN, NOT POLITICS - St. Clair Abrams Says Captain Tucker Compromised Mrs. Abrams. TELLS SENSATIONAL STORY Says His Wife Was Not To Blame for Her Indiscretion. MEANT TO KILL WHEN HE PULLED TRIGGER Statement Was a Surprise to the Friends of the Parties and Created an Added Sensation., Atlanta, Georgia: The Atlanta Constitution, p. 1