Biographical Sketch

Of

Juan Francisco Garcia, alias Rey.

The interest and importance attached to the young Spaniard, whose name has acquired such an extensive notoriety, from his connection with an affair which deeply involves the dignity of this Republic, has induced us to inquire into the facts of his life, in order that we might gratify the popular curiosity, and at the same time expose the hypocrisy and falsehood of those who endeavor to palliate an act of gross indignity to our flag and soil, by representing the individual in whose person this wrong was done, as unworthy of notice, sympathy, or belief. All that is said about the insignificance of Rey might be safely admitted, without affecting, in the slightest degree, the merits of the question involved in the controversy that has grown out of his abduction. Were he an idiot, a felon, or an alien enemy, his forcible seizure, without authority of law, and removal from the protection of our flag, would be a serious and flagrant crime, which this Government cannot be too prompt in resenting, nor too severe in punishing. But it happens that all the denunciations and ridicule employed by the legal and other friends of the abductors of Rey, against this young man, founded upon the fact, which is quite repulsive to the dignity of some of our loudest pretenders to Democracy, of his having held the subordinate post of turnkey in a Havana jail, find no confirmations in the real character of the individual, nor in the events of his life. A close observation and diligent inquiry into his history and character, have satisfied us that he is a well-meaning, honest, and by no means unintelligent young man. His portrait, which is taken with great fidelity in the above cut, represents him correctly, as a young man of open, honest and frank disposition. His bearing and manners sustain the impression which his countenance leaves upon the minds of all who have seen him.

Of course, the life of so young and humble an individual as Rey can present but few prominent or interesting points. All that we have learned of his history, however, is calculated rather to elevate than depress the opinion which, on a brief acquaintance, we have formed of his character.

Juan Francisco Garcia—or rather to drop his real name for the assumed one, Juan Francisco Rey, by which he will always be best known—was born in Gallicia, a rich and well cultivated portion of the dominions of her Catholic Majesty, whose name is familiar to Epicures, from the unrivaled excellence of its hams. He was born in 1825, and is consequently twenty-four years old. The pretence that Rey is ignorant and illiterate, is quite unfounded, for he was educated for the priesthood, in a college of some celebrity, and was only prevented from receiving orders, by an arbitrary law prohibiting the graduates of that institution from holding any place in the church. Thus diverted from his original purpose, Rey went on a farm and engaged in agricultural labor. Here, however, he did not remain long, but seized the first opportunity of emigrating to Cuba, where he arrived in January 1844. He obtained employment, at first, in the house of a wealthy gentleman, through whose influence he was subsequently appointed to the office of turnkey in the Havana prison. This responsible office he held for three years, and discharged its duties with so much fidelity, that he was promoted to the second jailorship of the prison, which for so young a man, was no slight evidence of honesty and capacity. In this post, he became acquainted with Villaverde and Fernandez, and was strongly interested in their fortunes. The one, Villaverde, was an honest patriot, who had been condemned to death for loving his native country—“not wisely, but too well”—who was the soul and spirit of the organization of the Creoles of the island, to overthrow the despotism of Spain. The other prisoner, Fernandez, was a victim to commercial disasters, by which an immense fortune had been shipwrecked, and all his hopes in life clouded. He was charged with retaining a large portion of his property under his control, instead of surrendering it to his creditors.

Respecting the escape of these prisoners with Rey, different stories are told. Those who were interested in discrediting and depreciating Rey, represented him as bribed by his prisoners, who subsequently deserted him, and against whom he turned traitor for the purpose of implicating their friends and accomplices. Rey’s own story in his deposition before Don Carlos de España, which constituted the commencement of the intrigue set on foot to get Rey back to Havana, is, that he was in the habit of permitting Villaverde and Fernandez to walk out with him at nights, and that one night when making his rounds, he was suddenly seized from behind, was tied, blindfolded and hurried off to some remote part of the city, where he was detained for sometime, and was thence removed on board of a ship that brought him to New Orleans in company with Fernandez.

His subsequent history is well known. The cold-blooded intrigue and assassin-like manner with which he was traced up by Lorente, and pursued to the friendly mansion of the hospitable chocolate dealer, the kindly Morantes,--the gradual closing around him of the ingenious webs in which the minions of the Spanish Consul entangled him, until frightened by continual apparitions of poison, and of daggers in “netted sheaths,” he becomes the easy victim of a gang of ruffians, who were employed to consummate the unparalleled treachery and intrigue set on board the Mary Ellen, and sending him to Havana. All these facts are well known to the public. The further purpose of the Captain General of Cuba was fortunately defeated by the decision and promptitude of our Consul in Havana, backed by our Government at Washington.

The question, however, which affects the dignity and honor of this nation, growing out of this transaction, has not yet been settled, but will no doubt give rise to negotiations between our Government and that of Spain, in which, we feel assured, the honor of this Republic will be rigidly guarded and amply satisfied.

In the meantime, the alleged offence against the laws will be inquired into by courts competent to do full justice in the premises.

Desirous of escaping the toils and intrigues of his enemies, Rey, on his return to this city, waived his right to a recognizance, and was accordingly committed to the charge of the United States Marshal.

He is now in the Parish Prison, under the kindly care of General Lewis, our Sheriff, and his excellent deputy, Colonel Powers. He is allowed all the liberty, and has every comfort he desires. He seems well pleased with his life, and has greatly improved in health and appearance, since his return to this city.

The above cut gives a very correct idea of the countenance and general appearance of Rey. He is a young man, of frank, open, honest countenance, with the usual Spanish features, very large black eyes and dark skin. His features are regular and not unpleasing. He wears, it will be seen, that famous Panama hat, which played so conspicuous a part in the preliminary investigation before Justice Bright and Commissioner Cohen.