The State vs. the Dead Body of Ephraim Mayfield

He hadn't been right for some time. He frequent[ly] seemed to wish death.

Date: 
April 1, 1847

Deceased

Sex: 
Male
Race: 
White
COD Category: 
Suicide
COD Method/Implement: 
knife
COD Inquest Finding: 

do say upon their oaths that the body of Ephraim Mayfield was found laying about two hundred and fifty yards from his dwelling within about seven feet of where a quantity of blood was discovered with his shirt collar unbuttoned and neatly rolled down. both hands very bloody with a wound across his throat some eight inches in length and two + half in depth having the appearance of four strokes. A small double bladed knife with the big blade open and was bloody....Our verdit is...that he purpetrated the dead himself.

Coroner

Coroner: 
Coroner Title: 
coroner

Location

Inquest Location: 
at the plantation of Ephraim Mayfield

Source

South Carolina Department of Archives & History
Columbia, SC
Inquest Images: 
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