The State vs. the Dead Body of Will Harris

Date: 
June 16, 1896

Deceased

Will Harris
Sex: 
Male
Race: 
Black
COD Category: 
Accident
COD: 
Transportation
COD Method/Implement: 
train
COD Inquest Finding: 

We the Jury of inquest Empaneled in the case of the state vs dead of unknown colored man (supposed to be William Harris) found dead on or near the track of the G.C. & N. R.R. at Clinton S.C. find that said unknown man came to his death from bruises and shock supposed to be received by jumping or falling from train no 41 on Georgia Carolina and Northern Railway about midnight June 16th 1896 while trying to steal a ride.

Coroner

Coroner: 
J. P. Sloan
Coroner Title: 
Coroner

Location

Inquest Location: 
in Clinton
County: 
Laurens County, SC

Source

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

AE Beckham, sworn says he is a section master, about 12. 10- last night 41 train past south about 20 min after the train past. One of my hands came to me and saw a man suffering down on the road. I went and found a colored man lying between the two tracks, seemed to be in a dying condition, with bruises on his face, he could not speak, he only lived a few mintues. We carried him into the house of a colored woman near by.

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