The State vs. the Dead Body of Virgil

Date: 
November 17, 1844

Deceased

Virgil
Sex: 
Male
Race: 
Black
Slave Status: 
Enslaved
Owner: 
George Blakely
COD Category: 
Suicide
COD: 
Hanging
COD Inquest Finding: 

upon their Oaths Do say that the said negro Virgil Slave of Georg Blakely came to his Death By hanging himself to a Dogwood tree with a Muscadine Vine Six or Seven feet in length by tying one end round his neck and the other to the limb of the tree and also Confining his hands Behind him - and we also think that he has been hanging some two or three weeks...

Coroner

Coroner: 
Samuel Fleming
Coroner Title: 
Coroner

Location

Inquest Location: 
in the woods near to George Blakely plantation
County: 
Laurens County, SC

Source

South Carolina Department of Archives & History
Columbia, SC
Inquest Images: 
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0425.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0426.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0427.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0428.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0429.jpg
Transcription: 

Lewis J Duvall on Oath Sayeth that his owner Mr Georg Blakely told him that he left home on the 20th of October and that he Dose not Know that he was ever seen afterwards until the 16th of Nov. Inst.

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