Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-23
SUICIDE.

On Thursday evening last, David Scoggins,
a very quiet and respectable citizen, living in
the neighborhood of Beersheba Church, seven
miles west of Yorkville, committed suicide, by
hanging himself with plow line, while, as
the evidence would indicate, laboring under
temporary insanity caused by real or sup
posed pecuniary embarrassment. Mr.. Scog-
gins was so unfortunate as to have his house
and furniture burnt two years ago, which loss,
however, he seemed to sustain cheerfully
enough, and the day before he committed the
rash act, he was transacting business in York
Vile in his usual manner.
Trial Justice Miles johnson, acting as cor
oner, held an inquest Over the remains on the
following day, the jury empannelled consist
ing of William Caldwell, foreman, j. N. Nc
Elwee, Hugh Love, William Enloe, VIM. G.
Brown, Amos Burns VIM. Burns, LESLEY
Burns, Allen Robinson, Hardy Cain, John
Caldwell, Frank Robinson, James Love and
James N. Caldwell.
The following testimony was elected:
Jefferson Miller, colored. Said he resides on
the plantation of David Scoggins, and was one Of
his employees for the year 1873. I saw Mr.. Scog-
gns w ne eaug o my Woo sa no. cre
him until found him hanging by the neck and
dead in shed attached to the barn. Never saw
anything amiss. Saw nothing in his conduct or
actions, previous to induce witness to believe he
was wrong in his mind. Saw him on the morn
ing of the 10th instant take line from the fence
at the gate and put it into his pocket. About sun
set found him hanging and dead by the same line.
Witness, by direction of Mrs. Scoggins, the wife
of David Scoggins cut the rope, but did not no.
tice how the rope was tied, or whether his arms
were confined by said rope or another.
Miss G. A. Scoggins testified that she is the
daughter of David Scoggins. Was present when
her father was cut down. On yesterday he coun:
ted his money and looked over his notes: Said
he wanted to pay jeff; that he was in trouble and
this life was only moment. Ate his dinner about
half past one o'clock. Just after dinner witness
saw her father pass the corner Of the house with
salt in his hand; said he was going to salt the
horses. Witness saw nor heard anything more
until he was found hangingby the neck and dead
in the shed attached to the barn. Witness is sat-
isfied that her father destroyed himself; has no
suspicion that any other person had any agency in
the hanging.
Robert j. Brown testified that he was sent for
on last evening. Found David Scoggns in his
bed and dead Found q rope tied tightly around
his left arm, so tight that it had to be cut. The
rope passed across the back, and was coiled or
tied around the right arm, but witness could slip
| the rope off the right arm without cutting it.
Thinks deceased could have tied himselfas he was
without assistance from any other person.
In accordance with the testimony, the jury
returned verdict that "the said David Scog.
gins did, on the 18th day of January, 1873,
commit selfmurder by hanging himself be-
tween the hours of 2 and 5 o'clock, P. NJ.
with plow line on his own premises in shed
attached to his barn and that the said David
Scoggins in manner and form aforesaid, then
and there voluntarily and feloniously, himself
did kill, against the peace and dignity Of the
State"