Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-09
MULISH JURORS.
Complications Growing Out of the
EdistO Trouble.

CHARLESTON, s. c., July S.-The cores
pondent Of the Savannah News, who has
just returned from the scene of the reported
troubles on Edisto Island, reports that quiet
has been restored, although the body of the
dead man has not yet been inferred, and
a perfect understanding and peace will
not take place until an inquest
is held aud a verdict rendered. The negroes
believe that the dead man died from the
effects Of injuries received by him In q scuffle
with white boy, which is not probable,
and asked that an autopsy be made. The
physician was ready to make the autopsy,
but could not do 1t without the order Of the
Deputy Coroner, who refused to order 1t.
The negroes on the jury thereupon refused
to agree to verdict or to bury the body,
which still lies in the open air.
A great many of the whites attribute the
blame of the excitement to the Deputy
Coroner, who does not seem to know his
business. The whole matter could be settled
by the sending down of a Deputy Coroner
to hold an inquest after an autopsy, and it
is hoped that this will be done. When the
correspondent left the island this noon the
negroes were at work as usual, and there
/ were no Signs OF OlSburDaQCS, aIlOuRl an
uneasy feeling prevails.
The cause of the trouble, as told by the
| constable, Is that on the 1st instant Mr. Ma
rion Seabrook and his brother. Mr.. Harry
SeabrOok, sons of Mr.. Edward w. Seabrook
| got into difficulty with the negro Wilson
| Calder, who used such language towards
them that Mr.. Marion Seabrook struck him
with his fist. A regular fistlcuff ensued in
which 1t appears that Mr.. Harry Seabrook
Ir,fa alr k~4a aIx A,rk Il 4
| next day Calder went about his work as
usual and ploughed In the field all day with
out complaining Of any i'll effects from the
| fight. On the night OF the I'd instant, when
he went home, he is said to have eaten a
! potful of parboiled hominy, and the next
morning he died.
Mr.. Seabrook Whaley organized a
| COroner's jury, consisting of seven white
| men and i've negroes and started to hold
the inquest. The negroes, became very
much excited and claimed that the man
| had been killed by Mr.. Seabrook during The
! fight on the LIST instant. Ten witnesses were
examined, including DR.. Murray, who held
an external examination of the body, and
who testified that there were no marks of
violence on the body, except a bad burn be-
tween the shoulders, which it was proved
the deceased had recently received by fall
| ing into the fire during an epileptic fit, to
which disease he was subject.
The negroes, however, were not satisfied
with the doctors testimony, and insisted
| that the jury should bring in verdict Of
willful murder. This, of course, the jury
refused to do, and the negroes then refused
to allow the body to be buried until it was
| opened and an examination made to discov-
er if there were any internal injuries. DIR.
Murray, 1t appears, was not well and insist
| ed that the opening of the body was entire
| ly useless. The negroes then became more
| violent, and the jury dispersed without ar
irving at result.
The crops on the island are better than
they have ever been known to be before at
| this time of the year.