The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-07-19
Heart Disease, or the Lash d.!

COLUMBIA, July ia statement
having reached Col. Iipscomb, supcrin.
tcndcnt OF the l'cnilentiary, that the
convict G"rdon, who dropped dead at
Green liill plantation Yesterday. had
been whipped to death, the coroner was
iio'i'icd and Il jury summoned aud an iu.
quest held this morning. was present
At the Inquest and took down the cvi.
dencc rer6ntim for the Mars anil Courier,
but slucc the rendering of the verde,
deem II unnecessary TO forward il. The
testimony developed the fact that Cor
don was to all external appearances Il
strong, healthy man, and was engaged
with other convicts in the fields Of Mr.
John Z. Secgers, a large planter who
works both Big Lake aud Green Hill
plantations on the CODgaree River The
convict entered tie field with other
hands about sunrise on the morning of
his death, and for not keeping up with
the other hands he was strapped in the
open field and warned that il he did not
keep up with the other hands that the
logging five lusle,) would be repeated.
he did not improve, and the double dose
was administered by Henry Hanong, a
white manager of the plantation. 1t was
testified that the whipping was repeated
three times after the first fogging, and
| that the manager also kicked him, but
lianong denies that he whipped him
more than twice. At all events when
! another convict WAS called 70 assist Cor
| don TO the end OF the row he was directed
to hoe, it was found that he was dead.
AS above stated as soon as the news was
brought to Col. Lpscon,b the coroner
was notified and instituted the investiga.
ton.
DIR. Frank Green, who made the au-
topsy, this morning was sworn and test.
fled ~ follows: 81 am regular graduate
of'medicine and duly registered with the
clerk of court for RichIaud County. |
this day performed an autopsy upon the
body of William Gordon, late a convict
hand on the plantation of Mr.. John G.
Secgprs. Judging from general appear
ances externaD the body appeared to be
well developed and of man in sound
health. found the heart enlarged and
the walls thereof thinner than normal,
the heart and pericardium adherent over
the entire surface, the result of intlam.
nation of long standing. III each cavity
was formed large clots Of tbrine, detach-
ed. 1t is my opinion that these clots,
the larger Of which were in the left auri.
Gle, were the immediate cause of death.
l found evidences of severe but not ex-
cessive whipping. do not consider tho
man to have been sound, ard believe
that he may have Been unable to keep
up with his work when ordered to do 80.
Nothing short Of an exceedingly minute
medical examination would have been
sufficient to decide positively that his
condition was of serious nature. |
further give rs my belief that any over
work, or excitement would have caused
death. From the nature of his disease
death wes AT any time exceedingly prob.
able"
The jury, which was M unusually in
telligent one, after few moments delib-
Grafton, returned verdict Of death from
heart disease.
Mr.. Seegers has for some years leased
large numbers Of convicts to work his
large plantations, and no charge Of cru.
city has ever come from that quarter
before. The manager, Hanong, has been
on one or the other Of the Plantations in
the same capacity for three or four years.