The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-08
TIIE INQUEST ~ TmEsHNN CAsE
nom" strange DcveiOPmcnts'.S"nn
Pronounced Il NJUrdcrcr.-.1hc
Opinions Of tho phyaicinnh
The Jury's verdict.


Mrs. Mary a. .NlnrtIn, being duly sworn,
says: "I 1.-Two im Ncwborry County, knew
NJ. OZclln Sem, slstcr Of mlno. David
Scnn VIA her husband. She received
bud treatment by hcrhllabnnd. She was
abused by "lm IN every w"y. Were
parted about ono year. David Scnn's
mother brought her back A letter from
Edgcllcld eau 1t her to bring SUnn's
wife back. Letter was signed by parties.
Letter stated that II Sem did not come
and take his wife they would lynch him.
Had lawsuit about abusing his wife.
Sem and his mother were tried before
Warren Peterson for beating his wife;
found guilty. Sem bound over to peace.
Had children. Dave Scnn's mother had
child. NJ. Ozclln %cnn craved her
child. She came to my house about
three weeks ago for protection ut night
about time OF lawsuit. She went back
to him after lawsuit, Heard her say she
believed they had tried TO poison hcr,i. C.
Mary Ann Sen, Helena Boland and
Dave Sem, by pouring milk In rice.
B0land Is sister Of Press Boland, he Is
brothcr-ln-law Of Dave Sem. NJ.
OZclla Sem tasted rice and found It Bit
ter and did not eat 1t. Told Dave Sem
about 1t and he got angry and reported 1t
to his mother, and came and shook her
down, and from this grew the lawsuit.
She did not live in the house with Davld's
mother. Dave Sem never eat meals
with his wife. Her child did not live
with her. NJ. Ozclla Sem wanted to
leave Sem and 60 to her brother. Her
brother sent her money just before she
that il she attempted to leave he would
kill her. Married about six years.
Treated her bad all the time. Worse
since Helena Boland has been there.
Have seen Helena Boland and Sem walk
to the house with arms around each
other. Scnn's wife glicvcl about It.
MARY MARTIN.
Miss ELLA Mccullough, being duly
Sworn says: Live hear Mary Ann Sem.
known Dave Sem and his wife several
years. So far as know she was kind,
good woman. Heard her say her hus-
band would curse and abuse her.
ELLA MCCUI.LoUGII.
j. +. lIcnnet, being duly sworn, says:
Live in Spartanburg County about five
| miles from Cross Anchor. At home on
22d Of August. Made n coffin OH Odd ut
request Of John Sem for a cousin of his.
Requested coroncr's inquest but was
ovcrulcd. She died in presence Of her
relatives, and they thought it unncccs-
Sary to hold an inquest. Helped to place
her in the coffin. Packed cotton around
the head under the shoulders, owing to
distance to be carried and the likelihood
of an inquest. In doing SO noticed fin
ger marks at each side of the wind pipe,
the face was purple, and this was about
twcnty-four hours after death. Scratch
cs were seen on the nose and soft
place just above the left eye is if struck
with blunt instrument. Eyes were
closes and in general condition at that
time of death. Mouth was in peculiar,
| shape, partly open. Have considerable
cNpel fence rs undertaken. and never saw
mouth in such shape. DR.. Pool was
there and examined the body, and said
she died OF general congestion. Sem
and his wife campcd the night his wife
died within short distance of Mrs.
Ctow's and on'y 200 yards from Mr..
Hughes. Iknow Dave Sem knew these
parties lived near. Was at Mrs. Crows
about dark, watered and got fire. About
Q O'Clock he asked Mrs. Crow to come to
camp rs his wife was dying Was no
light in wagon when Mrs. Crow got
there, and Helena Boland and Mrs. Lake
were III wagon with corpse. No rocks
around wagon to show anything had
been heated. | examined closely the
place where the camp was and Mrs. Sem
died. The people in our ncighborhood
did not know Dave Sem and family and
Qua everything IN our power to help him.
Neighborhood was very much aroused
when they OF the bad treatment of Mrs.
Sem by her husband. Dave Sem told
me his wife was well and that she took
SICK when he was driving along and died
in fifteen minutes, she had eaten some
peaches. He said he had come over
there for the health OF his wife. In The
evening Scnn's wife and Helena Boland
walked across bridge within four miles
OF where he campcd, about one hour be-
fore sun. lie campcd in two miles Of
'onh Scnn'S, and struck camp about 8
| n 'nlnnE 4: 4
the death of his wife. I heard Helena
!, Boland say 1t was too bad that Dave
should be charged with the murder of his
wife. Dave Sem and Helena Boland
, acted and called each other as sister and
brother. Did not know any better for
SOmn tino ,,,,