Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-04-21
CAROLINA SHOCKED
The Sudden Death of Secretary of
State Leitner.
Attacked with Heart Disease While His
Family were Preparing for Church
Lie Extinct Before the Attendance
Of n PHYSICIAN Could be Secured

Attacked with Heart Disease While His
F1fT;liy were Preparing for Church
Of Phvsieciaa Could be secured.
The Hon. z. W. Leitner, Secretary of
State, died suddenly at his residence in
Columbia. The news will give as great
shock to the people of South Carolina
as it does to those of Columbia, who
have been among the warmest friends of
the secretary. He sat down to breakfast
but ate very sparingly. After breakfast
he walked out to the State House
grounds and conversed for little while
with friends, and then returned to the
house, lay down on a sofa in his sitting
room while his family were preparing to
90 to church. A few minutes after
wards, when one of the household re-
turned to the room, Major Leitner was
found lying on the floor convulsed with
pain.
DR.. A. n. Talley, a college-mate and
friend of the secretary, was instantly
sent for, and in few minutes was upon
the spot, but upon his arrival life was
extinct. Major Leitner died of paralysis
of the heart. The attack, as it always
is in heart disease, was sudden and
severe.
Secretary of State William z. Leitner
was born in Fairfield county, near
Winnsboro. on September 5, 1929, and
was therefore in his seth year. He en-
tered the South Carolina College in 1S47
and was graduated in the class of 1S49.
In 1858 he was admitted to the bar.
Devoted to his people and to the for
tunes of his State, he entered the mill
tary service of South CaroliLa in the
Camden Volunteers on April 8, 1861, and
was present at the bOmbardment of Fort
Sumter After the surrender of the fort
he went to Virginia, where he was en-
gagged III most of the battles fought by
the. army of Northern Virginia. At
Gettysburg his right leg was shattered
below the knee by grapeshOt and was
amputated.
During the war and Immediately after
the war he was elected to the Legisla-
ture from Kershaw county at the head of
the ticket. He was also elected District
Judge and held that position until the
District Courts were set aside by the
military commander during the recon-
structiOn period.
In 1876 he led the Democratic cam
paign in his county, but was defeated by
the Republican candidate. In 1884 he
was elected to the State Senate from
Kershaw county, and served in that body
until his nomination and election as Sec
retary of State two years ago.
The funeral services of the late Secre-
tarv of State. Major W. z. Leitner, were
held in Columbia. liz evidence of re-
spect to the memory of the hOnored
dead, the State and Federal flags were
displayed during the day at half-mast
from the Site House, and all of the
State offices were closed. Sixty mem
bers of the Survivors Association of
Richland county. of which Major Lett
ner had been a vice president, assembled
at the residence of the deceased and
formed guard of honor for the remains.
Each wore blue badge and knot of
Grape on the left breast.
From the residence on Senate street
the funeral procession moved to Wash
ington street Methodist church, OF WHICH
the deceased was member. The sur
vivors marched two abreast in advance
of the hearse. The attendance at the
church was very large and thoroughly
representative The services at the
Methodist church were conducted by the
Rev. William Martin, assisted by the
Rev. Mr. Richardson, the pastor of the
church. Mr.. Martins prayer was elo-
quent and touching.
Leaving the church for the place of
interment, the funeral procession moved
in the same order to ElmwOod cemetery,
where the service at the grave was con-
Quoted by the Rev Mr.. Martin. 1t was
quite dark before the last words were
spoken, and the remains of the gallant
soldier and patriotic citizen were left in