At a Jury of Inquest held this 3d August 1824 on the body of a person found dead near the main Charleston Road about five miles below Camden the following persons were examined as the causes that led to the death of the said person.

Christopher Matheson duly sworn says he knows the mulatto man to be called Edward and to be the property of Alexander Matheson, knows it from the [?] hair and from the handkerchief. The fellow ran away from Camden on Monday the 26th July & was informed on the 27th by Mr. John Geno that the fellow had been taken up by Mr. Spann in Stateburg & given him to bring up that he brought him as far as Mr. Boykin's plantation that the fellow appeared sick, had fallen out of the chair as far as twice & he had left him at that plantation. (Examination here suspended.)

John Geno duly sworn says Mr. Spann asked him to take the fellow up to Mr. Matheson's, that he brought two locks and a chain at Mr. Bracey's store & chained him. Fllow complained very much throughout the night at Brooks. He started with the fellow on Tuesday morning at 2 o'clock from Stateburgh, had three fits on the road at Sylvester's store on Rafting Creek, again at Sanders, & again at Mr. Cantey's. he fell, he received assistant from Mr. Wheeler & Wm. Sanders. At time he thought it obstinacy in the negro & urged him on with a whip but gave him but very few cuts and such as did no injury. Fellow had the chain round his neck. Last time fellow fell here, where he left him about 9 or 10 o'clock. Could not say whether he could not go or was only sullen & he left him in the road sitting down. Mr. Mr. Aarons soon after. So soon as he got to Camden told the postmaster the facts now stated to us and to Mr. Matheson the same. Fellow complained of cramp in his hands and feet all night and had negroes pulling them all night at [?]. Said he would rather die than go home. Was chained alongside the chair. It was a hot day but he walked the horse & let him ride part of the way. Mr. Edward Pylant on foot was with him & left him when the fellow fell at Canteys. He overtook Pylant again before he got to Camden. This is all that I know respecting the death of the fellow. Mr. Pylant left him about half a mile below this place. Gave the fellow not more than a dozen lashes when Pylant was there with the end of his whip lash.

Geno said he did not think it worth while for him to send down, but he did send down Aleander McRae who went as far as Manchester but saw nothing of him. Believes the fellow was subject to cramp. What in apparent good health when he left home.

Alex. McRae duly sworn says Mr. Matheson sent me done on Tuesday the 27th Inst to see where the negro was. Heard at Hugh Young's & several other places that Geno was taking him up to Camden.

The Jury found the body in one place, the head in another, the underjaw in another & his clothes scattered every where but evidence apparent on the skeleton of his having received violence.

Edward Pylant duly sworn says he saw Geno on the Tuesday. The Negro wanted water but his chain prevented his drinking in the creek. He came on with Geno to Young's thereovertook at the [?] who left them b Cantey's. Geno told negro he had dragged him this morning & would have to do it again if he did not get up. He told Geno he could not wait & left him the negro down. He was on foot and Geno overtook him this side of Town Creek. He asked Geno what he had done with the Negro. He said he had to to be so sullent he could do nothing with him & he left him. He gave Negro about 20 lashes at the log. The negroe's conduct seemed to show sullenness and not sickness. His arms were tied with a rope & a chain around his neck & to the chair with locks. Thought when Geno said he would drag him it was meant only as a threat. Did not get water at the Creek tho' made the attempt to drink. Nothing negro's appearance to induce him to think him in danger of death. Geno told him the fellow had been sick at Brook's before the came to the log. Negro fell intentionally at the log. A common [?] chain round his neck. He left them and was overtaken by Geno in about 2 miles.

Doctor Devereaux Ballard duly sworn says that the severance of the head from the body would require great violence, more than would be probably exercised by hogs or dogs. Great violence would be still necessary in a putrified carcass.

I dissent from the verdict of the inquisition upon the following considerations. 1st because it is informal, inconclusive and is not supported by the direct testimony that was given, and the indirect testimony that was offered by Dr. Ballard. Dr. Ballard stated that he heard Mr. Wm. Sanders say that he saw Genot exercise cruel treatment towards the Boy Edward by severe whipping and dragging his body by the neck, with a chain suspected around his neck & was overruled by a vast majority who considered that it was unnecessary that the jury should have the benefit of Mr. Sander's evidence, by sending for him. The jury by a decisive vote having refused, I insist that the testimony of Dr. Ballard should have been received, as it was not so much an accusation, or an indictment, as a mere matter of inquiry for the jury. For I persuade myself that evidence upon all hands should be received by an inquest; if that should be overruled not to be the law that should govern a coroner in receiving testimony, how many murderers would be suffered to prowl in a community unpunished and unmolested. Secondly,

I cannot content to the verdict because I believe the direct testimony that was given to be sufficiently strong and conclusive as to criminate Genot for I consider the Boy Edward in no other light than the prisoner of Genot, he being at that time in the custody or safe keeping of the said Genot, and it held to be law that if a prisoner should die by violence, or any unreasonable hardship [??] should come to an untimely death it is murder in the [?] or keeper and the law implies malice in respect to the cruelty. Pylant testified that he left Genot with the Boy only a mile from the place where the body was found, he swears that the Boy was lying down when he left them, and the he heard Genot say that he would carry him at all events, and the said Genot threatened him if he did not get up that he would drag him as he had already done, and from what followed, seeing the head entirely separated from the body, it was but fair for the jury to presume that the said Genot carried his threats into execution, and the Boy's neck was broken thereby. Thirdly,

I cannot subscribe to the verdict because it is informal and does not establish any fact. For if a jury thought that it was felony, they ought to have brought in a verdict to that effect; and if by mischance, misfortune or any accident they should be governed accordingly, the forgoing are the reasons which have induced me not to accord with the majority and consequently to withhold my signature to he verdict. And if I am in error, I hope and trust it is an error of the judgment, not an error of the heart. J. Boykin Jr, dissenting