APPENDIX II.

ThechapterheadedJegarSahaduthacontainssometerriblestories.Itistobesaid,theyareallfactsonjudicialrecord,ofthemostfiend-likecruelty,terminatinginthedeathofthevictim,wheretheaffairhasbeenjudiciallyexamined,andtheperpetratorescapeddeath,andinmostcasesanypunishmentforhiscrime. 1.CaseofSouther. "Southerv.TheCommonwealth,7Grattan,673,1851. "Thekillingofaslavebyhismasterandowner,bywilfulandexcessivewhipping,ismurderinthefirstdegree:thoughitmaynothavebeenthepurposeandintentionofthemasterandownertokilltheslave. "SimonSoutherwasindictedattheOctoberterm,1850,oftheCircuitCourtfortheCountyofHanover,forthemurderofhisownslave.Theindictmentcontainedfifteencounts,inwhichthevariousmodesofpunishmentandtorturebywhichthehomicidewaschargedtohavebeencommittedwerestatedsingly,andinvariouscombinations.Thefifteenthcountunitesthemall:and,asthecourtcertifiesthattheindictmentwassustainedbytheevidence,thegivingthefactsstatedinthatcountwillshowwhatwasthechargeagainsttheprisoner,andwhatwastheprooftosustainit. "Thecountchargedthatonthe1stdayofSeptember,1849,theprisonertiedhisnegroslave,Sam,withropesabouthiswrists,neck,body,legs,andankles,toatree.Thatwhilstsotied,theprisonerfirstwhippedtheslavewithswitches.Thathenextbeatandcobbedtheslavewithashingle,andcompelledtwoofhisslaves,amanandawoman,alsotocobthedeceasedwiththeshingle.Thatwhilstthedeceasedwassotiedtothetree,theprisonerdidstrike,knock,kick,stamp,andbeathimuponvariouspartsofhishead,face,andbodythatheappliedfiretohisbody...thathethenwashedhisbodywithwarmwater,inwhichpodsofredpepperhadbeenputandsteepedandhecompelledhistwoslavesaforesaidalsotowashhimwiththissamepreparationofwarmwaterandredpepper.Thatafterthetying,whipping,cobbing,striking,beating,knocking,kicking,stamping,wounding,bruising,lacerating,burning,washing,andtorturing,asaforesaid,theprisoneruntiedthedeceasedfromthetreeinsuchawayastothrowhimwithviolencetothegroundandhethenandtheredidknock,kick,stamp,andbeatthedeceaseduponhishead,temples,andvariouspartsofhisbody.Thattheprisonerthenhadthedeceasedcarriedintoashed-roomofhishouse,andtherehecompelledoneofhisslaves,inhispresence,toconfinethedeceased'sfeetinstocks,bymakinghislegsfasttoapieceoftimber,andtotiearopeabouttheneckofthedeceased,andfastenittoabedpostintheroom,therebystrangling,choking,andsuffocating,thedeceased.Andthatwhilstthedeceasedwasthusmadefastinstocks,asaforesaid,theprisonerdidkick,knock,stamp,andbeathimuponhishead,face,breast,belly,sides,back,andbodyandheagaincompelledhistwoslavestoapplyfiretothebodyofthedeceased,whilsthewassomadefastasaforesaid.Andthecountchargedthatfromthesevariousmodesofpunishmentandtorture,theslaveSamthenandtheredied.Itappearedthattheprisonercommencedthepunishmentofthedeceasedinthemorning,andthatitwascontinuedthroughoutthedayandthatthedeceaseddiedinthepresenceoftheprisoner,andoneofhisslaves,andoneofthewitnesses,whilstthepunishmentwasstillprogressing. "Field,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt. "Theprisonerwasindictedandconvictedofmurderintheseconddegree,intheCircuitCourtofHanover,atitsApriltermlastpast,andwassentencedtothepenitentiaryforfiveyears,theperiodoftimeascertainedbythejury.Themurderconsistedinthekillingofanegroman-slavebythenameofSam,thepropertyoftheprisoner,bycruelandexcessivewhippingandtorture,inflictedbySouther,aidedbytwoofhisotherslaves,onthe1stdayofSeptember,1849.Theprisonermovedforanewtrial,uponthegroundthattheoffence,ifany,amountedonlytomanslaughter.Themotionforanewtrialwasoverruled,andabillofexceptionstakentotheopinionofthecourt,settingforththefactsproved,orasmanyofthemasweredeemedmaterialfortheconsiderationoftheapplicationforanewtrial.Thebillofexceptionstates:ThattheslaveSam,intheindictmentmentioned,wastheslaveandpropertyoftheprisoner.Thatforthepurposeofchastisingtheslavefortheoffenceofgettingdrunk,anddealing,astheslaveconfessedandalleged,withHenryandStone,twoofthewitnessesfortheCommonwealth,hecausedhimtobetiedandpunishedinthepresenceofthesaidwitnesses,withtheexceptionofslightwhippingwithpeachorapple-treeswitches,beforethesaidwitnessesarrivedatthesceneaftertheyweresentforbytheprisoner(whowerepresentbyrequestfromthedefendant),andofseveralslavesoftheprisoner,inthemannerandbythemeanschargedintheindictmentandthesaidslavediedunderandfromtheinflictionofthesaidpunishment,inthepresenceoftheprisoner,oneofhisslaves,andoneofthewitnessesfortheCommonwealth.Butitdidnotappearthatitwasthedesignoftheprisonertokillthesaidslave,unlesssuchdesignbeproperlyinferablefromthemanner,means,andduration,ofthepunishment.And,onthecontrary,itdidappearthattheprisonerfrequentlydeclared,whilethesaidslavewasundergoingthepunishment,thathebelievedthesaidslavewasfeigning,andpretendingtobesufferingandinjure