Edmund Brown ⁷

  General Notes:

Evidence taken before a Jury of inquest 24th & 25th of Feby at the house of William Merchant in Edgefield District over the dead body of Edmund Brown of Greenvill District.

Aldridge Green Sworn. Says that Carson Warren came up to the wagons whilst watering their horses at Wm Merchants well, and proposed a Swap of horses and very soon asked for some Spirits, and followed to our camp, and after being repeatedly asked for spirits. Mr. Brown the deceased gave him (Warren) a drink; and he continued to insist for more, and refused to give him any more. Warren proposed to give the deceased a bottle full of Spirits if he would send to his house. The deceased then gave him Carson Warren more Spirits, and in order to get him Carson Warren off, from the Camp, agreed to send for the bottle of spirits, and engaged Franklin Orr to go with Carson Warren to house and get the bottle full Mr. Carson Warren returned back to the camp before Orr did. When he arrived, he Carson walked up to the deceased (who was lying down and appeared to be a Sleep) and pulled him, and ordered the deceased to get up the Warren cursed the deceased for a damned son of a bitch. Brown told Warren that he must not repeat that again, that his mother was a decent woman and he would not allow any man to call her bitch. Warren repeated the Same several times. Warren then drew back a large black bottle in a striking position. When Brown the deceased told Warren not to draw that on him, Warren then walked round the fire and picked up an axe walked farther off. Brown told Warren not to take off an(y)thing belonging to the wagons. Warren then threw the axe back. I do not know that he did this with any intention of hitting any person, thought it came near Striking one or two Warren then (took) a few steps and picked up a piece of lightwood, went a little farther from the fire and said I am not far enough. The lightwood was then thrown and Struck our tent and passed over the fire. Mr. Orr I think, picked up the lightwood and he and Mr. Brown the deceased walked round the test to where Mr. Warren had passed when I saw Warren throw a large bottle in the direction of Orr and Brown the bottle Struck the wagon tire it Struck one of one Mules on the nose and cut it badly. A fight then commenced between Orr and Warren or Brown and Warren I do not know which; probably with both I found Orr on Warren & Brown holding him by the hand. I asked them to let Warren go and they done so. Warren then left the camp with the threat that he would see them again by day, or before day I do not know which. We all retired to rest until about three o'clock when I was alarmed by the busting of a cap. I instantly rose up. I distinctly heard the order given Score them George, Score them boys, and another cap was bursted. A third cap was bursted I think at me by a negro holding a pistol in his hand. I saw Mr. Warren with a double barrel gun in his hand going in the direction where a gun was fired by some body and the deceased killed.
Sworn to before me
this 24th day Feb 1853 Aldridge Green
D White C.E.D.

Feb 25 William Orr Sworn, Says that Mr. Warren came up to the wagons at William Merchants from there he came to our camp and proposed a swap of horses. He also asked for spirits. Brown the deceased gave him a drink, and he very soon asked for more, and the deceased refused to give him any more, but Warren continued to insist until the deceased gave him more about this time I went in my wagon to bed and in a short time I heard something like a fight I got out of my wagin and saw Mr. Warren on his elbows and knees. Brown the deceased had hold of him and my son was standing a few paces off. I told them not to hurt Warren and took hold of his hand and helped him up and Warren went off in the direction of home. I thought Warren intoxicated, and Walked some distance on the road to see if he was not down. At a late hour of the night I was aroused by a considerable noise in our camp and the fire of a gun. I got out of my wagon found Brown lying dead.

Sworn to before me William Orr
this 25th Feby 1853
D. White C.E.D.

Franklin Orr Sworn, I saw Mr. Warren for the first time at Mr. Merchants well, he there Bantered Mr. Brown the deceased for a horse swap and asked for some spirits, after we took up camp he came to us and asked again for spirits, and the deceased gave him a drink. After supper Warren proposed to give Brown a bottle of whiskey in order to get him from the camp. I agreed to go with him but Warren returned to the camp and found Brown lying down. Warren took hold of Browns feet and cursed the deceased for a damn son of a bitch. Brown told Warren not to repeat again his mother was respectable and not a bitch. Warren holding a bottle in his hand drew it back like throwing it. Brown said dont throw that bottle at me. Warren then stepped off a few steps and picked up an axe. Brown told Warren not to take off any thing from the camp, and Warren then picked up a piece of lightwood, threw it at the tend. He Warren walked into the road & bantered for a fight. Brown and walked round in that direction and Warren threw a bottle at me, but one of th emules. I then Struck Warren with my fist, and knocked him to his allfours, and jumped on and gouged him. My father came up and told to let him go, and I done so. Mr. Brown I think stamped Warren. I with my father helped Warren up and told him to go off and he went among the horses and Brown knocked him down again. Then Warren left the camp with the threat that he would see us again to night or in the morning. Warren I think, was gone one or two hours when he returned with two negro fellows with him, when our camp was alarmed by the bursting of a cap and the order given; Score them George Score them. Brown and myself both rose up. I saw two negro fellows. I picked up a piece of lightwood and passed round our test, where I saw a negro man with a stick in his hand when the negro saw me with the piece of lightwood. He changed his direction. I saw at this time a gun raised by some man. The gun was fired & Brown killed.

Sworn to before me Franklin Orr
this 25th Feby 1853
D. White C.E.D.

Jesse Smith Sworn, Says, I saw Warren at our camp. I went early to sleep. Neither Saw nor heard any fight in the camp. At a late hour of the night I was aroused from my sleep by the bursting of a camp, and the order Score them George; I saw one white man and two negro fellows; One of the negroes struck me with a stick on my right arm. Some white man Shot Mr. Brown; I believe it was C. Warren, all this was done in a very short time.

Sworn to before me Jess Smith
this 25th day Feby 1853
D. White C.E.D.

Richard Taylor Sworn. I saw Mr. Carson Warren in our camp. I saw no fight, but heard some quarreling between Warren & Brown & F. Orr. At a late hour of the night our camp was alarmed by the bursting of a cap & the order given Score them George, Score them. I heard as many as two caps burst. I saw two nego fellows and one white man, who I believe was Mr. Warren.

Sworn to before me his
this 25th day of Feby 1853 Richard x Taylor
D. White C.E.D. mark

Summons for Jurors 50
Holding Inquest 8.50
Warrent for arrest .50
Mileage .80
Recording Inquisition 1.36
15 Recognizances 11.25
$25.91

South Carolina, Edgefield District
Inquisition indented, taken at the house of Wm Merchants in Edgefield District the 24th & 25th days of Feby 1853 before D White coroner of Said District, upon view of the body of Edmund Brown of Greenville District then and there being dead, by the oaths of John Cogburn Esqr., John M. Cogburn, Jesse Cogburn, Wm Merchant, Jesse Gommillion, Martin Eidson, John Merchant, B.L. Murrel, James Murrel, John Swearenghan, Tillman Jennings, J.A. Bland, John Bland, and Thos H Bartley, being a lawful Jury of inquest, who being charged and sworn to inquire for the Lake of South Carolina; when and by what means the Said Edmund Brown came to his death; upon their Oaths do say, that the Said Edmund Brown came to his death by a wound inflected in the left side of his neck, by the discharge of a Shot Gun, held in the hands of a Carson Warren. And so the Jurors aforesaid, upon their Oaths aforesaid do say, that the aforesaid Carson Warren in manner and form aforesaid Edmund Brown then & there feloniously did kill, against the peace and dignity of the State aforesaid.
In witness whereof J Daniel White Coroner aforesaid and the Jurors aforesaid to this inquisition have interchangeable put our hands and seals the day and year above written.

D. White C.E.D. (Seal) B.L. Murrell (Seal)
John Cogburn F.M. (Seal) James Murrell (Seal)
John M Cogburn (Seal) John Swearengen (Seal)
Jesse M. Cogburn (Seal) Tillman Jennings (Seal)
Wm Merchant (Seal) J.A. Bland (Seal)
Jesse Gomillion (Seal) J. Bland (Seal)
Martin Eidson (Seal) Thos H. Bartley (Seal)
his
John X Merchant (Seal)
mark

Edmund married Nancy Edwards, daughter of Joseph Edwards Jr and Elizabeth "Betsy" Bridwell. (Nancy Edwards was born on 4 Feb 1812 and died on 4 Feb 1862 in Greenville Co, SC.)