The administrators of the estate of the late Henly Trussell seek to recover his estate. Eighty-three-year-old Trussell died intestate and unmarried in 1854, and “for many years previous, he had been quite imbecile and infirm and ... Physically and mentally incompetent.” Trussell enjoyed “little society except that of his slaves,” who “did pretty much as they pleased.” The petitioners assert that John G. Gantt took advantage of Trussell’s state and “by much seeming kindness, warmed himself into his confidence.” Gantt kept a “little store” near Trussell’s farm, “where he managed to run up a large account against Intestate the greater part of which is beleived to have been pretensive.” Further, Gantt “made use of the slaves of Intestate to accomplish his ends, selling them trinkets, dressing, Spirituous Liquors &c at high prices, and charging all to Intestate.” In 1852 Gantt “managed to obtain from Intestate ... Conveyances for his entire property,” including land and slaves. The administrators have demanded the return of this property, or evidence of a just claim, but Gantt has refused. They therefore pray that Gantt be made to account for his claims against the Trussell estate; that such claims be nullified if found fraudulent; and that the whole property be sold and the proceeds divided among the true heirs, who are made party defendants to this suit.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
