On the eve of Christmas 1903, Samuel Eigner 22 years old, was walking down town Newberry, S.C., to watch the festive sky filled with fireworks. A Roman candle caught Samuel in the eye and exploded. It penetrated his brain after which he was killed instantly. The tragedy didn’t end there. Within that year, Samuel’s wife Florence, age 20 died of Brights disease (Kidney failure) on July 30, 1903. His twins were born on November 26, 1902 and delivered by Harriet Counts. The twins died in a fire.
Perdita Suber, Samuel’s mother was left to grieve. Perdita sued J. Guy Daniels for $5,000 for the death of her son. It was Daniels who set off the rocket. The jury brought in a verdict in favor of J. Guy Daniels. Of course.
According to my research, I believe Morgan Eigner was Samuel’s father.
There are a few places to read more about those tragic happenings. If you visit the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia, S.C., ask for a large book called the Sheriff’s Inquisition. You’ll have to go through the book page by page because I’ve forgotten the page number where I found the inquisition for Samuel Eigner’s death.
Information about Perdita Suber’s case can be found at the Newberry, SC Library on page 8 of the Newberry, Observer in the June 14, 1904 issue and on page 8 of the July 14, 1905 issue.
Prior to all of the afore mentioned tragedy, I found one other story that involved Samuel Eigner. In the Newberry Observer issue January 17, 1901, Lottie Jackson was shot in the mouth by Samuel. It was a flesh wound. He was fined $50 or 30 days on the public roads. He worked the roads.
Does Anyone recognize those names or have any of you ever heard that story before? Please let me know.
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