Outlaws, Rascals & Ruffians!

Presented by the Mississippi Local History Network

James Copeland

Body Stolen

After observing the rules and regulations required by law that of allowing the usual time for life to become extinct, he was examined by the physician who had been called in, they pronouncing him dead, the body was cut down and placed in a coffin, and there being no one present to claim his body, it was placed in a wagon and carried across the river and was buried on the DENTON old place.

This being done on October 30, 1857, then two nights later the body was dug up by a colored man by the name of WASH DENTON, who was a run away slave about 12 years old, and was found swimming across Leaf River and was caught by the Denton family and there he lived until he died, who tied the body across his horse and carried it to the home of Dr. J. B. Kennedy. The Negro cut all flesh off the bones then soaked them in vinegar over night, then dried them. Then put the skeleton together with wire. The flesh was buried at the Denton old place.

Dr. Kennedy kept this skeleton until he went to the Mt and there he was killed, then Mrs. Kennedy let Dr. McLeod at Moss Point have it, and it was kept in the drug store there until the drug store burned, and that was the last of the James Copeland skeleton.

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Last Updated

Saturday, 20-Sep-2003 19:36:59 MDT

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