Ordinance Against Throwing Dead Bodies into Charleston’s Harbor and Tributaries. Charleston Courier, Aug. 16, 1806.
Citing “the importation of slaves from Africa” whereby deceased captives were regularly cast into the water, “that every Informer be considered as a competent witness,” with large rewards to informants.
Considering that 40% of U.S. slave imports were destined for Charleston, SC, this provision, made in an era when otherwise the competency and testimony of blacks was not legally upheld, attests to its urgency.