William Munford to General John Preston
On June 8th, 1806, George Wythe died from what most historians believe to be arsenic poisoning engineered by his great-nephew, George Wythe Sweeney.
In a letter to General John Preston, William Munford discussed his belief that George Wythe had been poisoned by his great-nephew for monetary gain.
William Munford to General John Preston, 1806
Page 2
school have would be conducive to her improvement. Farther P.S. The good'old Chancellor is dead. He departed this life on Sunday the 8th of this month, and, horrible to tell, his great-nephew George W. Sweney is generally believed to have poisoned him; and with too much probability of its being true. That monster of ingratitude and baseness had been guilty of forging checks on the Bank in the old Gentleman's name, and was detected in the commission of that crime a day
Genl. John Preston,
By Post to} Horse-shoe,
Chistianburg,} Montgomery County,
Montgomery,} Virginia
Court-house}
Mr Milford 1806
or two after Mr. Wythe was taken sick. It appears that to hide his inequity, and get possession of his Uncle's property, the greater part of which was bequeathed to him in a Will, which he, unluckily, had examined, he was guilty of the horrid act of mixing Arsenic with his Coffee at breakfast. A little Negro Boy, who partook of it, also died. On Saturday last, the Executive appointed Creed Taylor his Successor, who, I hope will be confirmed by the Legislature.
See also
- Death of George Wythe
