George Wythe - Deaths and Trial

Deaths and Trial

On May 25, Wythe, Broadnax and Brown all became violently ill. Doctors at first diagnosed the three with cholera. Two days later, Wythe's other heir, his 18-year-old grand-nephew George Wythe Sweeney, tried to cash a $100 check drawn on Wythe's account. Although gravely ill, Wythe said that Sweeney had tried to murder him. Broadnax said she had seen Sweeney put a powder in their morning coffee.

Sweeney was charged with poisoning Wythe, Broadnax and Brown with arsenic. Wythe changed his will and eliminated his bequest to Sweeney. Brown died on June 1, 1806, and Wythe on June 8, but Broadnax survived the poisoning. The Virginia race laws prohibited her as a black from testifying at the trial.

At trial in Virginia, Sweeney was acquitted of murder. Historians believe this was primarily because of the law forbidding testimony by black witnesses, whether free or enslaved. Sweeney was tried for forgery of the check and convicted. After his conviction was overruled on appeal, Sweeney was said to have gone to Tennessee. There he reportedly stole a horse, was convicted and served a term in a penitentiary. Afterward he was lost to history.

In his will, Wythe left his large book collection to Thomas Jefferson. This was part of the collection which Jefferson later sold to create the Library of Congress. He described Wythe as "... my ancient master, my earliest and best friend, and to him I am indebted for first impressions which have the most salutary on the course of my life."

Wythe's funeral was the largest in state history until that time. Richmond businesses closed for the day, and thousands lined the funeral route. The service was conducted at the state capitol. Wythe was buried at St. John's Church in Richmond.