The Brutal Slave Master Who Was Executed For Killing His Own Slave
A fallen mango led to someone’s death
Arthur William Hodge was a plantation farmer and a cruel slave owner who was hanged on 8th May, 1811 for the murder of one of his workers. Prior to his execution, Hodge had lived in the British Virgin Islands and was a member of the Council and Legislative Assembly. He became the first West Indian slave owner to be executed for the murder of a slave.
In his younger years, Hodge had served in the British Army and after his father died, he returned to the British Virgin Islands to take charge of the family’s plantation. In 1811 when Hodge was indicted for murdering one of his male slaves, Prosper, much of the evidence revealed how cruel and merciless he had been to his slaves.
Here’s how it happened
On 2nd October 1807, Hodge flogged one of his male slaves known as Prosper, for allowing a mango fall down from a tree. Hodge had given him the responsibility of looking after the mango and under Prosper’s watch, the mango should never fall to the ground. Sadly, the fruit fell and Hodge demanded that Prosper pay him 6 shillings as punishment for letting the mango fall.
The result of Prosper’s inability to pay was that he was severely flogged by Hodge. Thirteen…
