The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman: Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for Which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death. Including, Also, Some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in MassachusettsGoodell, Abner Cheney
History
The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman: Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for Which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death. Including, Also, Some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in Massachusetts
_Answr._ The next Monday morning after Phoebe gave me the first
Powder. then it was put into his Chocalate, by Phoebe. The next was
also put in to his Chocalate by Phoebe on the next Wednesday
morning, and I thinking she put in more than she should, told her her
hand was heavy, and there was no more put in, that, I know of till the
next Fryday, when Phoebe put some into his Chocalate, and my Master
eat the Chocalate all the three times aforesaid in the Kitchen, and I
was there & saw him; The next was on the Saturday following, when I
put Some into his Watergruel, but I felt ugly and threw it away, and
made some fresh, and did not put any into that. The next was on the
afternoon of the same Saturday, I made him some more Watergruel &
pour'd some of the Water out of the Vial into it, and it turned
yellow, and Miss Betty, ask'd me what was the matter with the
Watergruel and I gave her no answer; but that was thrown away, and
more fresh made, and Miss Molly was going to put the same Plumbs in
again, and Phoebe told her not to do it, but she had better put in
some fresh Plumbs, and she did; and no Poison was put into that; It
was by Phoebe's advice that I put it into the first this afternoon.
And he had no more, that I know of 'till the next Monday night, when
Mark put some of the Potter's Lead into Masters Sagoe.
_Quest._ How do you know that Mark put any of the Potter's Lead into
the Sagoe?
_Answer._ When I went out of the Kitchen I left the Sagoe in the
little Iron Skillet on the Fire, and no body was in the Kitchen then,
but when I returned, Mark was Sitting on a Form in the Corner, and I
afterwards found Some of that Lead in the Skillet, and neither
Phoebe nor I had any Such Lead.
_Quest._ Do you know of any other Poison prepar'd for, or given to
your Master?
_Answr._ No, I do not.
_Quest._ Who was it that first contrived the poisoning your Master
Codman?
_Answr._ It was Mark who first contrived it, He told Phoebe and I
that he had read the Bible through, and that it was no Sin to kill him
if they did not lay violent Hands on him So as to shed Blood, by
sticking or stabbing or cutting his Throat.
_Quest._ When was it that Mark first proposed the poisoning his
Master?
_Answr._ Some time last Winter; he proposed it to Phoebe and I,
but we would not agree to it, and told him No Such Thing should be
done in the House; This before my Master brought him home from Boston.
_Quest._ Did he ever afterwards propose the poisoning his sd
Master?
_Answr._ Yes he did, a Week or a Fortnight after my Master brought
him home from Boston, he proposed it to me first, and I would not
agree to it, and then he proposed it to Phoebe.
_Quet._ What Reason did Mark give for poisoning his Master?
_Answ._ He said he was uneasy and wanted to have another Master, and
he was concerned for Phoebe and I too.
_Quest._ Do you know how your Master's Work house that was burnt down
came on Fire?
_Answr._ Yes I do.
_Quest._ How came it on fire?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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