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
_An._ The Sabbath Day night before my sd. Master died, in the
Evening after Candle Light.
_Qu._ Where was it you had this last Powder of him, and what was it
in?
_An._ He gave it to me in the same Barn, it was done up in a long
square in two Papers, the outtermost Paper was brown and the inermost
Paper was White, as the other was.
_Qu._ What did Robbin give you these Powders for?
_An._ To kill three Pigs belonging to Quaco as Phoebe told me.
_Qu._ How long ago was it Since Robbin gave you the first of these
Powders?
_An._ I can't certainly tell.
_Qu._ Was it before Robbin & you were together at John Harris ye
Potters Work house?
_Ansr._ I think it was before.
_Qu._ How long before was it?
_Ansr._ About a Week before.
_Qu._ Did you pay Robbin any Thing for these Powders?
_An._ No. I did not.
_Q._ What did you do with them?
_Ans._ Phoebe had the first; and she sent Phillis for the second and
I gave it to her.
_Qu._ When & where did you give Phoebe the first Paper of that
Powder?
_An._ In our Garret; the same night I brought it over.
_Qu._ Was any Body there when you gave it to her?
_An._ No.
_Qu._ What did she do with it?
_An._ She took it & put it upon the Table.
_Qu._ Did you give her the whole of the Powder you had of Robbin the
first Time?
_An._ Yes. I gave her the Paper with all the Powder in it, as I
received it of Robbin.
_Qu._ Did you tell her what was in the Paper?
_An._ No. She knew what was in it; for she told me what to get.
_Qu._ What did she tell you to get?
_An._ Something to kill three Pigs.
_Qu._ Did Robbin give you any Directions how to use that Powder, and
tell you what Effect it would have?
_Ans._ He told me to put it into about 2 Quarts of Swill or Indian
meal, and it would make 'em swell up.
_Qu._ Did you tell her how she must use the Powder? or what Effect it
would have?
_Answr._ yes I told her as Robbin told me.
_Qu._ Do you know whether she used that Powder or any Part of it?
_Answr._ no otherwise than as Phoebe & Phillis told me Since my
master's Death.
_Qu._ Who did you give the Second Paper of Powder to?
_An._ To Phillis.
_Qu._ When & where did you give that Paper of Powder to Phillis?
_Ans._ In the little House; She came to empty a Pot over the Wharffe,
and I gave it to her, The Monday before my sd. Master died, after
Breakfast in the Forenoon.
_Qu:_ Did you then give her all the Powder you recd. of Robbin the
Second Time?
_Ans._ Yes. I took off the brown Paper and gave it to her in the white
Paper, that it was in, when Robbin gave it to me.
_Qu._ What did she do with it?
_Answr._ She caried it into the House to Phoebe as Phillis told
me, She came to me & told me Phoebe sent her for that Thing that She
sent me for, and thereupon I gave Phillis the Paper.
_Qu:_ How was your Master poisoned with these Powders?
_Answr._ Phoebe & Phillis told me that they used them for that
End.
_Qu:_ When did they tell you this?
_Answr._ The next Day after my master died.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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