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 — John Shaqi
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
Whereas at our Superiour Court of Judicature Court of Assize and
General Goal Delivery begun and held at Cambridge within and for the
County of Middlesex on the first Tuesday of August last the Grand
Jurors for us for the Body of our said County of Middlesex did on
their Oath Present That Phillis a Negro woman of Charlestown in the
County of Middlesex Spinster Servant of John Codman late of
Charlestown aforesaid Gentleman, not having the fear of God before her
Eyes, but of her malice forethought contriving to deprive the Said
John Codman her Said master of his life and him feloniously and
Traiterously to kill and murder, she the said Phillis on the
thirteenth day of June last at Charlestown aforesaid in the dwelling
house of the said John there did of her malice forethought willfully
felloniously and Traiterously put a Deadly Poison called Arsenick into
a Vial of Water and thereby did then and there Poison the same
water--and That the said Phillis knowing the water aforesaid to be so
poisoned did then and there feloniously willfully traiterously and of
her malice forethought put one spoonfull of the same water so poisoned
into a pint of the said John's watergruel and thereby poison the same
watergruel--and that the said Phillis did then and there of her malice
forethought felloniously willfully & traiterously in manner as
aforesaid poison the watergruel aforesaid, with a felonious and
traiterous Intent and design that the said John her said master then
being should then and there eat the Same Watergruel so poisoned and
thereby be Poisoned killed and murdered. And that one Elizabeth Codman
not knowing the watergruel aforesaid to be so poisoned then and there
Innocently gave the Same Watergruel so poisoned as aforesaid to the
Said John to eat, and that the Said John then and there being the said
Phillis's master and being altogether Ignorant of the watergruel
aforesaid's being poisoned as aforesaid and suspecting no Evil did
then & there eat the same watergruel so poisoned as aforesaid & that
the said Phillis then and there was feloniously and traiterously
present with the said Elizabeth & John knowing of & consenting unto
the sd. Elizabeth's giving him the said John the watergruel
aforesd. so poisoned as aforesaid & his eating the same as
aforesd. And that the said John by means of his eating the
watergruel aforesaid so poisoned as aforesaid there Languished for the
space of Fifteen hours & then at Charlestown aforesaid died of the
Poison aforesd. given him as aforesaid--and so the Jurors aforesaid
upon their Oath said that the said Phillis did at Charlestown
aforesaid of her malice forethought in manner and form aforesaid
willfully feloniously and traiterously poison kill & murder the said
John Codman her Said master against our Peace Crown & Dignity, and The
Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath further present That Mark a Negroman
of Charlestown aforesaid Labourer and Servant of the said John Codman
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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