The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman Part 2

_Quest._ Who got this last Powder?

_Answr._ Mark got it.

_Quest._ What did he do with it?

_Answr._ He gave it to me; in our little House.

_Quest._ What Sort of Powder was it that Mark gave You?

_Answr._ I[t?] was white the same as the first.

_Quest._ What was it in?

_Answr._ In a Peice of Paper; he had more of that Powder than he gave me, it was in a Paper folded up in a long Square, he tore off Part of that Paper, and put Some of the Powder into it, and gave it to me and kept the rest himself. and at the same time that he gave it to me he told me that Robbin said we were d.a.m.n'd Fools we had not given Master that first Powder at two Doses, for it wou'd have killed him, and no Body would have known who hurt him, for it was enough to kill the strongest man living; upon which I ask'd Mark how he knew, it would not have been found out, he said that Mr. Salmon's Negros poison'd him, and were never found out, but had got good masters, & so might we.

_Quest._ What did you do with that Powder which Mark gave you?

_Answr._ I put it into the Vial, & set it in the Same Place it was in before, there was some of the first Powder & Water remaining in the Vial when I put this last in.

_Quest._ Do you know that any of the Water that was in the Vial after you put this last Powder in was given to your Master?

_Answr._ No, he never had a drop of it. The next Day after Master died Mark came into the Closet where I was eating my Dinner and ask'd me for that Bottle. I ask'd him what he wanted it for, and he would not tell me, but insisted upon having it, upon which I told him that it was there behind the Jugg, and he took it and went directly down to the Shop in the yard, and I never saw it afterwards 'till Justice Mason shew it to me, on the Fast Day night.

_Quest._ Do you know where Mark got that Powder which he gave to you?

_Answr._ He had it of Robbin, Doctr Clark's Negro; that liv'd with Mr. Va.s.sall.

_Quest._ How do you know that Mark had that Powder of Robbin?

_Answr._ The Thursday night before my master died Mark told me he was going over to Boston to Robbin to get some more Powder for he sd: Phoebe told him yt the other was all out; and Mark went over to Boston, and return'd again about nine o'Clock; and I ask'd Mark if he had got it, and he told me no, he had not, but Robbin was to bring it over the next night; and between 8 & 9 o'Clock that next night, a negro Fellow came to me in our Yard & ask'd me for Mark, And I ask'd him his name but he would not tell me, and I said to him, Countryman, if you'l tell me your name I'll call Mark, for I know where he is, but he would not, I then askt him if he was not Robbin Va.s.sall, (for I mistrusted it was he) and upon that he laughed and said his name was not Robbin Va.s.sall, but he came out of the Country and wanted to see Mark very much about his Child; and upon my refusing to tell him where Mark was the negro went away down to the Ferry, and I followed him at some distance & saw him go into the Ferry Boat, and the Boat put off, with him in it. That same Fryday, in the afternoon, Mark told me, if any Negro Fellow shou'd come; & say that he came out of the Country to call him, I ask'd him what negro it was that he expected wou'd come; he told me it was Robbin, and that he was to say that he came out of the Country to speak with Mark about his Child, and bid me tell no Body about it.

_Quest._ Do you know Robbin Doctr. Clark's negro?

_Answr._ I do, and have known him for many years.

_Quest._ How then happen'd it that you cou'd not certainly tell whether the negro aforesd. that askt for Mark was Robbin or not?

_Answr._ Because it was dark, So dark I cou'd not see his Face so as certainly to know him, but I am fully satisfyed it was Robbin.

_Quest._ What Reason have you to be satisfyed it was Robbin?

_Answr._ That same night I told Mark that a negro Fellow had been there and ask'd for him & wanted him, he ask'd me why I did not call him, I told him our Folks called me and I could not, Mark told me he was very Sorry I did not, and asked me if he gave me any Thing, I told him he did not, he said he was very sorry he did not; then I ask'd him who it was, and he said it was Robbin, and then he told me that he thought Robbin & he had been playing blind-mans Buff, for they had been over the Ferry twice that night and mist one another; and that Elijh Phipps & Timo Rand told him that a negro Fellow had been over the Ferry to speak with him about his Child. And then Mark told me he would the next Night go over to Robbin and get some more of the same Powder, and would bring it over on the Sabbath Day, & he went to Boston on the Sat.u.r.day night, but did not return till Monday morning, when he brought it and gave it to me in the little House, as I told you before.

_Quest._ Did you see Robbin at Charlstown in the Time of your master's sickness or about the Time of his Death?

_Answr._ Yes, I saw him on ye Tuesday the s.h.i.+p was launched, when my master catch'd Mark buying Drink at Mrs Shearman's to treat him with, & drove him away; and I saw him at Charlstown on the Sat.u.r.day after my Master was buried; but I did not speak with him at either of those Times. The Tuesday he was before our Shop Door, in the Street, with Mark and had a Bag upon his shoulder; and on the Sat.u.r.day in the afternoon I saw him going up the Street by our House, while Phoebe and I were was.h.i.+ng in the back yard; I told Phoebe there was Robbin a going along this minit, and she said is he? and ask'd me what Cloaths he had on; I told her he had a bluish Coat on lined with a straw coloured or yellow lining and the Cuffs open & lined with the said Yellow lining, and that he had a black wigg on; and I told Phoebe I believed he was gone up to Mark to tell him not to own that he had given any Thing to him, and Phoebe said she believed so to; and I went into the street to the Pump with a Pail to get some Water, designing to see whether he went that Way, and I saw him go right up the main street, and I could see him as far up as Mr. Eleazer Phillips's, and I did not see him afterwards. I never see him with a Wigg on before, but as he went by us he look'd me full in the Face and I knew it was Robbin. When I told Phoebe that Robbin was going by, I thought she saw him, but she questioned whether it was he, and I told her I was sure it was he, for I had known him ever since he was a boy, and I told her I would lay a mug of Flip that it was he, but she wou'd not; and then it was that I told her I believed he was gone up to Mark &c.

_Quest._ Do you know what Powder that was which Mark & Phoebe gave you, and you put into the Vial?

_Answr._ Mark told me it was Ratsbane, but I told Phoebe I believed Mark lied & that it was only burnt allom, for I told her, that upon taking Ratsbane they would directly swell, and Master did not swell; and she said she believed so to.

_Quest._ How many Times was any of that Water, which was in the Vial aforesd., put into your master's victuals?

_Answr._ Not above Seven Times.

_Quest._ When was the first Time?

_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 Sat.u.r.day 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 Sat.u.r.day, 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?

_Answr._ I set it on fire, but it was thro' Mark's means, he gave me no rest 'till I did it.

_Quest._ How did you Set your Master's Work House on fire?

_Answr._ I threw a Coal of Fire into some Shavings between the Blacksmith's Shop & the Work House, and I went away & did not see it kindle.

_Quest._ Who put the Shavings there?

_Answr._ Mark did.