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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 cover

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

By Abner Cheney Goodell
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History - AmericanLaw & Criminology

About This Book

A detailed account reconstructs the 1755 poisoning, investigation, and prosecution of two enslaved people accused of killing their owner in Massachusetts. It reproduces the coroner’s inquest, witness examinations, indictment, and court record, tracing how arsenic and other substances were allegedly procured and administered and identifying implicated accomplices. The author situates the case within contemporary legal practice, records the sentences imposed, and surveys other instances of execution by burning in the province, using archival documents and commentary to illuminate criminal procedure and period attitudes toward capital punishment.

About the Author

Goodell, Abner Cheney portrait

Abner Cheney Goodell

Abner Cheney Goodell was an American author and historian known for his detailed examination of historical legal cases in colonial America. His notable work, "The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman," explores the harrowing story of two enslaved individuals who were tried for the murder of their master in 1755. Goodell's writing provides insight into the legal and social dynamics of the time, particularly regarding the treatment of enslaved people and the nature of justice in early American society. His contributions shed light on the complexities of colonial law and its implications for human rights.

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