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

About this book

"The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman" by Abner Cheney Goodell, Jr. is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The text chronicles a harrowing case of petit treason involving two enslaved individuals, Mark and Phillis, who conspired to murder their master, resulting in their execution. It offers a detailed narrative that encompasses the legal proceedings, societal implications, and the gruesome methods of punishment inflicted at the time. The opening of the account sets the stage by detailing the events surrounding the crime that led to the trial and execution of Mark and Phillis. It describes their background as enslaved people under Captain John Codman's ownership and outlines their plotting against him, culminating in the use of poison to achieve their goals. The text documents the meticulous legal process that followed, including testimonies that reveal the conspiracy, the trial's proceedings, and the eventual sentences pronounced upon them—execution by hanging for Mark and burning for Phillis, showcasing the era's severe legal standards and attitudes toward slavery and crime.