392 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761.

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

The Deposition of John Bracco of Queen Anns County
who being Sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty God
concerning his Knowledge of John Burke of the said County
now under Condemnation for the murder of his Wife De-
poseth and saith that he has been acquainted with said Burke
for some years past & for the last two years particularly in
the Summer fifty eight heard him complain that he had been
five or six Weeks incapable of prosecuting his Affairs by
reason of a heaviness on his Spirits which he could no way
account for and which of late had been troublesome to him
this with a Letter this Depon^t received from him a Day or
two before the Murder aforesaid and several Messages about
the same time relating to some Business he wanted him to
transact induced him the Deponent to believe the said Burke
disordered in his Senses as he could -no other way account for
them But this Deponent saith that he did not at any time see
the said Burke while he was in any Vapourish Fit and
further saith not

October 18^th 1759 Patt Hamilton
James Finley of Queen Anns County Aged thirty nine
years being Sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty God
saith That he hath known John Burk now under Confinement
on Suspicion of having Murdered his Wife, seven or eight
years, That said Burk since Harvest last has appeared more
heavy and Dull than usual, That he was frequently com-
plaining of being disordered in his Head, That he appeared
to be in some doubts of the right way of Worship but that
he always seemed to Argue with the same Strength of
Reason & Judgment as well since Harvest as before This
Deponent further saith that he verily believes the Causes of
said Burks Complaints to be the loss of his Daughter, who
died some time since, and Jealousy of his Wife, and further
saith not. Sworn before the Subscriber one of his Lordships
Justices of the Peace for Queen Anns County the 17^th Day
of October Anno 1759.
Nathan Wright

Richard Reynolds of Queen Anns County Aged twenty
nine years being Sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty
God saith that he has known John Burke, now under Con-
finement on Suspicion of having Murdered his Wife, fifteen
or Sixteen years, That said Burk, since last Harvest, has
seemed to be very uneasy and often complained to this De-
ponent of having Reasons to Suspect his Wife but that he
(Burk) never appeared to be deprived of his Reason or
anywise inclined to Madness This Deponent further saith