126 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

Joseph Smith of the said County Planter and Master of the
aforesaid Negro Beck.
The Consideration of this Matter is postponed until some
further Information can be had of her Character.
Read the following Letter from the Justices of Charles
County and also the Depositions of John and Catherine Bur-
ges relating to the Conviction of Negroes Jack and Sue Con-
demned for the Murder of a certain William Garner of said
County.

To his Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor of Mary-
land

May it please your Excellency
You will observe by the Copy of a Record herewith de-
livered to you that at a Court held for Charles County on the
2^d Tuesday of this Instant Negro Jack and Negro Sue the
Slaves of M^rs Constant Chapman, were tryed and Condemned
for the Murder of a Certain William Garner, and We being
of Opinion that the Evidence against Negro Sue (which
principally Consisted in Declarations of what William Garner
said in his Sickness) was too Vague and uncertain to Convict
her of the Crime wherewith she stood Charged And as this
Testimony is since much Lessened or Rather Contradicted by
the Depositions of John Burgess and Catherine Burgess We
humbly beg leave to recommend the said Negro Sue to your
Excellency's Mercy and Clemency, and are
your Excellencys most Obed^t humble Servants.
Tho^s Stone Dan^l Jenifer
20^th March 1766 Rich^d Harrison Geo: Dent
Walter Hanson Tho^s Contee
Sam^l Hanson J: Hawkins

p. 410

The Deposition of John Burges Aged forty Seven years
being duly sworn to declare and relate what he heard William
Garner late of Charles County declare on his Death Bed Saith,
He the Deponent being Uncle to said Garner went to see said
Garner said to be murdered by a Negro Man and two Negro
Women of M^rs Constant Chapmans The Deponent then asking
said Garner how it happened, whether he thought the Women
assisted by Stabbing him or any way else, the said Garner
answered that he did not know, but believ'd that they did not,
and further said not his
John f Burges
mark.

The Deposition of Catherine Burges Aged fifty years or
thereabouts being sworn as above Saith that she went to see