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

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

against you and a day will be fixed for a Hearing in your
Defence.
I am &c.
24^th December 1766. Upton Scott Cl: Con.

Read the Transcripts of the Convictions of Negro Nero,
and negro David as also the following Letter from the Jus-
tices of Talbot County relative thereto.

Talbot County 15^th November 1766.
Sir
We the Justices for Talbot County beg leave to inform your
Excellency that Sentence of Death hath this November Term
been passed upon Nero a negro Slave belonging to M^r Gabriel
Saile and upon David a negro Slave to M^r Samuel Mullikin.
The first was found guilty upon two Indictments for Burglary,
one in breaking open a Dwelling House belonging to M^r John
Bozman and Stealing from thence a Broad Cloth Coat and
Hat and a pair of Trowsers the second Indictment for the
breaking the Dwelling House of a certain Nathaniel Cox and
Stealing from thence ten Pounds of bacon and a Knife the
facts laid in the first Indictment were clearly proved by M^r
Oldham One of the Subscribers to whom the negro Confessed
the breaking open the House and Chest and Stealing thence
the Goods laid in the Indictment, by M^r Sale the Master of the
Negro, and George Clift who found the Goods in his Pos-
session, and by two negroes belonging to M^r Bozman who
proved that the House had been opened and the Goods Stolen

p. 445

from thence. On the second Indictment he was found Guilty
upon the Evidence of George Clift, to whom he Confessed the
breaking of the House and Stealing the things laid in the In-
dictment, and by Nathaniel Cox who proved his having lost the
Goods and that the Negro made the same Confession to him
that he had done to Clift. Negro David was Indicted upon the
Act of Assembly for attempting to Poison and Murder his
Master, and found Guilty upon the clearest Evidence viz^t his
Confession to several Persons and before the Court and Jury
on his Tryal, and the Testimony of a female Slave who was
Privy to his preparing a Dose Composed of Ground Puppies
and other Ingredients which he supposed Poisonous with
intent to give it to his Master. The Evidence upon all the
three Indictments was such as left the Court and Jury not the
least Room to Doubt of the Guilt of the Prisoners.
We are
your Excellencys most Obed^t Servants
Risdon Bozman Ja^s Dickinson
Edw^d Oldham Jon^a Nichols.
Tristram Thomas