Charles County Court Proceedings, 1668—16 70.    251

      Capt James Neale came & appeared to prosecute the suite by him Liber D
     Commenced agt John Charis Jonhn Decrevere & Meichor Kirkman
      John Charls John Decreveir Melchor Kirkman Defts came also & [p. 137]
     appeared to defd the suite Comenced agt them by Capt James Neale.
      And whereupon the sd James Neale complaineth agt the sd John
     Charls John Decrever & Meichor Kirkman for tht whereas the sd
     John Charls Jno Decrevere .Melchor Kirkman had formerly beene
     servts unto the sd James Neale & dureing the time of their servitude
     did kill & eate severall of their Mastrs hoggs wthout his licence or
     Consent but more especially about Septr 1668 & att divers & sundry
     tiths since the sd John Charis Jno Decrevere & Meichor Kirkman did
     kill & eate severall hogs of the sd Jams Neales wthout his the sd
     Neats Consent or knowledge & the sd Jno Charls Jno Decrevere &
     Melchor Kirkman did att divers & sundry tiths privately open a
     doore of an house where the sd Jams Neale had laid a quantity of
     Wines & they the sd John Charis John Decrevere & Melchr Kirkman
     did drink att pleasure & carry away of the sd Wines a great quantity
     & other enormities the sd John Charis John Decrevere & Melchor
     Kirkman to him the sd Jaths Neale did doe Contrary to the peace of
     the Ld proprietar of this province wherefore he desireth to be re-
     leived according to the lawes of the Province in tht case made &
     provided

      Richd Boughton Atturn for the Defts cometh to defend the force
     & injury wn &c & saith they are noe waies Guilty of the trespases in
     the Declar specified and of this he puts himself on the Country
                                    Richd Boughton

      And the sd James Likewise
      Whereupon there was a jury impannelled who returned this en-
     sueing Verdict
      The Jury doe find for the Plt & doe judge according to Evidence
     tht the plt is damnified to the vallue of two hundred twenty five
     pounds of tobacco there being according to Evidence at least twelve
     trespasses in this Case & the Defth not being Guilty of any more then
     four hogs which were killed in the time of their service the re-
     mainder being killed since they came away.
      Whereupon this bill of Costs was prsntd to the Court wch was
     allowed the plt:
      To four daies Attendance of Capt James Neales att     30:  120
      To four daies attendance of 3 Evidences att 30:  360
      To Attur Fees                        060
      To the sheriffe for a Jury           120
                                       lb ton: 660

      The Deposition of John Muscharnp servt unto Capt James Neale [p. 138]
     Esqr aged twenty years or there abouts being sworne saith