Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-04-10

Do QOn6 concerning Gn6 SdlQ Mdry Lee,
without speaking first with him, and
after she was put to death or Execut-
ed, to the best of this Deponent's re-
membrance, he said he knew nothing
of it, And this Deponent saith, that
they we're in an adjoining room when
they treated about the business, as this
deponent could not perceive anything
either by Word or Deed whereby he
gave order for her execution, or put
ting to Death, as after this, he COM
manded that they should do nothing
without his order, and alsoon after the
Execution, expressed he knew not of
it, for that this Deponent hearing those
words, ('she is dead ran out, and ask
ed, who was dead?' and it was repli-
ed, the WITCH Then this Deponent
entered the next room, and said, they
have hanged her. and then the said
Bosworth, the captain, as itwere speak
ing with trouble in his yoyce, replyed
he knew not of it. All which herein
before expressed or the same in effect,
the Deponent averreth on his oath to
be true and further sayeth not.
The Courts judgment is not record
ed.
CAT the Court holden for the Pro-
vince of Md, the 9Th day Of Oct,
1854" the following proceedings were
had, by which will be seen calling one
witch in those days was not to be
tolerated:
"Barko Herringe, aged forty yeares Or
thereabouts, sworne, saith, that Peter
Godson and Richard Manship meeting
in your Settlers plantation, Richard
Manship asked the Said Peter Godson
whether he would prove his wife a
Witch. Peter replied, take notice
what [ say; I came to your house,
where your wife layed two straws, and
the woman, in a Testing way, said,
they say [ am witch; if [ am witch,
they say ] have not power to skip over
these two straws,' and bid the same
Peter Godson to skip over them. About
a day after, the said Peter Godson said
he was Lame, and therefore whould
maintain his wife to be witch!
BARCo KILLEY.
"John Killey, aged twenty-five yeares
or thereaboltts, sworne, saith, that at
the house of Philip Hide, Richard
Manship said to Peter Godson, you
SID 81 $ u re az n T5cfr.
Peter Godson answered, 'GentZenoe1o
TAKE NOTICE, [ say [ will prove her a
witch, become avjtness y0u that stand
5y.' JOHN KILLEY.
"Margaret Herringe, aged twenty
three, or thereabouts (bad custos for
the ladies', sworne, saith, that Richard
Mansbip asked Peter Godson if he
would prove his wife a Witch, and
Peter desired them that were present to
take notice that he said, Your wife took
four straws, and said in the name of
Jesus, Come over these straws, and
upon this your wife is a witch, and [
will prove her one.'"
After this witness the following en-
try of the amicable settlement Of theac-
tion is made, the superstitious yet eau
tious Peter showing either, forgiving g
spirit or a wholesome fear Of the law
"Whereas, Peter Godson and his wife
had DETAINED Richard Manship's wife,
in saying, She was a witch, and utter
ed other slanderous speeches against
her, which was composed and deliver
ed by the plaintiff and defendant, be-
fore Mr.. Richard Preston, 500 as Peter
Godson should pay charges of warrant
and subpenas in these actions, which
Richard Manship desired may be man
ifested in Court that the said Peter
Godson and his wife have acknowledge
ed themselves sorry for their speeches,
and pay charges"
The nearest approach to an execu-
tion on charge of Witchcraft, as far as
we have been enabled to learn, was
reached in Maryland in 1874. The
author of the work to which we are
indebted for the following extract,
The annals Of annapolis, was Mr..
David Ridgely, State Librarian of
Maryland for a number Of years. He
expressed the hope and belief that it
was "the onlyjudicial transaction Of its
kind to be found upon the pages of
the journals Of the body from whence
it was taken. 1t reads =
"UPPER HOUSE, Feb. II, 1874.
"Came into this House petition OF
the Lower House, as followeth, viz:
E'To the honorable Charles Calvert
Esq, Lieutenant General and Chief
Judge Of the Provincial Court Of the
Right Honorable the Lord Proprieta.
ry:
"The humble petition of the Depu-
ties and Delegates of the Lower House
Of Assembly,
"Humbly sheweth to your excellen.
cy,
"That, whereas, John Cowman, be.
ing arranged, convicted and con,
demned upon the statute Of the first Of
King James of England, &C., for witch.
craft, conjuration, sorcery or enchant
ment used upon the body Of Elizabeth
Goodall, and lying under that con
demnation, and hath humbly implcrec
and beseeched us, your lordship's pc
titioners, to mediate and intercede il
his behalf with your eXcellency for {
reprieve and stay Of execution.
! "Your Excellencie's petitioners dc