Susannah Hancock Sworn Says I was in the kitchen Dec 3rd about one oclock & herd the report of a Pistol I herd a nois toward the Dreling House I then went I the house & found Mother lying on rite side with rite hand lying on flour dead left had on thigh no one was in the house with mother I have herd mother say She had rather be dead than here in her condition
Robert F. M. Hancock Sown Says yesterday Dec 3 about 12 oclock my wife was in house we Sent her dinner to her I eat dinner & passed through the house my wife was on the bed after I got out of doors She asked me where liveley was She is the baby I told her She was with the rest of children picking cotton She said no more to me I went on toward the road I think 10 or 15 minutes before I herd the report of Pistol Susannah caled me & told me that her ma had Shot her Self I suppose I was 300 yards from the house when I got to the house She was lying on her rite Side near the window . . . She has bin at time unable to git about some two years I have herd my wife Say She had rather be dead than here in her condition. I dont think there was any violence used.