Testimony taken before a jury of inquest held at the plantation of Benj. Haile Sen'r, on Tuesday, 2d day of Jan'y 1844 to enquire into the cause or causes which led to the death of a female slave named Ann, the property of the said Benj. Haile Sen'r.

Theopilas Josey testifies that he did not know that anything ailed the child until informed this morning of its death. That Tama says the child appeared sick and she gave it some mullin tea but to no effect, she then carried it to its mother's house and left it. He says that Tama, the nurse says she has been in the habit of holding it to the fire as a punishment for dirteing the bed. This is all he knows. Theophilus Jossey

Sile, slave of B. Haile, testifies she was passing by Betsy's house on yesterday morning and saw Tama holding the child's back to the fire and heard Betsy (the mother of the child) say "Burn her, Burn her," that she heard Tama tell the witness child not to tell, if she did she would whip her, that she heard the deceased cry full one hour. . .that she saw that the child was burnt as it came to her house and she stripped up its cloths. . .that the fire was not very large but sufficient to burn it, that twas held close to the fire. . .did not see the child tied. . .does not know how long it was held to the fire.

Cilla (a small girl) testifies that she saw Tama hold the child on to the fire at Betsy's house having tied her hands & feet with cotton & leather strings. . .that the mother of the child was there. . .the she saw Tama beat the child with a stick yesterday. . .that Tama told her if she said anything about it she would burn her as bad as she had burnt the child (Ann). . .that the child cried very much & she saw the blood come out of her mouth after she had been beat.

Besty (the mother of the child) testifies that Tama told her if Ann did not quit dirteing the bed that she would burn her. . .that the witness told her not to do so that she would rather whip her?that she left the house and had not gone far until she heard the child dry. . .that she went back & saw the string with which Tama says she had tied the child. . .that she never heard the child call her at any time. . .as she stepped into the door she explained "Lord, have you burnt my child" that Tama said yes & commenced rubbing it with the palm of her hand & then got some tallum and greased its back. . .did not see Tama beat the child. . .This morning after sunrise saw the child running about out of doors. . . .thinks the child died about 10 o'clock. . .that the child was burnt in Tama's house.

Big Nancy testifies that she heard Tama whip the child yesterday morning & this morning. . .that she knows 'twas Ann as she knew her [?] well. Heard Tama tell Cilla to hold her to the fire on Sunday & yesterday morning. . .that the mother of the child was not there when the child was burnt. . .that Tama was in her own house.

Tama testifies that she is in the habit of keeping Betsy's children. . .that Betsy went away on Wednesday morning & left the child with her. . .that Ann lay down by the fire & after a while she found she had schorched her back. . .that she took her up & fed & dressed its back. . .that on yesterday morning she found the child sick & that she gave it mullen & whiskey & it appeared very sick and threw up. . .that she did not whip it yesterday morning but this morning gave it three licks for dirteing the bed. . .that she held it over the fire to frighten it but did not burn it. . .that the child run about all day yesterday. . .that Betsy (the mother) was in her house yesterday morning. . .that she tied the child to frighten it. . .that she was burnt at Betsy's house. . .that she was not present when the child died. . .says that the child had been out and came in this morning but appearing sick she carried it to its mother & told her to give it something.

Dr. George Reynolds testifies he does not believe the burn would have produced death with medical treatment but that indirectly may have caused its death. . .that the burn was not deep. . .that the child died from inflammation of the mucus membrane of the stomach & congestion of the lungs, translation of inflammation from the burn, child doubtless being exposed to cold?likewise believes the child might not have suffered much from the burn. G.V.? Reynolds, M.D.