This case includes testimony, unusual for proceedings before the Revolution, that provides grisly details of the horrid murder. The defendant's alleged insanity would not have served as a defense.

[p. 116]

At a Court held in Accomack County for the Examination of Moses Riggs on suspition of Murdering a negro boy named Stepney Belonging to Benjamin West Junr. On Thursday the XVth day of November MDCCLXX.

Present Thomas Ryley, Isaac Smith, James Arbuckle, & Southy Simpson Gent.

William Elliott Waggaman is by the Court appointed Prosecutor for our Lord the King to prosecute the prisoner at the Bar.

The said Moses being set to the Bar and Examined said he was

[p. 117]

not guilty of the above Felony.

Elizabeth West aged Twenty five years or thereabouts being sworn saith that the said Moses Riggs came to this Deponent's Father's house on the day the afsd. negro boy was killed and said that he had killed the Devil Ben West's negro boy (meaning the negro Stepney afsd.) and that he had thrown him on one side of the Raod that immediately this Deponent's sister named Abigail, and a negro woman belonging to her father Benjamin West father of sd. Benjamin went and found the said negro Lying where the sd. Moses said he had thrown him as they told her and this Deponent afterwards went and saw the said negro Lying there his Brains being beat out as the sd. Moses said he had Done and when he came to her father's house and saw there the But end of a Gun Lying broken with which She imagined the said Negro had been killed as the said Moses had the Barrel of a Gun in his hand which was bloody and had Brains upon it it which he said was the Brains & Blood of the said Negro and that the said Moses then appeared to be a Distracted man much out of his Senses and hath often heard that he was a sort of mad man but was never much acquainted with him and farther saith not.
Elizabeth X West
her mark

Sarah Colony aged twenty one years or thereabouts being sworn Saith that about nine o'clock in the morning on Tuesday the ninth day of this Instant the said Moses the Prisoner came to the house of Benjamin West the elder where this Deponent then was and had the Barrel of a Gun in his hand which was Bloody and had Brains upon it and also his Trowsers was Bloody and had brains on them and said that Gun was Left him as a Legacy by his Daddy and that he had killed the Devil with it just Beyond Benjamin West the younger's fence and thrown it in the roadside and that there was his Blood and Brains Showing his trowsers and that she went along with Eliza. West the other witness to where the sd. Moses said he had thrown the Devil he had killed & saw the negro boy Stepney Lying with his head Beat all to Pieces and the Brains in the road and Saw the But end of a Gun and Several Broken pieces of a Gun Stock Lying there with which She Imagineth the said negro was killed

[p. 118]

and that she saw a hole in the Body of the said negro which answered to what the said Moses had said that he Punched the Muzzle of the said Gun into his Body until the Green Poison ran out. And this Deponent saith that at the time he came & related the said Murder he seemed to be much out of his senses and further saith not Sarah X Colony
her mark

John Drummond aged fifty years and upwards being sworn Saith that having as a Constable a warrant against the said Moses for the above murder found him at the house of John Riggs his cousin and that while he was waiting for the sd. John Riggs to Go with him as a Guard to carry the sd. Moses Before a Magistrate he asked him how he came to be Guilty of the murder afsd. to which the said Moses said what murder? the Deponent answered Ben West's Negro Boy whom he had beat all to pieces & murdered in so Barbarous a manner to which he (Moses) it was done and it could not be helpen and showed his Breeches & they were Bloody which he said was the negro's Blood this Deponent told him he might have helped it Because the negro could not offend him either by word as he could not speak or by his actions as he was too small but perhaps says Moses if I had not killed him he might have killed me the sd. Moses and that he was resolved not to Trust any Damned Devil but was resolved to have the first stroke himself and that after this Deponent had received the warrant he heard from several people that the said Moses was a Madman and had been for some time past and further saith not.
John Drummond

Jonathan Willet aged forty years and upwards being Sworn saith that he hath known the sd. Moses about twenty years and that he heard and sometimes hath seen him for about nine years past out of his senses at particular times and that he was then perfectly clear of Liquor and that in particular on that morning before he committed the murder

[p. 119]

he came very early to this Deponent's house before he was up and that he then appeared to be furiously mad and he believed he would have killed anyone that had come in his way having attempted as this Deponent to kill a child of his but he prevented him and Turned him out and he then told this Deponent that he met the Day before a Little Devil Driving an old one in a Cart and he would have killed him was was [sic] afraid he the old one would be too strong for him and further this Deponent saith not.
Jonathan Willet

On hearing the witnesses It is the opinion of the Court that he is Guilty and ought to be Tried for the same at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer and ordered that he be committed to the County Goal and from thence be removed to the Public Goal.

John Drummond and Jonathan Willet for themselves and the sd. Eliza. West and Sarah Colony with the sd. John their Security recognized in the sum of Twenty pounds Each for their appearance as witnesses (at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer) for the King agt. Moses Riggs

These Proceedings were signed Thos. Ryley

Virginia Slavery Laws