'The Case of Pierre Francois
This Negro slave belonging to Mr Patrice planter, residing in Port of Spain Trinidad, was in the year 1801 carried before a Commission illegally formed by Governor Picton and consisting wholly of Frenchmen for the trial of certain persons accused of sorcery, divination and poisoning by means of charms, upon these charges Pierre Francois was examined repeatedly before this Tribunal none of the members holding any judicial situation, being private individuals equally unacquainted with the provisions of Spanish or of English law. It appears that the prisoner had no defense appointed, nor was there ever a lawyer of any description present at this extroardinary examination nor any escrivano publico.

Pierre Francois uniformly protested his innocence in the most solemn manner. He was confined in the stocks during the investigation which took place secretly in the jail, where the Commission appointed by Governor Picton for trying him, met in one of the rooms--After closing the evidence called against Pierre Francois, but without hearing any defence for the prisoner he was ordered to fall upon his knees and then adjudged to be burn alive.

The wretched creature heard the sentence in silence transfixed with horror. He was conducted to the chapel and there heavily ironed--prayers were then read for him--About 3 o’clock in the afternoon Pierre Francoise was conducted by a Guard of soldiers to the place of execution, where he was chained to a stake, after having had his body covered with a shirt loaded with brimstone. The prison slaves were ordered to place faggots around the stake, which were set fire to by the executioner. Another Negro named Bouqui who had been previously hanged was taken down from the gallows and decapitated. The headless trunk was tied to the stake opposite to Pierre Francois and both the living and dead were consumed together in the flames.

The dreadful smell occasioned by the sulphur and dead bodies obliged many persons who lived near to leave their houses and numerous negroes who were present at this barbarous scene rushed off with such horrid yells of dismay, as to occasion well grounded fears that a massacre of the white population might have been the immediate consequence.'