Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-01
miscellaneous.
From the Boston Chronotl
From the Boston Chronotyp pc.
The Witchcran OF 1922:
or,
THE NEW ENGLAND REIGN OF TERROR.
(Continued.)
NUMBER SIX.

In one Of the trials TO which we have
already referred, II of the afflicted ac-
cused Rev. Samuel Willard. She was
Instantly sent out of court, and the story
was got up abroad that she was mistaken
in the person. As three of the judges
belonged 10 the Old South Church in Bos-
ION, of which Mr.. Willard was pastor,
they had good reasonfo for ruleing this trou-
blesome witness out of court. Mr.. Will
lard was thus honored US having rather
frowned upon the proceedings and advis-
ed a less summary process. Not a few
were the persons who were really hang
ed for their doubts. A constable by the
name of John Willard in Salem, having
by his professional acquaintance with the
afflicted, become convicted that they were
deceiving the court, and refusing TO act
further, paid the penalty of his want of
faith on the g~allows. He was at once
cried out upon as in league with Satan
md all was over with him.
But there was one minister who not
only ~disbelieved Witchcrafl but had the
misfortune 10 have been engaged in a
quarrel with the Rev. Samuel Paris. He
was cried out upon, and was brought from
Wells in the Province Of Maine, where
he was a settled pastor, 10 be tried for his
life. His name was George Burroughs.
Says, Cotton Mather, in his Wonders of
the invisible World, "Glad should | have
been, if | had never known the name of
this man, or never had this occasion TO
mention so much as the first letters Of his
name; but the governmentrequiring some
account of his trial to be inserted in this
book, it becomes me with all obedience
TO submit unto the order" 1t is not much
10 be wondered that the name of George
Burroughs, became q very unpleasant one
10 his ministerial brethern. lie alone of
them all stood up manlully and opposed
the delusion from the first. 1t was very
important t" the success of the afflicted
that he should be got out of the way.
He was brought TO trial on the 9TH oil
August, on four Indictments, for practising
his d~etesiable arls, wilchcra(is and sorce.
ries, wickedly and fcloniously upon the
bodies OF four single women, Mary VOL
colt, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Lewis anC
Ann Putnam. These and some other.
of the afflicted testified that he, by hi
specIer, of course, for it all happened
while his bodily presence was in Wells
iormenled and afflicted Them. Eight o
the con(essing witches also testified lha
he was The head actor al some Of lhei
hellish orgies, and had the promise Of be
ing the king Of Salan's kingdom lhel
erecting. Nine other persons tostife,
that he had exhibited such feats o
strength us could not have been don.
without diabolical assistance. In all
about thirty persons testified against him
ami according 10 Colton Mathor, lhes,
were not judged "lhe half of what nigh
have been considered for his conviction,
but, proceeds the self-saIisied divine
''lhey were enough to fix the characle
OF a witch upon him, according TO lh'
rules of reasoning, by the judicious GaHl,
in that case directed" One is reminded
by the name, Of Amadis de Gaui, i'm