Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-01
ANTI-sLAvERY BUGLE, SALEM, o.

riding together in a cart TO Gallows Hill.
A crowd followed, and it was a great part
of New England, quaking with terror
and heaving with the struggle between
the c%ontending sentiments Of humanity
and fanaticism, true religion and dark su.
pcrstilion. This was no sacrifice of fool
ish old gossips, objects Of neighborhood
enmily, but of strong men, widely known
and beloved. In spite Of the fearful
power of the "allicted' and the potent
influence Of the clergy, the humanity of
thousands was ready to break away from
the tolls Of superstition. When the cart
reached the fatal spot, Burroughs first as
cended the ladder and looking round
man(ully upon the vast sea of faces, as.
serted his innocence, and appealed to the
conscicnces of his fellow men in q style
which touched the heart. He concluded
by repeating the Lords prayer in q man.
ner SO fervent and emphatic, that it drew
tears from the multitudes and came near
stopping the execution. But the accu-
sers were on the alert, and checked the
outburst of humanity by affirming that
''the black man stood and dictated TO
him." The sheriff was hurried on in
his work and as 500 rs the prisoner was
turned off and swung dangling in the air,
the Rev. Cotton Mather, mounted upon
a horse rode round through the crowd and
declared that Burroughs was no ordained
minister, and that ''the devil had often
been transferred into an angel of light"
The people were appeased and the exc
cutions went on. When Burroughs was
cut down, he was dragged, says Calef, by
the halter ''to a hole, or grave, between
the rocks about two feet deep, his shirt
and brooches being pulled off, and an old
pair Of rowsers of one executed put on
his lower parts; he was so put in, togeth-
err with Willard and Carrier, that one of
his hands and his chin, and a foot Of one
Of them, were left uncovered"
NUMBER SEVEN.
Superstition is always cruel. 1t was
not enough 10 murder the innocent on
the testimony of disordorcd im~aginations,
but poverty was visited upon their rela-
tivcs. Their goods were seized and
contiscatcd by the sheriff. The wife of
poor old Jacobs was even robbed Of her
wedding ring, and compelled TO buy of
the sheriff the provisions he had taken
from her. In an election sermon preach
ed forty years afterwards by Rev. MIR.
Loring, Of Sudbury, it is mentioned that
even then many ofthe descendants ofthe
persons executed in 1902 were wander
ing about in misery and desiitution, and
the General Court was urged 10 make
some provision for them.
The day before the execution of Mr..
Burroughs, Margaret Jacobs, who had
testified against him as well as against
John Willard and her own grandfather,
came 10 him and made a full confessio on
thar she had belief them all and beg
ged his pardon in the humblcsl manner.
lie (orgavc and prayed with her. She
made the same confession 10 the magis-
trates, but they refused TO believe her,
and rccommitied her TO prison as a lapsed
witch. In Il letter to her father dated Su-
lem Prison, Aug. 90 1862, the day after
the Execution, she gives the following
touching account Of the matter =
The reason ofmy confinement, is this /:
| having through he magistrates threat
enings, and my own vic and wretched
heart, confessed several things contrary
10 my conscience and knowledge, though
to the %wounding of my W soul, (lhc
Lord pardon me for il;) but oh ! the ter
rors of a wounded conscience who car
bear! But blessed be the Lord, he would
not let me go on in my sins, but in MGR
cy,i hope, 10 my soul, would not suffer
me 10 keep it in any longer, but | was
forced TO confess the truth of all before
the magistrates, who would not believe
me; but tits their pleasure 10 put me in
here, and God knows how soon | shall
be put TO death. Dear father, let me beg
your prayers TO the Lord on my 'bohali,
and send us a joyful and happy meeting
in heaven. My mother, poor woman, is
very crazy, and remembers her kind
love to you, and 10 uncle, viz, A. d. So
leaving you 10 the protection of the Lord
| rest your dutiGul daughter,
t MARGARET JACOBS.
This repentant young woman escaped
death by sickness.
From the 9th to the 10Th of September
six more, all women, were tried and con,
/, demned 10 death. We have seen enough
of the horrible mockery Of Justice oxhibi.
ted in these trials. They were all sub,
f slan,ially alike. One ofiho females wa,
Martha Cory, a venerable member of the
Church in Salem Village. Her husband
5 Giles Cory, u hale old man, over eight,
years of age, was also accused, and see
u ing that all who were so, were condemn
d cd, he refused 10 plead. lie would no
n admit the jurisdiction of the court or sax
S either guilty or not guilty, whcreupoi tn,
court summary ordered him 10 be sub
iecled 10 a punishment said 10 be know,
C 10 The English law in such cases. Tn,