The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-30

4
ipecauana; had the magistrate who received The
accusations, and examined the accused, dismissed
both, and ordered the prison; or. finally
had the judges of the Super Court directed the
first indictment to be quashed and sent the prison
ers homes the evil. in either of these stages might
have been stopped. But unhappily, all these
were efforts of reason which lay beyond the
| spirit of the times. aka 5
That M. Paris, Mr.. Noyes. and Mr.. Hale, be-
lieved the existence of the witchcrals in Salem
village, cannot te questioned. That they seem te
have been of fair religious character, must be ac-
knowledged. But it must also be acknowledged
that both they, aud Messrs. Hawthorn and Cor
win, the magistrates principally concerned, men Of
good character likewise, were, in the present case
rash and lnexcusable.
They were not merely deceived, but they de
eelvsd themselves and infatuated others. They
were not merely Jealous, but unjust. They re-
celved from persons unknown, in judicial proceed
ings, as witnesses, evidence equally contradictory
10 law, TO common sense, and to the scriptures -
Spectral evidence as it was termed-that is, evil
dence founded on apparitions, and other snrernat-
ural appearance, protessed 10 be by the accu-
sers-was the only basis of train of capital con-
victions. Children incapable of understanding the
things about which they gavetest mony, were yet,
at times the only witnesses;-and, what still
worse, the very things which they testified were
put into their minds and mouths by the examiners.
in The questions which they ssked. In one case a
man named Samuel Wardwell was tried, con-
demned, and executed. the testimony of his
wife and daughter, who appear TO have accused
him merely for the sake of saving themselves.
Soon after the above examinations, the number
ct the accusers, and, by necessary consequence, of
the accused also. multiplied most alarming de-
gree. To recte the story would be useless, as
well as painful. In substance, it would be little
else than what has been already said. All those
who were executed denied the charge, and finally
declared their innocence; although several ofthem,
in the moment of terror, had made partial confess
sions of their guilt. A considerable number, for
the same purpose, acknowledged themselves gull
ty, and thus escaped death. To such a degree did
the frenzy prevail, that in January following, the
Grand Jury indicted almost fifty persons for witch
craft.
Nor was the evil confined to this neighborhood.
II ooou Sp utO pHElS Vi EI5SoA,
and Suffolk. Persons at Andover, Ipswich,
Gloucester, Boston, and several other places, were
accused by their neighbors and Others For some
time, the victims selected from the lower
classes. 1t not long, however, before the
spirit of accusation began to lay hold of persons
more consequence. On the 5th of August, l692
Mr.. George Burroughs, who had formerly preach.
ed IN Salem village, and after at Wells, in the Pro-
vince of Maine, was brought to trial for bewching
Mary Walcott, inhabifant of The village and
was condemned. Mr.. EugIish a respectable mer-
chant n Salem and his wife; Messrs Dudley and
John Bradstreet, sons of the late Governor Brad
street; the wife Of Mr.. Hale the lady of Sir Will
lam Phipps; and the Secretary of Connections,
were among the accused. MIR. English and his
wife fled to New York. Mr.. Dudley Bradstreet
had already committed between thirty aud forty
persons for this supposed crime; but being weary
and discouraged, declined any further interference
in the business. Upon this, he was charged with
having killed nine persons by witchcraft, and was
obliged TO flee to the Province of Maine. His
brother John being accused of having bewitched q
dog, and ridden on his buck, fled into New Hamp-
shire. At Audover, dog was accused of bewitch-
log seVeFhI human beings, ana put To Qeath.
The evil now became to great to to be borne.-
A named Giles Cory, had been pressed to
death for refusing to plead, and nineteen persons
had been executed. More than one third OF these
were members of the christian church, and more
than one half had bornean unblemished character
One hundred and fifty were in prison; two hun
| dred others were accused. Suspense and terror
spread throughout the cnlony. Neither age mol
sex, neither ignorance nor innocence, neither
learning piety, neither reputation office fur
nished the least security. Multitudes appear to
have accused others merely to save themselves
! Among the accused not small number confessed
themselves guilty for the same reason; for, by
strange inversion ofjudical p' those who con
fessed the crime escaped,while those who protest
ed their innocence, died without proof and withou
mercy. ..-..
While the mischief was thus rolling up to 6
mountainous size, the principal persons in the col
ony began seriously to ask themselves where il
would end. A conviction began to spread that the
proceedings were rash and indefensbIe. Mr.
Hale probably changed his opinon because biz
wife was accused. The same consideration un
doubtedly influenced Sir William Phipps. re-
spectacle man in Boston having been accused by
some persons at Andover arrested his aceusers fol
defamation, and laid his damages at a thousauc
! pounds. In consequence of this spirited conduc
the frenzy in that town disappeared. In othe
places the distresses, the fair character and appar
ent innocence of many of the sufferers, wrough
silently but powerfully on the people at nrge. A
the lastspecia court of Oyer and Terminerholdel
on this subject of fifty who were brought to trial
all were acquitted except three; and these wer
reprieved by the Governor. These events wer
followed by general release of ali those who ha
been imprisoned. Thus the cloud which had 8
long hung over the colony, slowly and sullenly re
tirell-and like. the darkness Of Egypt, was, TO. tn
great joy. dfthe distressed jIhabhauts,' succeede
by serenity and sunshine, 4. :..s."
At this period, and for sometime after, attempt
were made in various places to revive these pro:
ecutons; but they failed of success. 1t has bee
said that an inhabitaut of Northampton accuse