The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-10

was a member of the church, who had
not favored these proceedings, going so
| far, indeed, as to express a lack of faith
/ In the children. In this season of ex-
| citement, she had, however, renewed
her prayers, spending hours in devo-
tion. Her husband being carried away
with the delusions, she even tried to
keep him back from the gatherings at
the village. All this was doubtless
known there certainly it had been given
out that soon some persons in great re-
/ gard for their piety would be unmasked,
and Mrs. Corey's name was mentioned,
IN underbreath, by Sc the afflicted"
Accordingly, March u, Edward Put
nam and Ezekiel Cheever, hearing Ann
Putnam declare that Goody Corey did
often pinch her, at once thought it their
| duty to go and see her, " she being IN
covenant with us. Before they started,
about the middle of the afternoon, they
saw Ann Put.aann, and asked her what
| clothes GOOdy Corey wore, for she might
| be mistaken IN the person. Ann cum
ningly replied that Goody Corey knew
| of their purpose to visit her, and had
come and blinded her so that she could
not tell what she wore. The two breth-
! ren found Mrs. Corey at home, and
alone. She told them, smiiYg, and be-
fore they announced it, that she knew
! their errand. "You are come to talk
with me about being q witch, but I am
none. l cannot help persons talking of
me-" She said she did not think there
were any witches, and after some
further conversation, they got nothing
to criminate, her and departed. All the
record of this interview exhibits her as
a sensible woman.
Two days subsequently March Ia,
they sent for her to come to Thomas
Putnam's house. Immediately upon her
entrance, his daughter Ann fell into
commissions, of which she said Goody
Corey was the author. This was enough,
and March 19 a warrant was issued for
her arrest. Brought to IngersoIl's
house, on the 2lst, she was then exam
med, and the record of examination is
by the Rev. Mr.. Paris.
This venerable grandmother having
been led away, they brought in the
same day for examination DOrcas, a
daughter of Sarah Good, a child four
or five years old. Warrant had been
procured against her the day before
March 23), on complaint of the two
Putnams. The afflicted went mad,
showed the mark of her teeth on their
bodies, and the pins with which she
prlcked them were also found upon
them. This evidence was overwhelm-
ing, and the poor babe went to jail to
her mother, who was then in chains
So the imprisoned were usually kept,
for it was said that unless loaded with
chains their apparitions could torture
the afflicted, even while their bodies
were in jail. Doubtless the child was
similarly bound.
By this time the devil had actually
secured good lOdgment in Salem Vii.
lage.
On Sunday Rev. Mr.. Paris followed
his coadiutatOr, preaching, for a COM
muniOn sermon, from John V. 70-71 ::
Have I not chosen you twelve, and
one of yOu is a devil He spoke of
Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for
he it was that should betray him, being
one of the twelve" Mrs. Sarah Cioyse,
sister of Rebecca Nurse, who had so
far constrained her feelings as to be
present at the meeting, could not en-
dure the sermon, and left the house
during its delivery. An easy wind
caused the door to slam behind her as
she went out. Mrs. Cloyse was at
tended to in due time. When the ser
mon was finished, Rev. Mr.. Paris read
to the congregation an humble cOnfes
sion and regret, from one of the church
members, sister in Christ, of having
tampered with some of the afflicted in
a way that was unlawful, and without
his (the minister's) consenting, or that
of the authority. The women had only
given to John Indian some directions as
to how he should find out witches, but
the policy to be enforced was that of
non intercourse with the afflicted, save
by proper persons.
The prisons in Salem, Ipswich, Bos-
ton, and Cambridge were now crowded.
The only sure way to prevent an accusa-
ton was to become an accuser. Ac-
cUsers therefore sprang up everywhere.
Every mans life was at the mercy of
every other man. Fear fell upon all.
Providence of God was removed from
over men, and satan wholly let loose
upon them. It Is out of our power, at
this day, to conceive what was endured
on all hands.
Rebecca Nurses trial opens to view
additional ignOminiOus proceedings.
The repute of this lady for piety and
all domestic and social excellence was
such that many who had been bitter
against others faltered as to her.
Large numbers of people came forward
to defend her. Even Nathaniel Put
nam, an aged and dignified church
member, hitherto led on by Rev. Mr..
Paris, could not see her sacrificed
without trying to prevent it, and with
thirty nine others, signed a paper at
testing her many virtues, and his dis
belief of the charge against her. These
were people of the very highest stand
ing in the community. 1t is claimed,
indeed, that they were such as to show
that had the matter of the trials now been
left to the Salem Villagers, the prosecu-
tiOns would not have gone to the point
afterward reached. Certainly, the
document thus siRned-it is preserved
is a triumphant vindicatiOn of the
prisoner. One of the very complain
ants who swore out the warrant against
her affixed his name to it, but to no
purpose.
Before the court sat, her body had
been examined by a committee, who
claimed TO find upon it the witch mark.
Two days before she came to couEt, she
petitioned her judges, tn t as all this
committee did not agree, she might be
again examined by other matrons, but it
cannot be found that any notice was
taken of her prayer. She had been
afflicted with bodily ailments for years.
Ine children appeared against her.
So did Mrs. Ann Putnam. Ann Put
lam, the daughter, said the spirits had
| told her that Mrs. Nurse had murdered
! fourteen persons men, women, and
children. Rebecca Nurse had sat upon
her mother-for she had seen it. A
woman testified to the petulance OF Mrs.
Nurse when her pigs got into Mrs.
! Nurses garden, and that afterward her
! husband fell i'll and died.
In spite of all, however, the Jury
brought in a verdict of mot guilty. F"
At once the accusers made a hideOus
outcry. One of the judges said he was
not satisfied another, as he was going
off the bench, said he would have her
indicted anew. The chief justice inter
pOsed-the jury went back, and came
IN again with the desired return of
" guilty" She was then sentenced [;
| but the governor granted her areprieve.
| Her accusers Immediately renewed their
hubbub-and some Salem gentlemen
had the reprieve recalled, so that she
/ could be executed on the appointed day
Who can contemplate that aged,
! broken woman, brought for this ezcom-
munication. bv officers of the law. into