The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-05-28

? The prisonra of Salem, Ipswich, ,Bos
! ton and Cambridge were now crowded
I The only sure way 70 prevent an accuse
ton was TO become an accuser. Accusen
therefore sprang up everywhere. Ever
mans life was at the mercy of ever
other man. Fear fell upon all. Convic
tion became assured that the Providenc,
of God was removed from over men, ,ant
Satan wholly let loose upon them. 1t il
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. Largenumbers
of people came forward to defend her.
Even Nathaniel Putnam, an aged and
dignifed 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 attesting her many virtues, and
his disbelief of the charge against her.
These were people of the very highest
standing in the community. 1t is claim
ed, indeed, that they were such as to
show that had the matter of the trials
now been left to the Salem Villagers, the
prosecutions would not have gone to the
point afterward reached. Certainly, the
document thus signed--it is preserved
lis triumphant vindication of the
prisoner. One Of the very complainants
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 committee, who
claimed to find upon it the witch mark.
Two days before she came to court, she
petitioned her Judges, that 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.
The children appeared against her. So
did Mrs. Ann Putnam. Ann Putnam,
the daughter, said the spirits had told
her that Mrs. Nurse had murdered four
teen persons-men,w women and children.
Rebecca Nurse had sat upon her mother
for she had seen it. A woman testified
10 the petulance of Mrs, Nurse when her
pigs got into Mrs. Nurses garden, and
hat afterward her husband fell i'll and
lied.
In spite of all, however, the Jury
brought in verdit of mot guilty" At
'nce the accusers made q hideous out
,ry. One of the Judges said he was not
atis6ed; another, as he was going off
he bench, said he would have her in
licted anew. The Chief Justice inter
'osed-the jury went back, and came in
gain with the desired return of guilty"
She was then sentenced ;but the Govern
IT granted her reprieve. Her accusers
renewed their hubbub-and
ome Salem gentleman had the reprieve
ecalled, 80 that she could be executed
IN the appointed day.
Who can contemplate that aged
,roken woman, brought for this excom-
nunication, by officers of the law, into
he crowded congregation, probably in
hains, her trembling frame unable to
ustain itself, upheld by others, while
he was publicly delivered over by the
ealot in the pulpit, to that Satan into
Those hand he charged this saint of God
Nth having already given her soul
pang of sorrow for her, and of
xecration for himl The poor woman
urvived it, however, and persisted on
he gallows, with others before named.
t Is thought that her body was thrown
nto hole in the crevices of rock and
hinly sprinkled with earth. Family
tory says that her sons regained it, and
hat her ashes are now resting with
hose of her husband, who lived but
hort time longer, and of her children,
n the little enclosure which may be Wis.,
ted to-day in South Danvers. If it be
rue, these sons must have come, heavy
hearted and by stealth, at midnight, and
bore it home, to gather about and weep
,ver and then bury the remains, when
hey could seize upon some favorable
moment for their pious Offices of affec.
ion. Galaxy.