The Washington bee., 1910-08-27
DEATH FOR "WlTCH"
INTERESTING RELIC OF THE
DAYS OF IGNORANCE,
Historical Archives of Salem, Mass,
Reveal Depths of Superstition
and Folly In Which Our
Forefathers Were Sunk.

Investigators making search through
the archives of the Peabody institute
at Salem, Mass, have just unearthed
a seventeenth century warrant con-
demning to death Bridget Bishop, wife
of a Salem attorney, on a charge of
witchcraft.
Contrary to the traditions that
witches were burned in Massachu-
setts, in the warrant cOndemning
Mrs. Bishop to death William Slough
ton, who with his associates in the
warrant are styled judges of a spe-
cial court of Oyer and Terminer for
the counties of Essex, MiddleseX and
Suffolk, orders that George Corwin,
the sheriff, shall hang her by the
neck until she is dead.
Appended to the warrant is the re-
turn certificate made by Corwin show
ing that he had carried out the or
ders of the court.
The warrant and return are in sew
enteenth century English script. and
transcribed reads as follows:
"To George Corwin Gentn, High
Sheriffe of the County Of Essex
Greeting:
Whereas Bridget Bishop ais Oil
yer, the wife of Edward Bishop Of Sa-
lem in the County of Essex Lawyer
at a special Court of Oyer and Termi-
ner held at Salem the second Day of
this instant month of June for the
COuntyes of Essex MiddleseX and Suf-
folk before William Stoughton, Esque,
and his associates Of the said court
was Indicted and arraigned upon five
| several Indictments for using prac-
| tising and exercising on the d.
| last past and divers days and times
| the felonies of Witchcraft in and upon
| the bodyes of Abigail Williams, Ann
Putnam Mercy Lewis, Mary
/ WalcOtt and Elizabeth Hubbard of Sa-
| lem village single women;
whereby their bodyes were hurt, af-
| ficted. pined consumed and tormented
! contrary to the forme of the statue in
! that case made and provided. To
/ which Indictm'ts the said Bridget
Bishop pleaded not guilty and for
Tryall thereof put herselfe upon God
and her Country whereupOn she was
| found guilty of the FelOnyes and
| Witchcrafts whereof she stood in
! dicted and sentence of Death aecor-
dinghy passed ag't her as the Law
| directs. Execution whereof yet re-
maines to be done. These are there
fore in the names Of their maj'ties
J William and Mary now King and
Queen over England &c. to will and
command you That upon Fryday next
being the Tenth Day Of this instant
month of June between the hours of
eight and twelve in the aforenoon of
the same day you safely conduct the
ls'd Bridget Bishop aIs oliver from
their majties GaOl in Salem azores d
to the place of execution and there
! cause her to be hanged by the neck
until she be dead and of your dOings
herein make returne to the clerk of
the sd Court and of this pr'cept. And
hereof you are not to faile at your
peril. And this shall be your sufficient
warrant given under my hand & seal
at Boston the eighth day Of June in
the fourth year of the reigne of our
Sovereign Lord William and Mary
now King and Queen over England.
&C., Annoq'e Dom. 1892.
"WM. STOUGHTON.
June 10th, 1892.
According to the within written
precept l have taken the body of the
within named BTigett Bishop out of
their majesties gaol in Salem and
safely conveighd her to the place pro-
vided for her execution and caused Y
sd BTigett to be hanged by the neck
until she was dead all which was ac-
cOrding to the time within required
| and Sn I make ret11rna nv me