The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-06-19
.F|NDOLD REL|COF
W|TCH'S DOOM
Death Warrant Unearthed in
Old Archives at
Salem.

Salem, June 1S.-Investigators max /
ing search through the archives of
the Peabody institute have just I'M
earthed a seventeenth century war
rant condemning to death Bridget
Bishop, wife of a Salem attorney, on
a charge of witchcraft.
Contrary to the traditions that
witches were burned in Massachu-
sets. in the warrant condemning Mrs.
Bishop to death William Stoughton,
who with his associates In the war
rant are styled judges OF special
court OF oyer and Termtner for the
counties OF Essex, Middlesex and Suf-
folk, orders that George Corwin, the
sheriff. shall hang her by the neck un-
til she Is dead.
Appended to the warrant is the re-
turn certificate made by Corwin
showing that he had carried out the
orders OF the court
The warrant and return are In sew
enteenth century English script, ana
transcribed reads as follows:
To George COrwin, Gent'n, High
Sheriffs of the County of Essex Greet
ing:
whereas Bridget Bishop ais olH-
yer, the wife OF Edward Bishop of
Salem, in the County of Essex Lawyer
at special Court Of oyer and Ter
miner held at Salem the second Day
of this instant month Of June for the
Countyes OF Essex Middlesex and Suf-
folk before William Stoughton. EsQe
and his associates OF the said Court
was Indicted and arraigned upon five
several Indictments for using prac-
Using and exercising on the {"
last past and divers dayes 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. at
/ hicted, pinned consumed and tormented
| contrary to the forme Of the statute
/ IN the case made and provided. To
which Indictm'ts the said Bridget
Bishop pleaded not guilty and for
| Iryan thereof put herselfe upon God
and her Country whereupon she was
FOUND guilty OF the Felonyes and
| Witchcrafts whereof she stood indict-
/ ed and sentence Of Death accordingly
passed ag't her as the Law directs,
Execution whereof yet remaines to ba
done. These are therefore In the
names OF their maj'ties William and
Mary now King and Queen over Eng
land &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
day you safely conduct the sd Brid-
get Bishop ais oliver from their
maj ties Gaol In Salem afores'd to tn,
place OF execution and there cause
her to be hanged by the neck unti
she De dead and Of your doinEs hereir
make returne to the clerk OF the So
Court and OF this pr'cept. And here.
OF you are not to faile at your peril
And this shall be your sufficient war
rant given under my hand & seal a
Boston the eighth day OF June in tn.
Fourth year of the reigne of our Sow
erelgn Lords William and Mary nov
King and Queen over England sc
Annoo'e Dom. 1892.
WIN. STOUGHTON.
June 10th. 1882.
According TO the within write,
precept have taken the body Of tn
: WITHIN named Brigett Bishop out o
their najesties gaol in Salem an,
sateiy conveighed her to the plac
provided for her execution and cause.
so Brigett to be hanged by the necl
until she was dead all which was &C
cording to the time within reouire,
ano SO make returne by me.
GEORGE CORWIN, Sheriff"
. Every day In this city a few NOR
people Join In the lists OF tbosa ~