Today in Salem: Twelve miles away, an angry vagrant woman stands before the magistrates and hears the testimony of her accusers. If she had rocks in her pockets she would throw them, and it wouldn’t be the first time. She’s a beggar, and has been known to hurl stones and curses at people who won’t help her.
According to her neighbors, it’s because of her that cats have turned out to be dogs, pigs have died, people have fainted, and beer has disappeared. Finally, after many, many stories of her inexplicable mischief, her examination is over. The judges rule against her, and now, in the current hysteria, she is the first person outside of Salem Village to be jailed for witchcraft. The afflictions and accusations are beginning to spread.
LEARN MORE: What’s an “examination”? How did a person in Salem go from accusation to execution?
- COMPLAINT – An afflicted person would formally accuse someone by making a “complaint” to a Magistrate. At that time in Salem, women weren’t allowed to file complaints. Usually the accusing girls’ fathers or kinsmen did it for them.
- ARREST – The Magistrate issues an arrest warrant, and the sheriff or constable takes the accused person into custody.
- EXAMINATION – Witnesses submit depositions, and the accused person is given a chance to explain themselves. The Magistrates examine the evidence, and if it seems the person might be guilty, they’re sent to jail to await trial.
- GRAND JURY – The case is presented to the Grand Jury, and depositions are entered into evidence. If the Grand Jury believes that charges should be brought against the accused, then that person is sent to trial.
- TRIAL – The accused person is tried in court, where a trial jury decides the defendant’s guilt. If the person is found guilty, then he or she proceeds to sentencing.
- SENTENCING – The convicted defendant receives his or her sentence from the Court. In Salem, witchcraft was a capital crime. So each convicted defendant was automatically sentenced to be hanged.
- EXECUTION – The Sheriff and his deputies hanged the convicted witches.