Today in Salem: One of the judges receives a letter from an esteemed man who’s worked with the courts for 40 years. He’d helped with the case of the sharp-tongued Susannah Martin, who was hanged less than a month ago. But now, as the next round of hangings approaches, he’s feeling uneasy. He’s compelled to ask: Is the court using the right methods to find and execute witches? Are innocent people being hanged?
Like all Puritans, he 100% believes that witches and witchcraft exist. And he doesn’t argue with the fact that witches must be executed. But the logic of the trials seems dangerously wrong, and he lays out his case point by point.
- According to the Bible, anyone can be a witch, whether they’re virtuous or not.
- A good reputation doesn’t mean a person is innocent. Likewise, a bad reputation doesn’t mean they’re guilty.
- Satan can disguise himself as anyone’s specter, whether they’re guilty or innocent.
- The judges say that Satan can’t impersonate an innocent person without their permission (which changes that person’s status to guilty). But what if that’s wrong? Isn’t Satan evil and powerful enough to impersonate someone without permission? How would the court know?
- During the trials, the afflicted girls often say they can see the accused witch’s specter at that very moment, in the courtroom, causing harm. But why would a witch do that? Practicing witchcraft in front of the judges isn’t in her best interest.
- According to the judges, accusations from another witch were proof of guilt. But why would a witch accuse others? The Bible says a kingdom divided against itself will fall. Aren’t the witches all part of the same kingdom? Doesn’t that give them more reason to protect each other?
Other objections to the trials have been based on interpreting scripture. This argument, though, is pure logic, intellectual in its approach. The judge tucks it away with his important papers to consider later.
Tomorrow in Salem: The doomed George Jacobs Sr. dictates a new will