History of the United States from the earliest discovery of America to the present time . dian crone, who had served in Parrissfamily, was the first to be denounced as thecause. Two other aged females, one crazy,the other bed-ridden, were also presentlyaccused, and after a little while severalladies of Parriss church. Whoso uttereda whisper of incredulity, general or as tothe blameworthiness of any whom Parriscalled guilt), was instantly indicted withthem. On April nth, the Deputy Governorheld in the meeting-house in Salem Yil-lage a court for a preliminary examinationof the prisoners. A scene
History of the United States from the earliest discovery of America to the present time . dian crone, who had served in Parrissfamily, was the first to be denounced as thecause. Two other aged females, one crazy,the other bed-ridden, were also presentlyaccused, and after a little while severalladies of Parriss church. Whoso uttereda whisper of incredulity, general or as tothe blameworthiness of any whom Parriscalled guilt), was instantly indicted withthem. On April nth, the Deputy Governorheld in the meeting-house in Salem Yil-lage a court for a preliminary examinationof the prisoners. A scene at once ridic-ulous and tragic followed. \\ nen theywere brought in, their alleged victimsappeared overcome at their gaze, pretend-ing to be bitten, pinched, scratched, choked,burned, or pricked by their invisible agencyin revenge for refusing to subscribe to a 250 ENGLISH AMERICA [1692 covenant with the devil. Some were appar-ently stricken down by the glance of an eyefrom one of the culprits, others fainted,many writhed as in a fit. Tituba wasbeaten to make her confess. Others were. Lieutenant-Governor Stoughton. tortured. Finally all the accused werethrown into irons. Numbers of accusedpersons, assured that it was their onlychance for life, owned up to deeds of whichthey must have been entirely had met the devil in the form of a i692] THE SALEM WITCHCRAFT 251 small black man, had attended witch sacra-ments, where they renounced their Chris-tian vows, and had ridden through theair on broomsticks. Such were the con-fessions of poor women who had never intheir lives done any evil except possibly totattle. On June 2d, a special court was held inSalem for the definite trial. Stoughton,Lieutenant Governor, a man of small mindand bigoted temper, was president. Thebusiness began by the condemnation andhanging of a helpless woman. A jury ofwomen had found on her person a wart,which was pronounced to be unquestion-ably a devils teat, and her neighborsremembered that man
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