According to accounts, these have begun when two young girls have experienced unprecedented fits. They have exhibited the most unusual behavior such as screaming, muttering unfathomable sounds, throwing objects around the room, crawling under furniture and contorting their bodies in to unsightly positions. They have claimed to feel pain much like that of being pricked by needles or pinching. And though they were examined by doctors, no medical conditions have been concluded. Soon after that, other young women have experienced the same episodes.
As there is no scientific evidence which supports the peculiar behavior of the afflicted, witchcraft has been the only factor left to blame. A magistrate and a jury have been organized to take rule of the fates in the trials.
Several methods have been used to determine the accused. During the early days of investigation, they have used a method called "witch cake". This is a cake made from rye meal and the afflicted's urine. It is said that this is a form of traditional English magic; they feed a dog with the cake and in belief, remnants of the witch's spell will be retained in the urine. As the dog devours the cake, the witch will feel pain from it and this will help determine who he or she is.
Another method used was the "touch test". In this method, suspects were blindfolded and led to touch the afflicted people. When the person says that they feel better as soon as they are touched, it implies that the person who touched them is a witch.
As soon as names were determined, the "tryals" began. The magistrate and the jury would hear the cases and find verdicts to the accused. Most people who were found guilty were sentenced to be executed. They were hanged and were not given proper burial. The procedure would state that as soon as the bodies were cut from their noose, they were thrown in to a common shallow grave. According to some accounts, family members would reclaim the bodies of their relatives and bury it in unmarked graves. One person in particular, Giles Cory has made these tryals most controversial. He claimed innocence during his trial. And for the prosecution to get a confession, they have used peine forte et dure - better known as a form of torture which included being pressed under an increasing load of rocks. Giles Cory died in the process as he was quite literally, crushed to death.
The Salem witch trials were not all biased and brutal. There were certain cases where some women were given temporary reprieve as they are pregnant. The governing body back then believed that by executing the mother, they would also be killing the unborn child who has not committed sin.
Tags: salem, witch