The Killers Trilogy

by Martin McGregor

  There were soon reports of the spectres of other women attacking the girls. The spectral forms of Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, Sarah Cloyce, and Mary Easty, were all reported to have attacked the girls, and were subsequently all accused of witchcraft. On the 20th March, Ann Putnam was attending a church service when she suddenly announced

  “Look where Goodwife Cloyce sits on the beam suckling her yellow bird between her fingers!”

  The mother of Ann Putnam would soon join in with the accusations, and horrifyingly, a four year old girl, the daughter of Sarah Good, named Dorcas Good was also accused of being a witch after three of the girls claimed to have been bitten by the spirit of her. The girl would be arrested, gaoled for eight months, saw her mother taken to the gallows, and slowly she was driven insane.

  In gaol, the women believed that if they confessed, they would be spared from the gallows. The testimony of the afflicted girls was damning and they were believed to be credible witnesses. Deliverance Hobbs admitted to being a witch, she confessed that she had pinched the girls upon the command of the Devil himself. She also admitted that she had flown on a pole and attended a Witches Sabbath.

  The governor Phips was in England at the time, but upon his return he decided that prompt action should be taken. The gaols were at close to full capacity and the village was close to chaos. Phips took it upon himself to create a new court. The court was the court of the ‘oyer and terminer’. It was to hear the witchcraft cases. Five judges were appointed to the court, included were three close friends of Cotton Mather.

  The most influential member of the court, was a ruthless witch hunter named William Stoughton. The judges were urged to accept the confessions, and accept the evidence that the afflicted had been visited by the spectres of the accused as actual damning evidence. The ministers looked toward the judges for guidance in the matter, but most of the judges were without legal training at all, they certainly had little or no previous experience of witchcraft matters.

  The judges allowed what was called ‘the touching test’. If the afflicted persons were suffering a fit or contortions, then the touch of a witch was assumed to be able to stop the contortions. The accused’s bodies were also examined for signs of being a witch, or witches marks. Moles, or birthmarks would be possibly cited as being evidence of being a witch. Gossip stories and hearsay, were also admitted as evidence of guilt in Salem.

  The accused were offered scant defence. They were afforded no legal counsel, no witnesses were allowed to testify as to their innocence, and they had no avenues with which to launch any appeals. They were however, allowed to speak for themselves, and produce any evidence they had, or to cross examine the accusers, although it is doubtful that these were of much use to the accused as they depended on their own ability to defend themselves.

  The first to be brought to trial on them accusation of witchcraft was Bridget Bishop. Bishop was in her late fifties and was the owner of a tavern. She was a critical woman, unafraid of breaking the laws of the Sabbath, and was reluctant to pay her bills, it made her a fitting candidate for the accusation of being a witch. It was thought that Bishop was selected to be the first prosecuted, as there was a high chance of a conviction. The case against her was considered to be very strong.

  At Bishops trial, a field worker testified, that he had seen an image of Bishop stealing eggs, he then saw her transform into a cat, Deliverance Hobbs and Mary Warren also testified that Bishop was a witch. By this point, the two women were most likely under considerable duress, if not suffering from some form of insanity. A villager told the court that Bishop had visited his bed at night and had tormented him. When the court matrons examined Bishop’s body they said they found an “excrescence of flesh”.

  An account of Bishops cross examination still remains.

  THE EXAMINATION OF BRIDGET BISHOP, APRIL 19, 1692

  Bridget Bishop before the Worshipfull John Harthon and Jonathan Curren esq'rs

  Bridget Bishop being now coming in to be examined relating to her accusation of Suspicon of sundry acts of witchcrafts the afflicted persons are now dreadfully afflicted by her as they doe say.

  (Mr. Harthon) Bishop what doe you say you here stand charged with sundry acts of witchcraft by you done or committed upon the bodyes of mercy Lews and An Putnam and others.

  (Bishop) I am innocent I know nothing of it I have done no witchcraft

  (Mr. Har) Looke upon this woman and see if this be the woman that you have seen hurting you. Mercy Lewes and An Putnam and others doe [doe] now charge her to her face with hurting of them.

  (Mr. Harthon) What doe you say now you see they charge you to your face

  (Bish) I never did hurt them in my life I did never see these persons before I am as innocent as the child unborn

  (Mr. Harth) is not your coate cut

  (Bish)[RECORDER'S NOTE: answers no but her garment being Looked upon they find it cut or toren two wayes Jonathan walcoate saith that the sword that he strucke at goode Bishup with was not naked but was within the scabbord so that the rent may very probablie be the very same that mary walcoate did tell that she had in her coate by Jonathans stricking at her apperance The afflicted persons charge her, with having hurt them many wayes and by tempting them to sine to the devils Booke at which charge she seemed to be very angrie and shaking her head at them saying it was false they are all greatly tormented (as I conceive) by the shaking of her head]

  (Mr Har) good Bishop what contract have you made with the devill

  (Bish) I have made no contract with the devill I never saw him in my life. An Putnam sayeth that shee calls the devill her God

  (Mr. Har) what say you to all this that you are charged with can you not find in your heart to tell the truth

  (Bish) I doe tell the truth I never hurt these persons in my life I never saw them before.

  (Mercy Lewes) oh goode Bishop did you not come to our house the Last night and did you not tell me that your master made you tell mor than you were willing to tell

  (Mr Har) tell us the truth in this matter how comes these persons to be thus tormented and to charge you with doing

  (Bish) I am not come here to say I am a witch to take away my life

  (Mr H) who is that that doth it if you doe not they say it is your likenes that comes and torments them and tempts them to write in the booke what Booke is that you tempt them with.

  (Bish) I know nothing of it I am innocent.

  (Mr Harth) doe you not see how they are tormented you are acting witchcraft before us what doe you say to ths why have you not an heart to confese the truth

  (Bish) I am innocent I know nothing of it I am no witch I know not what a witch is.

  (Mr H) have you not given consent that some evill spirit should doe this in your likeness.

  (B) no I am innocent of being a witch I know no man woman or child here

  (Marshall Herrik) how came you into my bed chamber one morning then and asked me whether I had any curtains to sell shee is by some of the aflicted persons charged with murder

  (Mr Harth) what doe you say to these murders you are charged with

  (B) I am innocent I know nothing of it now she lifts up her eyes and they are greatly tormented again

  (Mr Har) what doe you say to these things here horrible acts of witch craft (Bish) I know nothing of it I doe not know whither be any witches or no

  (Mr Har) no have you not heard that some have confessed.

  (Bish) no I did not.

  Numerous villagers had claimed to have seen and even been haunted by Bishops spectre, and some even claimed that Bishop was responsible for events of bad fortune that had befallen them. When Bishop was being transported to the examination, she was said to have looked at a building and at that point a part of it was said to of had fallen down. One of the judges resigned at the conduct of the trial, but the Chief Justice signed Bishops death warrant. On the 10th June 1692 Bishop was carted to Gallows Hill and was hanged.

  During the summer of 1692, the trials increased in
pace. Rebecca Nurse was a respectable woman. According to Ann Putnam Junior, she had been attacked by the spectre of both Rebecca Nurse and Abagail Williams in march of that year. Ann Putnam Senior, had also claimed that nurse had demanded that she sign the devils book and had then pinched her. Nurse was one of three sisters,of a Topsfield family, who it transpired has been in a long running dispute with the Putnam family. All three sisters had been accused of being witches.

  There was little evidence against Rebecca Nurse, except that Nurse had lectured a man named Benjamin Houlton, who had allowed his pig to root in her garden. Houlton had soon after died. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, but the chief justice ordered the jury that they should go back and re-examine a statement that nurse had made, that could be considered an admission of guilt.

  The Examination of Rebecca Nurse

  Mr. Harthorn. What do you say (speaking to one afflicted) have you seen this Woman hurt you?

  Yes, she beat me this morning

  Abigial. Have you been hurt by this Woman?

  Yes

  Ann Putman in a grievous fit cryed out that she hurt her.

  Goody Nurse, here are two An: Putman the child & Abigail Williams complains of your hurting them. What do you say to it

  Nurse: I can say before my Eternal father I am innocent, & God will clear my innocency

  Here is never a one in the Assembly but desires it, but if you be guilty pray God discover you.

  Then Hen: Kenny rose up to speak

  Goodm: Kenny what do you say

  Then he entered his complaint & farther said that since this Nurse came into the house he was seizd twise with an amaz'd condition.

  Here are not only these but, here is the wife of Mr. Tho: Putman who accuseth you by credible information & that both of tempting her to iniquity, & of greatly hurting her.

  N:I am innocent & clear & have not been able to get out of doors these 8. Or 9. Dayses.

  Mr Putman: give in what you have to say

  Then Mr Edward Putman gave in his relate

  Is this true Goody Nurse

  N: I never afflicted no child never in my life

  You see these accuse you, is it true

  N: No.

  Are you an innocent person relating to this Witchcraft.

  Here Tho: Putmans wife cryed out, Did you not bring the Black man with you, did you not bid me tempt God & dye How oft have you eat and drunk y'r own damaon What do you say to themOh Lord help me, & spread out her hands, & the afflicted were greviously vexed

  Do you not see what a solemn condition these are in? when your hands are loose the pesons are afflicted.

  Then Mary Walcot(who often heretofore said she had seen her, but never could say or did say that she either bit or pincht her, or hurt her) & also Eliz: Hubbard under the like circumstances both openly accused her of hurting them

  Here are these 2 grown persons now accuse you, w't say you? Do not you see these afflicted persons, & hear them accuse you.

  N: The Lord knows I have not hurt them: I am an innocent person

  It is very awfull to all to see these agonies & you an old Professor thus charged with contracting with the Devil by the [a] effects of it & yet to see you stand with dry eyes when thee are so many whet—

  N: You do not know my heart

  You would do well if you are guilty to confess & give Glory to God

  N: I am as clear as the child unborn

  What uncertainty there may be in apparitions I know not, yet this with me strieks hard upon you that youa re at this very present charged with familiar spirits: this is your bodily person they speak to: they say now they see these familiar spirits com to your bodily #[spirits com to your bodily] person, now what do you say to that

  N: I have none Sir:

  If you have confess & give glory to God I pray God clar you if you be innocent, & if you are guilty discover you And therefore give me an upright answer: have you any familiarity with these spirits?

  N: No, I have none but with God alone.

  How came you sick for there is an odd discourse of that in the mouths of many—

  N: I am sick at my stomach—

  Have you no wounds

  N: I have none but old age

  You do Know whither you are guilty, & have familiarity with the Devil, & now when you are here present to see such a thing as these testify a black man whispering in your ear, & birds about you what do you say to it

  N: It is all false I am clear

  Possibly you may apprehend you are no witch, but have you not been led aside by temptations that way

  N: I have not

  What a sad thing it is that a church member here & now another of Salem, should be thus accused and charged

  Mrs Pope fell into a grevious fit, & cryed out a sad thing sure enough: And then many more fell into lamentable fits.

  Tell us have not you had visible appearances more than what is common in nature?

  N: I have noe nor never had in my life

  Do you think these suffer voluntary or involtary

  N: I cannot tell

  That is strange every one can judge

  N: I must be silent

  They accuse you of hurting them, & if you think it is not unwillingly but by designe, you must look upon them as murderers

  N: I cannot tell what to think of it

  Afterwards when this was som what insisted on she said I do not think so: she did not understand aright what was said

  Well then give an answer now, od you think these suffer against thewir wills or not

  N: I do not think these suffer against their wills

  Why did you never visit these afflictewd persons

  N: Because I was afrid I should have fits too

  Note Upon the motion of her b ots fitts followed upon the complainants abundantly & very frequently

  Is it not an unaccountable case that when you are examined these persons are afflicted?

  N: I have got no body to look to but God

  Again upon stirring her hands the afflicted persons were seized with violent fits of torture

  Do you believe these afflicted persons are bewitcht

  N: I do think they are

  When this Witchcraft came upon the stage there was no suspicion of Tituba (Mr. Paris's Indian Woman) she profest much love to that child Betty Paris, but it was her apparition did the mischief, & why should not you also be guilty, for your apparition doth hurt also.

  N: Would you have me bely myself—

  She held her Neck on one side, & accordingly so were the afflicted taken

  Then Authority requiring it Sam: Paris read what he had in characters taken from Mr. Tho: Putmans wife in her fitts

  What do y ou think of this

  N: I cannot help it, the Devil may appear in my shape.

  This a true account of the sume of her examination but by reason of geat noyses by the afflicted & many speakers, many things are pretermitted

  Memorandum

  Nurse held her neck on one sid & Eliz: Hubbard (one of the sufferers) had her neck set in that posture whereupon another Patient Abigail Williams cryed out set up Goody Nurses head the maid's neck will be broke & when some set up Nurses head Aaron Wey observed that Betty Hubbards was immediately righted

  Salem Village March. 24'th 1691/2

  The Rever't Mr. Samuell parris being desired to take in wrighting the Examination of Rebekah Nurse hath Returned itt as aforesaid

  Upon heareing the afores'd and seeing what wee then did see together with the Charge of the persons then present—wee Committed Rebekah Nurse the wife of fran's Nurce of Salem village unto theire Majest's Goale in Salem as p a Mittimus then given out, in order to farther Examination

  John Hathorne }

  Assists Jonathan. Corwin

  Nurse was old and was very nearly deaf, the statement she made may have shown that she was confused. Never the less, the jury returned, and this time they returned a verdict of guilty. On the 19th of July Nurse was taken to Gallows
Hill and was hung with four other supposed witches.

  Some were sceptical of the trials and did not entertain the stories of witchcraft, but they had to be careful or they themselves faced running the risk of accusations of witchcraft. John proctor was one such man. Proctor was the owner of a local tavern who openly denounced the witch-hunt. Elisabeth Booth testified that ghosts had visited her and accused Proctor of serial murders. Ann Putnam, Abagail Williams and an Indian named John all also testified against Proctor.