izabeth’s hanging was to take place a letter was received from the late John Proctor pleading for the lives of his family. Elizabeth Proctor and her children were released from prison in November of 1692.The next case was about an 80-year-old farmer by the name of Giles Corey who lived with his wife Martha. Martha believed in witchcraft very much, was not one herself, but didn’t believe that the persecution of witches was right so she began to speak out against the accusers. On March 19th, 1692, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Martha Corey. Her husband Giles gave a testimony against her, but he then decided it was a mistake and tried to take it back. On April 19th a warrant was also issued for his arrest. On September 19th, Giles was taken out of the Salem jail and led into town in front of the courthouse. “Because Giles would not enter a plea, he was ordered to undergo the ancient punishment of ‘Peine Forte et Dure’ meaning strong and hard punishment. Under this punishment, a prisoner would have a board placed atop his chest whereupon heavier and heavier rocks would be placed until the prisoner either entered a plea or was crushed to death”. 3Undergoing this torture, Giles still refused to enter his plea and eventually the weight became too much for him. His final words were “ More Weight”, and then he died. Two days later, on September 21st, Martha Corey was hung at Gallows Hill along with 6 others. Finally the tragedy ends. These few cases were only a brief glimpse into the terror and tragedy of what really happened in the Salem Witch Trials. “From the very first warrant that was issued on February 29th, 1692, to the last executions on September 22nd, 1692, over one hundred and fifty people were accused and put in jail for the suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Four people plus one infant died in jail, eighteen people were executed by hangings, one person w...
