so affected them (Hoffer, 1996).The people of Massachusetts were looking forward to the witch trials, hoping to put the runaway upsurge in witchcraft under control. Three months lapsed from the time the fist witch was executed and the trials. This time period created additional havoc and hardship in the community. During a time when farmers needed to focus on their fields, they neglected them. Everyone—even the witches—anxiously awaited the trials. Some felt the court would disregard precedent and go lenient on those who repented. On the other hand, those who claimed to be innocent were apprehensive to have a fair trial. The majority felt the best and most intelligent men would conduct the trials. Surely, they would stop the madness. In order to aid the court better, John Proctor collected evidence on how these "confessions" were collected. Such evidence included a form of torture—being chained heel to neck in order to obtain the confession. In addition to the vulgar jail cells, the witches were chained continually and frequently searched for ‘witch marks’. Although prisoners were allowed visitors, they were also a type of freak exhibition (Starkey, 1949).Only one of the seven original judges appointed to the Court of Oyer and Terminer was from Salem, Bartholomew Gedney. Those from Boston were Samuel Sewall, John Richards, William Sergeant, and Wait Winthrop. Nathaniel Saltstill was from Havenhill, and Deputy Governor Stoughton was from Dorchester. Not only were these judges somewhat impartial in regards to the trials, but they all had legal experience. I emphasized somewhat because Stoughton, Sewall, and Gedney played some part in the initial examinations (Starkey, 1969).Deciding what evidence would be heard in the trials was a difficult feat. Due to the unusual type of trial, the court had to come up with different guidelines. One scriptural rule that was modified was having two eye-witnesses needed for a...
