On March 1, 1692 three women, Sarah Good, Sarah Osbourne and Tituba are interrogated by magistrates in Salem, Massachusetts on suspicion of witchcraft. Their accusers were four young girls between the ages of 9 and 12.
Over the course of roughly a year a rash of accusations would lead to the arrest of more than 150 people on charges of witchcraft and 20 people would be executed. Contrary to popular belief none were burned. Nineteen of those implicated were hanged and one man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death under the weight of stones placed on his chest.
Strangely, the one sure way to survive a trial was to admit to being a witch. It was thought that once a person had made an admission of guilt their salvation was in God's hands. However, if one were to protest the injustices inflicted upon them by their community and stand steadfast against the charges, death was almost assured.
Spite, jealousy, greed and want of attention have all been offered up as reasons for the outbreak of accusations in Salem and its surrounding areas. Some have even suggested the ingestion of tainted bread to explain the attacks claimed by some of the supposed victims of witchcraft.
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