INTRODUCTION
Outlaw and folk hero Frank James was born Alexander Franklin James in Kearney, Missouri, to Baptist minister Reverend Robert Sallee James and his wife Zerelda (Cole) James on January 10, 1843. The family originally resided in Kentucky.
James was the oldest of the couple’s four children: Robert (died young); Jesse; and Susan. Frank was 18 when the Civil War began, and became a member of the pro-Confederate militia, the Missouri State Guard. After some time spent as a prisoner of the Union Army, he returned home. By early 1863, he was riding with local guerrillas: first Fernando Scott, then William Clarke Quantrill. He was with Quantrill during the raid on Lawrence, Kansas (August 21, 1863) during which approximately 200 men and boys were killed, many in cold blood.
After the war, Frank and younger brother Jesse operated as bandits in various states, robbing banks and trains as the opportunity arose. After Jesse was assassinated in 1882, James surrendered to Missouri’s then governor, Thomas Crittenden. He was tried twice for robbery/murder, and acquitted both times.
James later worked as shoe salesman, ticket taker in a burlesque house, and also performed on the lecture circuit. He returned home in later years, and gave tours of the family homestead for a quarter. He died on February 18, 1915, leaving behind wife Annie and one son.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_James
LIBRARY LOCATIONS
HG: History, Geography, & Travel Room (Central Library)
SS: Social Sciences (Central Library)
ST: Stacks (Central Library)
BU: Buder Branch
CE: Central Express
CP: Carpenter Branch
DA: Julia Davis Branch
KI: Kingshighway Branch
MA: Machacek Branch
SC: Schlafly Branch
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Title: The escapades of Frank and Jesse James.
Author/Compiler: Breihan, Carl W.
Local Call Number: ST—364.155
Publication Date: 1974.
Format: Books.
Title: Frank and Jesse James: the story behind the legend.
Author/Compiler: Yeatman, Ted P.
Local Call Number: STL, KI—364.1552092
Publication Date: 2000.
Format: Books.
Title: The James boys rode south; a thrilling and authentic new episode in the fabulous lives of the most daring desperadoes of modern times, Frank and Jesse James and their comrades in crime.
Author/Compiler: Hoole, William Stanley.
Local Call Number: ST—923.41
Publication Date: 1955.
Format: Books.
Title: Jesse and Frank James: the family history.
Author/Compiler: Steele, Phillip W.
Local Call Number: ST—B JAMES
Publication Date: 1994.
Format: Books.
Title: Jesse James was his name; or, Fact and fiction concerning the careers of the notorious James brothers of Missouri.
Author/Compiler: Settle, William A.
Local Call Number: HG, DA, MA, SC—923.41
Publication Date: 1966.
Format: Books.
Title: The last ride of the James-Younger Gang: Jesse James and the Northfield Raid 1876.
Author/Compiler: McLachlan, Sean.
Local Call Number: SS, MA—364.1552092
Publication Date: 2012.
Format: Books.
Title: Lives and exploits of the daring Frank and Jesse James.
Author/Compiler: Thorndike, Thaddeus.
Local Call Number: ST—923.41
Publication Date: 1909.
Format: Books.
Title: The lost cause: the trials of Frank and Jesse James.
Author/Compiler: Muehlberger, James P.
Local Call Number: SS—364.1552092
Publication Date: 2013.
Format: Books.
Title: Shot all to hell: Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West's greatest escape.
Author/Compiler: Gardner, Mark L.
Local Call Number: SS, BU, CE, DA, SC—364.1552092
Publication Date: 2013.
Format: Books.
Title: The trial of Frank James for murder: with confessions of Dick Liddil and Clarence Hite, and history of the "James gang" / with an introd. by James D. Horan.
Author/Compiler: James, Frank; Liddil, James Andrew; and Clarence B. Hite.
Local Call Number: ST—345.73
Publication Date: 1977.
Format: Books.
Showing posts with label Trials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trials. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, PART II
"WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD": A BEGINNING RESEARCHER'S GUIDE TO THE SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS WITCHCRAFT TRIALS OF 1692
PART II
Bibliography
1. Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. SALEM POSSESSED: THE SOCIAL ORIGINS OF WITCHCRAFT (1974). ST--301.21
An attempt to determine what underlying social, economic, and political conditions could have combined to make the Salem witch trials possible. Index; sources are identified in extensive footnotes. Two-page chronology of Salem in the 17th century.
2. Burr, George Lincoln. NARRATIVES OF THE WITCHCRAFT CASES, 1648-1706 (1914). HU, ST--133.4
Reprinting of several early accounts of supposed instances of witchcraft and of witchcraft trials, including the trials at Salem. Index.
3. Demos, John. ENTERTAINING SATAN: WITCHCRAFT AND THE CULTURE OF EARLY NEW ENGLAND (1982). HG, ST--974.02
An examination of witchcraft in New England which purposely concentrates on events at places other than Salem (but is still useful as an introduction to the time period). Extensive "Notes" section, plus subject and name indexes. A fascinating appendix lists known witchcraft cases in 17th century New England.
4. Drake, Samuel Gardner. ANNALS OF WITCHCRAFT IN NEW ENGLAND, AND ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES (1977). ST--133.4
Pages 56-218 are a chronological recounting of supposed instances of witchcraft and of witch trials in New England 1636-1712. Index.
5. Drake, Samuel Gardner. THE WITCHCRAFT DELUSION IN NEW ENGLAND: ITS RISE, PROGRESS, AND TERMINATION (1866). ST--133.4
A reprinting of Cotton Mather's WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD and Robert Calef's answering volume, MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD.
6. Ferguson, Henry. ESSAYS IN AMERICAN HISTORY (1969). ST--917.403
A book of essays, one of which is an extended examination of the witch hysteria in New England ("The Witches," pp. 61-110). An interesting, well-written look at the period that speculates in learned fashion on the causes and effects of the witch delusion. Includes eight pages of notes on sources.
7. Fowler, Samuel Page. SALEM WITCHCRAFT: COMPRISING MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD AND WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD (1865). ST--133.4
Another reprint of the Mather and Calef books about the Salem trials. An appendix lists every Salem Village area person known to have been accused of witchcraft, including children.
8. Gragg, Larry Dale. A QUEST FOR SECURITY: THE LIFE OF SAMUEL PARRIS, 1653-1720 (1990). HG--B Parris
A biography of Samuel Parris, a Salem clergyman whose household was the center of much of the witch activity reported at Salem. Bibliography and index.
9. Gragg, Larry Dale. "Under An Evil Hand." American History Illustrated 27 (March/April 1992): 54-59. HG--P
An illustrated article about the witchcraft trials.
10. Hall, Michael G. THE LAST AMERICAN PURITAN: THE LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER, 1639-1723 (1988). HG--B Mather
A biography of the elder Mather. Includes a section on the Salem witchcraft trials (pp. 256-264), and a portrait of William Stoughton, chief justice at the witch trials. Bibliography and index.
11. Hansen, Chadwick. WITCHCRAFT AT SALEM (1969). ST--133.4
A popular account of the witch trials, well-written and easy to read. Hansen believes that, while innocent people were indeed hung as witches, witchcraft and folk magic had indeed been practiced by several of the accused (among them Bridget Bishop and Wilmot Redd). Annotated bibliography and index.
12. Jackson, Shirley. THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE (1956). ST--133.4
Part of the "Landmark Books" series, written by the author of the famous short story, "The Lottery". A popular and well-written account of the witch hysteria and trials, written in part as a response to the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. There is a list of persons hung as witches on page 150 (one man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death with stones for refusing to plead guilty or not guilty. Giles Corey's story was the inspiration for Miss Jackson's "The Lottery".) Index.
13. Powers, Edwin. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN EARLY MASSACHUSETTS (1966). ST--364
A history of crime and punishment in colonial Massachusetts (1620-1692). Includes a long chapter titled "Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live" which includes much information on the Salem witch trials. Excellent index, extensive notes section.
14. RECORDS OF SALEM WITCHCRAFT, COPIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (1971). HU--133.4
A reprint of the 1864 printing of the text of existing transcripts of Salem witchcraft examinations and trial proceedings. Divided chronologically and by person accused (because legal proceedings involved action against one accused witch at a time). Includes an index of plaintiffs (accusers).
15. Richardson, Katherine. THE SALEM WITCHCRAFT TRIALS (1983). HU--345.744
Interesting booklet issued by the Essex Institute. While it is a good introduction to the witchcraft trials, it is most notable for its fascinating collection of illustrations and photographs. The illustrations include portraits of most of the trial judges and sketches of homes and buildings associated with the witch trials. There are also black-and-white photographs of still-existing sites. Three useful lists are also included: persons who died as a result of witchcraft accusations (executions and those who died in prison); those who were condemned but not executed; and a list of those persons who made accusations of witchcraft against others. Also includes a selected bibliography and 2 maps of the Salem area circa 1692.
16. Sewall, Samuel. THE DIARY OF SAMUEL SEWALL, 1674-1729 (1973). ST--917.44
A printing of Sewall's diary in two volumes. Sewall was a clergyman and judge at the Salem witch trials. Volume 1 has coverage of the witch trial period, and also has a chronology of Samuel Sewall 1652-1730. No index, but a lengthy Table of Contents can help the researcher locate desired information.
17. Silverman, Kenneth. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF COTTON MATHER (1984). HU--B Mather
A biography of the younger Mather, who wrote WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD. There is quite a bit of Salem witch trial information in a chapter titled "Letters of Thanks From Hell" (pp.83-137). Index (look under "spectral evidence" and "witchcraft").
18. Starkey, Marion Lena. THE DEVIL IN MASSACHUSETTS: A MODERN ENQUIRY INTO THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS (1989). ST--133.4
A well-written and extensively researched look at the Salem witch trials. It is notable for the author's ability to make many of the players in the tragedy come alive. It was first published in 1949, and was written in part as a reaction to and attempt to explain the social dynamics of the Holocaust. Index; annotated bibliography; and "Notes" section.
19. Tree, Christina. HOW NEW ENGLAND HAPPENED: A GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND THROUGH ITS HISTORY (1976). ST--917.404
A travel guide to historical New England. Pages 45-56 include a brief summary of the witch trials and list still-existing sites connected with the trials. Includes name and place indexes.
20. Upham, Charles Wentworth. SALEM WITCHCRAFT: WITH AN ACCOUNT OF SALEM VILLAGE AND A HISTORY OF OPINIONS ON WITCHCRAFT AND KINDRED SUBJECTS (1959). ST--133.4 (2 vols.)
A reprinting of Upham's classic (some would say biased) account of the witch trials. The book consists of four parts: Part 1 is a history of Salem Village; Part II is a general history of witchcraft in the American colonies; Part III is a detailed examination of the Salem witchcraft trials. The concluding section is a Supplement with several appendices. Volume I of this reprinting includes an index to both volumes, plus a map of Salem Village circa 1692.
Copyright © 2009 by St. Louis Public Library. All rights reserved.
Thomas Pearson
Special Collections Dept.
St. Louis Public Library
To see a complete list of our online indexes and bibliographies:
http://previous.slpl.org/libsrc/lisindex.htm
PART II
Bibliography
1. Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. SALEM POSSESSED: THE SOCIAL ORIGINS OF WITCHCRAFT (1974). ST--301.21
An attempt to determine what underlying social, economic, and political conditions could have combined to make the Salem witch trials possible. Index; sources are identified in extensive footnotes. Two-page chronology of Salem in the 17th century.
2. Burr, George Lincoln. NARRATIVES OF THE WITCHCRAFT CASES, 1648-1706 (1914). HU, ST--133.4
Reprinting of several early accounts of supposed instances of witchcraft and of witchcraft trials, including the trials at Salem. Index.
3. Demos, John. ENTERTAINING SATAN: WITCHCRAFT AND THE CULTURE OF EARLY NEW ENGLAND (1982). HG, ST--974.02
An examination of witchcraft in New England which purposely concentrates on events at places other than Salem (but is still useful as an introduction to the time period). Extensive "Notes" section, plus subject and name indexes. A fascinating appendix lists known witchcraft cases in 17th century New England.
4. Drake, Samuel Gardner. ANNALS OF WITCHCRAFT IN NEW ENGLAND, AND ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES (1977). ST--133.4
Pages 56-218 are a chronological recounting of supposed instances of witchcraft and of witch trials in New England 1636-1712. Index.
5. Drake, Samuel Gardner. THE WITCHCRAFT DELUSION IN NEW ENGLAND: ITS RISE, PROGRESS, AND TERMINATION (1866). ST--133.4
A reprinting of Cotton Mather's WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD and Robert Calef's answering volume, MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD.
6. Ferguson, Henry. ESSAYS IN AMERICAN HISTORY (1969). ST--917.403
A book of essays, one of which is an extended examination of the witch hysteria in New England ("The Witches," pp. 61-110). An interesting, well-written look at the period that speculates in learned fashion on the causes and effects of the witch delusion. Includes eight pages of notes on sources.
7. Fowler, Samuel Page. SALEM WITCHCRAFT: COMPRISING MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD AND WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD (1865). ST--133.4
Another reprint of the Mather and Calef books about the Salem trials. An appendix lists every Salem Village area person known to have been accused of witchcraft, including children.
8. Gragg, Larry Dale. A QUEST FOR SECURITY: THE LIFE OF SAMUEL PARRIS, 1653-1720 (1990). HG--B Parris
A biography of Samuel Parris, a Salem clergyman whose household was the center of much of the witch activity reported at Salem. Bibliography and index.
9. Gragg, Larry Dale. "Under An Evil Hand." American History Illustrated 27 (March/April 1992): 54-59. HG--P
An illustrated article about the witchcraft trials.
10. Hall, Michael G. THE LAST AMERICAN PURITAN: THE LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER, 1639-1723 (1988). HG--B Mather
A biography of the elder Mather. Includes a section on the Salem witchcraft trials (pp. 256-264), and a portrait of William Stoughton, chief justice at the witch trials. Bibliography and index.
11. Hansen, Chadwick. WITCHCRAFT AT SALEM (1969). ST--133.4
A popular account of the witch trials, well-written and easy to read. Hansen believes that, while innocent people were indeed hung as witches, witchcraft and folk magic had indeed been practiced by several of the accused (among them Bridget Bishop and Wilmot Redd). Annotated bibliography and index.
12. Jackson, Shirley. THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE (1956). ST--133.4
Part of the "Landmark Books" series, written by the author of the famous short story, "The Lottery". A popular and well-written account of the witch hysteria and trials, written in part as a response to the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. There is a list of persons hung as witches on page 150 (one man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death with stones for refusing to plead guilty or not guilty. Giles Corey's story was the inspiration for Miss Jackson's "The Lottery".) Index.
13. Powers, Edwin. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN EARLY MASSACHUSETTS (1966). ST--364
A history of crime and punishment in colonial Massachusetts (1620-1692). Includes a long chapter titled "Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live" which includes much information on the Salem witch trials. Excellent index, extensive notes section.
14. RECORDS OF SALEM WITCHCRAFT, COPIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (1971). HU--133.4
A reprint of the 1864 printing of the text of existing transcripts of Salem witchcraft examinations and trial proceedings. Divided chronologically and by person accused (because legal proceedings involved action against one accused witch at a time). Includes an index of plaintiffs (accusers).
15. Richardson, Katherine. THE SALEM WITCHCRAFT TRIALS (1983). HU--345.744
Interesting booklet issued by the Essex Institute. While it is a good introduction to the witchcraft trials, it is most notable for its fascinating collection of illustrations and photographs. The illustrations include portraits of most of the trial judges and sketches of homes and buildings associated with the witch trials. There are also black-and-white photographs of still-existing sites. Three useful lists are also included: persons who died as a result of witchcraft accusations (executions and those who died in prison); those who were condemned but not executed; and a list of those persons who made accusations of witchcraft against others. Also includes a selected bibliography and 2 maps of the Salem area circa 1692.
16. Sewall, Samuel. THE DIARY OF SAMUEL SEWALL, 1674-1729 (1973). ST--917.44
A printing of Sewall's diary in two volumes. Sewall was a clergyman and judge at the Salem witch trials. Volume 1 has coverage of the witch trial period, and also has a chronology of Samuel Sewall 1652-1730. No index, but a lengthy Table of Contents can help the researcher locate desired information.
17. Silverman, Kenneth. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF COTTON MATHER (1984). HU--B Mather
A biography of the younger Mather, who wrote WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD. There is quite a bit of Salem witch trial information in a chapter titled "Letters of Thanks From Hell" (pp.83-137). Index (look under "spectral evidence" and "witchcraft").
18. Starkey, Marion Lena. THE DEVIL IN MASSACHUSETTS: A MODERN ENQUIRY INTO THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS (1989). ST--133.4
A well-written and extensively researched look at the Salem witch trials. It is notable for the author's ability to make many of the players in the tragedy come alive. It was first published in 1949, and was written in part as a reaction to and attempt to explain the social dynamics of the Holocaust. Index; annotated bibliography; and "Notes" section.
19. Tree, Christina. HOW NEW ENGLAND HAPPENED: A GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND THROUGH ITS HISTORY (1976). ST--917.404
A travel guide to historical New England. Pages 45-56 include a brief summary of the witch trials and list still-existing sites connected with the trials. Includes name and place indexes.
20. Upham, Charles Wentworth. SALEM WITCHCRAFT: WITH AN ACCOUNT OF SALEM VILLAGE AND A HISTORY OF OPINIONS ON WITCHCRAFT AND KINDRED SUBJECTS (1959). ST--133.4 (2 vols.)
A reprinting of Upham's classic (some would say biased) account of the witch trials. The book consists of four parts: Part 1 is a history of Salem Village; Part II is a general history of witchcraft in the American colonies; Part III is a detailed examination of the Salem witchcraft trials. The concluding section is a Supplement with several appendices. Volume I of this reprinting includes an index to both volumes, plus a map of Salem Village circa 1692.
Copyright © 2009 by St. Louis Public Library. All rights reserved.
Thomas Pearson
Special Collections Dept.
St. Louis Public Library
To see a complete list of our online indexes and bibliographies:
http://previous.slpl.org/libsrc/lisindex.htm
Saturday, October 24, 2009
WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, PART I
It’s nearly Halloween, and this guide to the Salem Witch Trials (that we’re reprinting in two parts) certainly seems appropriate for the season!
WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD: A GUIDE TO THE SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS WITCHCRAFT TRIALS OF 1692
PART I
I. INTRODUCTION
Some persons (many of them ministers and other fairly well-educated persons) were uneasy about the types of evidence used to convict and condemn witches in trials held in New England during colonial days. Five main types of evidence were allowed in the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, although use of any of these types of evidence was frought with difficulties:
1. Physical evidence, such as an effigy, image, or charm made and employed by a witch in an effort to cause harm to an intended victim.
· The acceptance of physical evidence presupposed that witches (and the Devil) existed, and that they were capable of causing harm to victims by magical means. Even in 1692, these were points that not everyone was willing to concede.
2. Examinations of the witch's unclothed body to uncover witch's marks (i.e., unusual, unnatural protuberances that could be used by the Devil to suck the person's blood and thus seal a deal between himself and that witch).
· The judges at Salem thought the witch's mark could be used by the Devil as a suckling point (the body's natural suckling points, being creations of God, were not fit for devil's work). It was known even then, however, that even god-fearing persons as they age can develop odd bodily protuberances, so such evidence was not normally of itself enough to convict a person of the crime of witchcraft.
3. Self-incrimination (a witch's confession, either voluntary or induced by torture).
· Self-incrimination also presented problems which were recognized even in 1692. There was always the danger that a mentally unbalanced person might confess to witchcraft simply to attract attention to him or herself. There was also a danger that a person might confess as a witch in order to commit a form of suicide (although no one at Salem who confessed to witchcraft was executed).
4. Accusation (self-incriminations often also involved the naming of fellow witches).
· Confessing witches often incriminated others (usually in an effort to curry favor with judges or secure better conditions of incarceration). However, since witches by definition were servants of Satan, the great deceiver, it seemed uncertain even in 1692 if their testimony could be trusted.
5. Spectral evidence (the testimony of the witch's intended victim that the witch's spectral body was the cause of his or her torment).
· Spectral evidence was the most problematic of the types of evidence allowed at Salem. It hinged on three wobbly assumptions: 1. that a witch could send (or allow Satan to send) a spectral double of him or herself to torment an intended victim; 2. that this spectral double could not be sent without the witch's consent; and 3. victims of spectral violence could both see their spectral tormentors and act as reliable witnesses to that torment. Once again, even contemporary observers had questions about the admissibility of spectral evidence. Two main problems troubled contemporary observers:
· A. Did the Devil really need a witch's consent to send a spectral double of that person (a witch is, after all, by definition a servant of Satan)? and
· B. Were afflicted persons (persons tormented by spectral doubles) reliable witnesses against their tormentors? After all, afflicted persons were obviously under great strain during episodes of spectral torment. Finally, it could be (and was) argued that afflicted persons were themselves under Satan's control, and thus not reliable witnesses.
A caution to the researcher: there is still no widespread agreement among historians as to the causes of the witch trials at Salem, and not even complete agreement as to whether all the persons (19) hanged as witches were innocent of the charges against them (that is, some of them apparently did practice on a regular basis what we would nowadays refer to as folk medicine). The careful researcher will need to consult a variety of sources before he or she makes a judgment about the proceedings at Salem.
Copyright © 2009 by St. Louis Public Library. All rights reserved.
Thomas Pearson
Special Collections Dept.
St. Louis Public Library
To see a complete list of our online indexes and bibliographies:
http://previous.slpl.org/libsrc/lisindex.htm
WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD: A GUIDE TO THE SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS WITCHCRAFT TRIALS OF 1692
PART I
I. INTRODUCTION
Some persons (many of them ministers and other fairly well-educated persons) were uneasy about the types of evidence used to convict and condemn witches in trials held in New England during colonial days. Five main types of evidence were allowed in the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, although use of any of these types of evidence was frought with difficulties:
1. Physical evidence, such as an effigy, image, or charm made and employed by a witch in an effort to cause harm to an intended victim.
· The acceptance of physical evidence presupposed that witches (and the Devil) existed, and that they were capable of causing harm to victims by magical means. Even in 1692, these were points that not everyone was willing to concede.
2. Examinations of the witch's unclothed body to uncover witch's marks (i.e., unusual, unnatural protuberances that could be used by the Devil to suck the person's blood and thus seal a deal between himself and that witch).
· The judges at Salem thought the witch's mark could be used by the Devil as a suckling point (the body's natural suckling points, being creations of God, were not fit for devil's work). It was known even then, however, that even god-fearing persons as they age can develop odd bodily protuberances, so such evidence was not normally of itself enough to convict a person of the crime of witchcraft.
3. Self-incrimination (a witch's confession, either voluntary or induced by torture).
· Self-incrimination also presented problems which were recognized even in 1692. There was always the danger that a mentally unbalanced person might confess to witchcraft simply to attract attention to him or herself. There was also a danger that a person might confess as a witch in order to commit a form of suicide (although no one at Salem who confessed to witchcraft was executed).
4. Accusation (self-incriminations often also involved the naming of fellow witches).
· Confessing witches often incriminated others (usually in an effort to curry favor with judges or secure better conditions of incarceration). However, since witches by definition were servants of Satan, the great deceiver, it seemed uncertain even in 1692 if their testimony could be trusted.
5. Spectral evidence (the testimony of the witch's intended victim that the witch's spectral body was the cause of his or her torment).
· Spectral evidence was the most problematic of the types of evidence allowed at Salem. It hinged on three wobbly assumptions: 1. that a witch could send (or allow Satan to send) a spectral double of him or herself to torment an intended victim; 2. that this spectral double could not be sent without the witch's consent; and 3. victims of spectral violence could both see their spectral tormentors and act as reliable witnesses to that torment. Once again, even contemporary observers had questions about the admissibility of spectral evidence. Two main problems troubled contemporary observers:
· A. Did the Devil really need a witch's consent to send a spectral double of that person (a witch is, after all, by definition a servant of Satan)? and
· B. Were afflicted persons (persons tormented by spectral doubles) reliable witnesses against their tormentors? After all, afflicted persons were obviously under great strain during episodes of spectral torment. Finally, it could be (and was) argued that afflicted persons were themselves under Satan's control, and thus not reliable witnesses.
A caution to the researcher: there is still no widespread agreement among historians as to the causes of the witch trials at Salem, and not even complete agreement as to whether all the persons (19) hanged as witches were innocent of the charges against them (that is, some of them apparently did practice on a regular basis what we would nowadays refer to as folk medicine). The careful researcher will need to consult a variety of sources before he or she makes a judgment about the proceedings at Salem.
Copyright © 2009 by St. Louis Public Library. All rights reserved.
Thomas Pearson
Special Collections Dept.
St. Louis Public Library
To see a complete list of our online indexes and bibliographies:
http://previous.slpl.org/libsrc/lisindex.htm
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