In June 1692, a special court convened and began to send men and women to the gallows (where they would be hanged). By the end of the summer, the court had hanged nineteen people; another was pressed to death; many more suspects awaiting trial." (Weisman, 11).
Then out of the blue, a group of prominent congregational ministers urged leniency and restraint, the hysteria was over. The ministers were worried that convicting people on the accusations from other people's dreams and visions was a poor reason to kill. The colonial government accepted the minister's advice and convened a new court, which promptly acquitted, pardoned, or released the remaining suspects. After Salem, heresy (witchcraft) was no longer a capital offense. No one really knows exactly what sparked the whole fiasco in Salem village, but the community had a history of discord along with the changes that Puritan society was experiencing. "Some puritans may have thought they needed a scapegoat on who they could blame their sense of moral lose, because they had went from communal friendships and original goals of religion to commercial individualism." (Roach, xvii).
In the arrest warrant for Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce, it is apparent that the warrants for their arrests are based solely on the testimony and hearsay of someone else. In this case Abigail William and John Indian. .
Salem Aprill. 4'th 1692 .
There Being Complaint this day made (Before us) by capt Jonat Walcott, and Lt Natheniell Ingersull both of Salem Village, in Behalfe of theire Majesties for themselfes and also for severall of their Neighbours Against Sarah Cloyce the wife of peter Cloyce of Salem Village; and Elizabeth Proctor the wife of John Proctor of Salem farmes for high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by them upon the bodys of Abigail Williams, and John Indian both of Mr Sam parris his family of Salem Village and mary Walcott daughterof the abovesaid Complainants, And Ann Putnam and Marcy Lewis of the famyly of Thomas Putnam of Salem Village whereby great hurt and dammage hath beene donne to the Bodys of s'd persons above named therefore Craved Justice.
