Giles Corey Witch Trial

In January of 1692 authorities in Salem, Massachusetts, accused over 100 men and women of witchcraft. Nineteen was convicted and hung on Gallows Hill, and one, Giles Corey, was pressed to death under a pile of stones, while his wife Martha Corey was one of the 20 to be hung for not pleading guilty. A total of 20 was killed during the trials. But throughout the process into today's time the court systems has gradually changed throughout the years.

In Salem, the accusers came from a small group of girls aged nine to 19, including Betty Parris and Abigail Williams. They were surrounding the fire conjuring spirits and dancing with Reverend Parris’s slave Tituba, when Mr. Parris came stumbling through the woods upon them. After they were discovered

The law did not, then use the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” After the weird accusations, the village created the Court of Oyer and Terminer especially for the witchcraft trials. But it was not long till the Court of Oyer and Terminer was dissolved, the Superior Court of Judicature took over the witchcraft cases. They overrule any evidence. Most accusations of witchcraft then resulted in a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged. “ …. Will you confess yourself, Goody Nurse?” -Judge Danforth “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot.” -Rebecca Nurse (1355). As you can tell the court was mostly filled with

The court system during the Witch Trials was unfair and completely bias. As in the play John Proctor was already judged by the court because of his rare attendance to church “Such a christian that will not come to church but once a month.” -Mr. Parris “Not Come to church?” -Judge Danforth (1319). And many victims were already pronounced guilty before they were present in court due to judge-mentality and former saying brought into the system, just as John and Elizabeth Proctor.

In conclusion, the court systems then and now have changed drastically. There are no bias judges, the court is fair and completely lawful and professional. There is a certain criteria that is to be made by the system. There are many flaws people have towards the court, but they try to keep the country free of drugs and unlawful people. The Crucible was a great example of this, the way the system was during the Witch Trials caused many uproars because of the treatment to other people. Due to the unlawful ways of the Salem Witch Trials, the justice system today is for the